This podcast explores the benefits of incorporating play and fun into the workplace, including improved team dynamics and employee retention. The guest, Kristi Herold, discusses the evolution of her business from adult recreational sports leagues to virtual events and corporate team building. The importance of exercise and play in corporate relationships is highlighted, along with strategies for workplace fun and team bonding.
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Quick takeaways
Incorporating play into the workplace leads to better team dynamics, where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas and taking risks.
Embracing play can have a significant impact on team bonding, productivity, and overall business success.
Deep dives
The Power of Play: Building Trust and Engagement
The podcast episode discusses the importance of play and how it can improve business and culture. The guest, Kristi Harold, emphasizes the need for integrating play into everyday work to create a more engaged and energized team. Play is not just about organized sports, but encompasses various activities that bring fun and creativity into the workplace. It is highlighted that trust and friendship among team members are crucial for fostering creativity and innovation. Companies are encouraged to create opportunities for playful interactions, such as shout-out channels, daily huddles with good news sharing, and virtual events. Embracing play can have a significant impact on team bonding, productivity, and overall business success.
Connecting Virtually: Play and Creativity
The podcast explores the relationship between play, creativity, and remote work. While it may be easier to connect playfully in person, play can still be fostered virtually. The guest shares examples of how her company successfully facilitated virtual play through escape rooms, trivia nights, and game shows during the pandemic. It is emphasized that when individuals feel they can trust their colleagues as friends, they are more willing to be creative and share innovative ideas. The importance of building trust and connections in virtual teams is highlighted, suggesting that integrating play can help bridge the gap and facilitate creativity, even when not physically together.
From Recreational Sports to Business Success
Kristi Harold shares her journey of building a business centered around play and connecting people through recreational sports leagues. After the challenges posed by the pandemic, the company pivoted to help corporate teams connect through virtual play. They offered events like escape rooms and scavenger hunts, providing laughs and fostering team bonding. The success of this new vertical led to the expansion of their corporate team-building side of the business. Various approaches to integrating play in the workplace are suggested, including utilizing office amenities like ping pong or foosball tables, implementing shout-out channels and daily huddles, and organizing virtual or in-person events. The overall message stresses the importance of implementing playfulness in the workplace to create stronger interpersonal connections, engagement, and improved business culture.
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Most organizations want high levels of productivity and creativity from their teams. But they also tend to overlook one of the biggest factors in cultivating that type of environment: having FUN! Incorporating play into the workplace leads to better team dynamics where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas and taking risks. But how can you do this without detracting from work – and what does this look like for teams with remote employees?
In today’s episode, Donald Miller talks with Kristi Herold, the author of “It Pays to Play” and the CEO and Founder of JAM where her team helps people connect through play. Kristi shares how organizations that have fun together tend to be more profitable and have better retention rates. She also shares specific ideas on how you can incorporate play into your workplace so you can keep your best people, encourage creativity, and improve company culture. Tune in now to learn how you incorporate these tips into your own organization!