Corporate play-time encompasses play-based practices and attitudes in organizations. The implementation of these practices can create innovative and problem solving work teams. The benefits of corporate playtime are supported by The National Institute for Play, a nonprofit that focuses on expanding scientific knowledge of human play and the benefits of play to public life.
Active play is integral in the accomplishments of successful individuals. Humans are uniquely designed by nature to enjoy and participate in play throughout their life. Play enables individuals and organizations to harness the power of play to create transformational differences. Play practices can help reform organizational policies and create organizations capable of producing innovative products and services.
The Co-Founder of Click-A-Brick, Jason Smith, supports corporate play time.“The current attitude at corporations is that play is the opposite of work,” Smith said. “That’s a problem. Executives running organizations do not have the information to understand the true nature of play. They think that play is just for kids. It’s not. I mean, look at the benefits creative play has on kids. The toy lines at Click-A-Brick are built around stimulating children’s minds. Why shouldn’t that be the same for adults?”
Research shows that playful ways of work can lead to more creative, adaptable workers and teams. In a recent report title ‘Response of the Brain to Enrichment’ by Marian Diamond, playful environments can help to shape the cerebral cortex – the area of the brain where the cognitive processing takes place. The report states that there are benefits to making an individual’s environment playful.
In order to foster a climate for innovation, corporations need to instill a state of play into their workers’ attitudes. This enables individuals to flourish in complex environments - which is a growing demand. The majority of the workforce today is engaged in information work. This requires workers to collaborate with other information workers to make judgments and solve complex issues.
Georg de Gorostiza, Co-Founder of Click-A-Brick, champions play-based practices and attitudes. “Play can foster an environment of innovation,” de Gorostiza said. “There is a scientific and intellectual basis for it. However, executives can say, sure, play is good. So what? We’re here to work. However, in order to create that environment, executives in leadership positions need to come to value the science of play. Once that is done, they can deploy play-based practices in their organizations.
The National Institute for Play has developed a consultative offering for corporations seeking ways to more effectively access innovation in their operations. Their unique approach blends science and evidence-backed data into programs tailored to the specific organization’s context.
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