289 - Unlocking Play: The Power of Presence and Letting Go with Minna Taylor
Oct 1, 2024
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Minna Taylor, an applied play theorist and strategist, passionately advocates for the importance of play in organizational settings. She explores how play fosters creativity and authenticity while dismantling societal misconceptions. With insights on psychological safety and the need for openness, Minna emphasizes that embracing uncertainty can lead to deeper engagement. The conversation also touches on reintroducing play for adult wellness and productivity, highlighting the vital role it plays in navigating change and enhancing connection in the workplace.
Embracing play in professional settings fosters creativity and collaboration by allowing for unpredictability and genuine engagement during workshops.
Navigating the balance between authenticity and performance enhances trust among participants, enabling richer interactions and deeper connections in conversations.
Creating a psychologically safe environment is essential for open communication, allowing individuals to express themselves freely and embrace feedback without fear.
Deep dives
The Essence of Play in Workshops
Play is defined as the absence of control and embracing uncertainty, which is crucial in creating impactful workshop environments. This concept moves beyond mere entertainment to a framework where every interaction can be viewed as a form of play, encouraging participants to be present and engaged. For instance, every brainstorming session is a form of play where the process should allow for unpredictability, even if there are predetermined outcomes. By fostering a mindset that values play over performance, facilitators can tap into creative potential and enhance collaboration.
Authenticity vs. Performance
The balance between authenticity and scripted performance is crucial for facilitators to navigate. Drawing from backgrounds in theater, facilitators can learn that true performance does not entail pretending, but rather revealing a genuine self in the moment. It is emphasized that the pursuit of authenticity must consider the consequences of our expressions, as what we say affects others. Acknowledging the tension between being authentic and adhering to expectations allows for a richer interaction in workshops and helps to build trust among participants.
Conversations as Play
Transforming conversations into forms of play involves cultivating an environment of active listening and open-ended dialogue. Effective conversations allow participants to let go of control and navigate discussions with curiosity, which enhances the potential for authentic exchanges. This method embraces unpredictability, making conversations less about enforcing ideas and more about collaborative exploration. By prioritizing authenticity in communication, participants can turn potentially challenging discussions into opportunities for growth and creativity.
Psychological Safety and Trust
Creating a psychologically safe environment is fundamental for participants to express their thoughts freely and authentically. This entails establishing shared rules that promote openness and respect while allowing spaces for vulnerability and feedback. The need for clear communication about these rules is essential, as they help set expectations and ensure that everyone feels comfortable contributing. This psychological safety allows for meaningful interactions, fosters transparency, and builds a culture where feedback is embraced rather than feared.
The Importance of Relearning Play
There is a significant gap in understanding the role of play in adult life, particularly in professional settings, where productivity often takes precedence over creativity. Adults frequently neglect the intrinsic value of play, often viewing it as a frivolous activity rather than a vital component of well-being. Research indicates that play not only enhances cognitive function but also promotes emotional health and fosters social connections. Ultimately, reintroducing play into adult routines represents a critical shift toward a more dynamic and fulfilling work environment.
Have we forgotten how to play? Applied play theorist, strategist, and consultant Minna Taylor, certainly thinks so!
As an actor and theatrical voice coach in a past life, Minna has made it her life’s purpose to invite creative expression, deliberate play, and the power of surrender into people’s lives. She now helps organisations to excel in the infinite game of work, showing them that play is not the pursuit of frivolity, but the spaciousness to think, to create, to adapt, and exist with ease.
Minna brings beautiful, articulate thoughts, intelligence and effervescence to some big ideas: from psychedelics to psychological safety, the industrial revolution, to decentralising your ego. What a joy to speak with her!
Find out about:
The multi-layered notions of play - and its misconceptions
Why play is both the absence of control and the opposite of performance
The need for play in the corporate world
Why we must dismantle belief systems in society to make space for play
The importance of embedding learning into an organisation with integrity and intent
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