Improving Employee Engagement – The Importance of Play in the Work Environment
Improving Employee Engagement: The Importance of Play in the Work Environment
Although play is generally associated with children and childhood, many companies are beginning to recognize the importance of play in the adult work place. The touted benefits of play are many. Play is said to boost employee engagement, improve relationships, develop creativity, decrease stress and promote peer bonding. Dot.com companies like Google have long recognized the importance of play in producing a happier and more productive work space by devoting entire play rooms for precisely that purpose.
Although not all companies have the resources of Google to design such lavish play spaces, many have incorporated smaller versions of “play” into their work week. Some use non-structured activities such as parties and community events to build strong bonds between employees; others use more structured approaches such as mind maps, debates, role play and drawing. Brainstorming, for example, is probably one of the most widely used technique to develop creativity in employees.
Of all the benefits of play in the work place, perhaps one of the least examined is humor. Having fun in the workplace is said to boost immunity, to increase employee satisfaction, to diffuse conflict and reduce turnover. Injecting humor into the workplace also attracts more customers and increases the profitability of one’s business.
If your company is looking for a new way to make things more fun and playful at work, we urge you to consider purchasing a copy of Making a Scene. The humor of this game is work place appropriate (you can even play it with children). It is non-offensive. By providing answers to whacky situations, workers are encouraged to relax and have fun by seeing the lighter side of things. Click on this video link for the easy rules: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XezWd-05a5M
We urge you to give this game a try. Your company deserves a good laugh.
You can buy one of the versions of this eBook Game from http://www.amazon.com , http://www.amazon.ca , http://www.amazon.co.uk or the Amazon web site in the country or currency you want to.