Why 'All Work and No Play' Doesn’t Work for High Performing Teams
Play isn’t just for kids.
For some reason, many of us seem to grow out of the imaginative, explorative and fun approach to life the older we get.
It’s commonly seen that adults, especially in the workplace, are more effective when following the idea of “all work and no play”.
When actually, there are many benefits to introducing play at work. There’s a tonne of research to show how play can get the best out of teams, support wellbeing and create the high performing units every organisation is striving for.
Just as children learn crucial life skills through play, adults too can learn a lot from injecting a dose of play into their working routine.
3 benefits of incorporating play into your teams
1. It fosters psychological safety
Psychological safety is a key foundation for high performing teams. It allows people to feel comfortable to express themselves and take creative risks. Yet, creating this environment isn’t always an easy feat.
That’s where play comes in useful. Incorporating moments to play gives people the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone, try new things, and make mistakes without the fear of negative consequences. In this setting, team members are more likely to speak up, voice concerns, and are more open to playing further.
2. It improves collaboration
When people feel safe to be themselves and get it wrong without judgement, they also feel more comfortable and connected with the rest of their team. It helps people to show different sides of themselves and recognise each other’s vulnerabilities.
Put simply, teams get to know each other better. This helps build trust, improve collaboration and create the cohesion that sets the best teams apart from the rest.
3. It creates high performing teams
When a team incorporates play into their routine, they're not just working together; they're bonding, learning, and growing together. Far from being a frivolous pastime, play is rich in transferable skills that can have huge impacts on organisation and it’s teams. Incorporating moments of play will help your team practice and develop a wide variety of skills and ideas essential for high performance – and life.
3 ways to introduce moments of play into your team
1. Explore the unknown
You’re not meant to have all the answers. The whole point of a team is to collaborate together, innovate and come to solutions you wouldn’t otherwise arrive at on your own. And a key part of being able to do that effectively is to explore the unknown.
Findings by psychologist M.A Glynn suggests you should “shift focus from outcome to process”. In other words, teams should play for the sake of playing. There doesn’t need to be a purpose or end goal, it’s about what you learn and create along the way. To put this into action, try atelic activities or get the team together with no set agenda and just let ideas flow.
2. Mix it up
You don’t have to be sitting at a desk to be working. Teams need to be creating regular opportunities to break away from the monotony of solely sitting, thinking, and being outcome-focused, and instead just play.
Use movement or try other forms of expression like drawing. This intentional break from your usual working environment isn't just a physical shift; it's a game-changer for your mindset. It sparks creativity, enhances your ability to think outside the box and brings a refreshing perspective to your routine. Whether you try it as a team or individually, mixing up the way you work will re-energise you and create an environment where ideas flourish and collaboration thrives.
3. Be curious and use your imagination
Don’t limit yourself to thinking conventionally. Curiosity and imagination drive innovation and it’s a simple but powerful way of introducing play into your team’s routine.
A tool used often in Braver Leaders coaching is the ‘swimming pool’. In this exercise, team members are encouraged to use their imagination as they’re asked to think about a metaphorical swimming pool. The pool has a deep-end, shallow-end, diving board, spectator gallery and changing room. Team members are then asked to place themselves in the ‘swimming pool’ and reflect their feelings and perspectives regarding specific issues.
By immersing themselves in this imaginative pool, team members not only express their individual perspectives but also develop a deeper understanding of others and how they navigate challenges collectively.
One last thing…
High performing and happy teams aren’t the default and Braver Leaders Team Coaching focuses on providing you with the tools you need to be the cohesive unit you have the potential to be.
If you’re interested in how to introduce play into your own team - or just want everyone flying in formation - then book a call to find out how our coaching will help.