Playfulness

Why do we often show up so differently at work than in the rest of our lives?

Why do our work selves have to be so different from our everyday selves?

Lots of times through my career I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find out how fun and playful colleagues can be.  But you often only find this out in a social settings rather than the office.

For some reason we feel like we have to present a bit of a stuffy, “professional” front when we’re at work.

We’re losing out on all that playfulness. 

We’re missing big chunks of our colleagues’ characters.

I’m not taking about being silly or frivolous all the time, but rather bringing out the best of people.  Those senses of humour that can help us through the tough times and celebrate the successes.  That creative thinking which sees a different way through a difficult challenge.  Those quirky fashion choices that really brighten an office.

In his landmark study “Reinventing Organizations”, Frederic Laloux found that all of the companies who’d achieved remarkable success had a few important things in common.

One of them was “wholeness”.  They had created an environment where people are free (and safe) to bring ALL of who they are to work.  All of their originality, fun, humour and creativity.  

You know, the stuff that gets left behind when we’re obsessed with being “professional”.

To paraphrase Hiut Denim Co’s “Uniform for the Creative Man or Woman”:

“The ones who’ll change this world of ours…won’t do it in a business suit.”

(I love this so much, I have it pinned to the top of my notes app.)

So what’s more important to your team or business?  

Having everyone show up the same?  Like clones formed in the “professional workplace” mould?

Or would you rather be known as “that place where they do such brilliant work, but always seem to be enjoying it too”?

Your team will notice and do better work.

Your clients will notice and it’ll set you apart from your cookie-cutter competitors.

With all that to benefit from, what’s stopping you?