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Improvising Business
by
Stevie Ray
I’ve Got to Get Back to Play
“You can go out and play after you finish your work.” “You can have dessert after you finish your vegetables.” This singular approach to life, and to work, defines our attitude about duty
versus pleasure. You can’t have one until you complete the other. Admittedly, adults do have cause to impose a certain discipline on their children with this philosophy. Without it, homework would get put off until it was too late to even get a good start. There is, however, research that suggests our misunderstanding of the brain is creating a workplace atmosphere that is counter to our ultimate goal; get a lot done and enjoy doing it.
His is book, Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, Dr. Stuart Brown discusses both the effects of play behavior on the brain as well as modern attitudes about play. Play behavior and work behavior both have a place in our daily routine, and they work side by side to create a healthy, productive individual. Work behavior is outcome-based, is done for a finite amount of time, and most
often leaves a person feeling tired. Play behavior has no outcome attached to it, there is no set time limit, and it leaves you feeling energized.
Work behavior is crucial for a well-adjusted human, we need to know we have accomplished something in order to build self-esteem. The problem is, because play behavior is non-outcome-based, we think of it only as a reward. The mistake here is not understanding
how work and play go hand-in-hand in the brain. Behaviors need the other in order for the brain to flourish. Play behavior releases different chemicals to be released in the brain than work behavior. These chemicals lubricate the brain’s thinking mechanism; keeping us functional and happy. If play is removed, the brain ceases to release necessary chemicals, causing a shut-down of certain functions. As such, the opposite of play is not work. The opposite of play is
depression.
The other wonderful benefit of play is its effect on our professional skills. Play behavior actually causes a sharpening of our skills in strategic thinking, mental flexibility, and creative problem solving; which are necessary skills in every profession, whether it is arguing in court, handling a last-minute design change, or dealing with customers. I am constantly asked to help companies train
their staff to deliver better customer service. Most of the time the company has only done the first step by telling staff members what they are specifically empowered to do to satisfy a customer. That is the easy step. Customer service happens on the fly, and sometimes the plan doesn’t fit. If the employee has to call in a manager every time a unique situation arises, both the employee and the customer are frustrated. On-the-spot challenges is when a play-enabled mind kicks in and creates a
solution. The outcome is a happy customer and an employee who is on top of the world; ready to take on the next challenge.
The mistake people make in separating work and play is they try to train staff to handle challenges using only the work part of the brain. An attorney preparing for court will consider every possible contingency and prepare a response. This is a crucial step, but not sufficient.
Preparing for every contingency is enabling your conscious brain, but when a surprise happens (and it always does), your subconscious abilities must be fine-tuned; this is where a play-enabled brain shines. Only employing a working mentality is like a coach forcing his or her team to only practice the plays from the book. A lot of work is getting done, but there is no preparation for the unexpected. Letting the team free-play develops the last-minute strategy-and-response needed to
win.
The solution is clear, play behavior must be blended with work behavior, not separated. Putting in a long day at work cannot be balanced by a quick trip to the gym or tennis court. Brief moments of non-outcome-based, social activity throughout the day can be a part of any workplace culture. And you don’t need to take an hour away from your desk. A thirty second game passing each other in the hall is
enough to re-lubricate the brain and get you back on track.
Yet, even with all this evidence, there is still the biggest obstacle to overcome, this is the way we have always done it. Play has always been a reward after work, not a part of the work day. And yes, things have turned out fine with that approach. However, evidence proves things could be even better by blending instead of
separating. So, if fine is good enough for you, so be it. I want better than fine, so I’ve got some play to get done.
Stevie Ray is a nationally recognized corporate speaker and trainer, helping companies improve communication skills, customer service, leadership, and team management. He
can be reached at www.stevierays.org or stevie@stevierays.org.