How much time did you devote to playing this week? Having two small children (7 and 3) I have an opportunity to include an element of games into every day. When my kids aren’t playing I’m encouraging them to play. When they’re playing I enjoy watching (and participating in) the creative activities they develop. It’s amazing what fun can be had with a simple swath of cloth.

Here’s a test: see how many things you can make out of a swath of cloth the size of a bath towel (or heck just use a bath towel) in 60 seconds.

You can’t perform the above simply by thinking about the cloth object in your mind. You need to hold it. And guaranteed you’ll come up with more options with a group than if you attempt the task solo. Kids do a great job with this task. I’ve done this exercise with a group of 8 year olds that returns 50 (yes 5-0) different “toys” that are made out of a scrap piece of cloth. Then those 50 ideas turn into hours of play.

We teach our kids to play early. We want them to play. We spend their earliest years setting up play dates with other little ones. As they grow we encourage them to take part in group activities, sports and other social events. We buy board games, play video games with them and attempt to keep our teens interested in family activities by turning everyday activities into playful games. I’ve been known to turn the act of tooth brushing into a game. Games are woven into the fabric of who are are. Why is that?

Consider your state of mind when you’re engaged in a game. You have a clear objective, swirling thoughts of strategy and tactics on how to meet the objective, and a collaborative spirit. Or as Albert Einstein said:

“Games are the most elevated form of investigation”

When we play games we are engaged like we are in few other social activities.

So why are we so serious? More specifically, why are interactions with our customers at events so serious? Don’t get me wrong. There are problems that deserve serious consideration. What I’m suggesting is a blurring of the line between serious and play. Can’t play be serious?

How are you bringing elements of play into your meeting or event?

Share and Enjoy