Playfulness in the work place.

Playfulness is important. I want to tell you a story about finger guns.

I read once that playfulness is the basic understanding between two people. When you get one another’s humor and you can play, you have the basis for understanding and a foundation for a well developing friendship.

I for one, love goofing off. I’m a natural at it. I was immensely talented at not paying attention in class in favor of entertaining whomever was in my circle and cracking jokes at all the wrong times.

As an adult, I still love play but I’ve honed in on when and where, mostly ( I do my best).

At our teams office, we have core team meetings every morning. Occasionally (like a few times a week) at these meetings the team gets into an old fashioned, western draw of finger guns.

One of us will disagree with another and before you know it, someones drawn finger guns and within seconds we’re all standing in a circle (some of us on chairs if we really want to make a statement) with our fingers drawn. Eventually everyone breaks out into laughter and we carry on. (If you’ve watched Season 6 Eps. 10 of The Office, you can probably picture this quite easily).

It always always always gets my heart pumping and makes me giddy. I LOVE IT. I love playfulness and I think it’s totally underrated. I love it at work, I love it in my relationships.. playfulness brings joy.

Teams bond over laughter the same way kiddos do. It creates camaraderie and breaks up monotony.

If you’re feeling playful but afraid to be yourself, just remember that you’re playfulness releases others to engage as well.

Here’s hoping your day is productive, creative and playful.