3 min read

Play at work helps us adapt says Jeff Harry

In this episode of People at Work, Jeff Harry joins us to talk about reinvigorating the workplace with a little bit of play.

By Bev Attfield

The genie is out of the bottle. The toothpaste is out of the tube. Pick your metaphor. Workplaces have changed forever, and there’s no going back.

Jeff Harry believes there’s never been a better time to think differently about how you work and lead others, not to mention create thriving work environments. According to Jeff, the way we get there is through play.

Not the kind of play you’d find in board games and virtual escape rooms. He’s talking about any joyful act where you’re fully present in the moment. These are the moments when we’re most likely to experiment, tinker, and try new things. That teaches us to be adaptable, flexible, and resilient.

Experimentation is also the antidote to perfection. Too often in workplaces we place unrealistic expectations and pass heavy-handed judgement on people. When we switch shame for play, we move closer to psychologically safe places where people want to be, stay, and grow (and yes, play).

Right now none of us have the answer to what workplaces will be like and how we’ll work together once we see the pandemic in the rear-view mirror. But one thing is clear, the more adaptable you can be now, the better off you and your people will be (and psst: that means your business will be better too).

So, it’s time to play. Jeff shares how in this joy-filled episode of People at Work.

Listen to the episode

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“You’ll be the next Blockbuster if you’re not willing to play and be more adaptable.”

Jeff Harry

International Speaker, Rediscover Your Play

Bio

Jeff Harry shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves, to feel their happiest and most fulfilled—all by playing. He is an international speaker, coach, and consultant and has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Jeff believes that we already have many of the answers we seek, and by simply unleashing our inner child, we can find our purpose and, in turn, help to create a better world.