The Power of Playfulness
I think somewhere deep down, most of us would quite like to be a little more playful – and perhaps we know that playfulness is still within us… somewhere.
There’s something quietly powerful about playfulness.
It was my birthday this week (thank you for all the kind wishes) and celebrating it at work was a little different this year.
Partway through a learning session at Aviva in Perth on Tuesday, members of the events team suddenly appeared in the training room carrying a plateful of little cakes, and before I knew it, everyone was singing “Happy Birthday.”
Slightly embarrassing? …
Yes.
But also rather lovely.
At the beginning of every Lead the Way programme, we invite people to “check in” by sharing how they are feeling.
There’s some good psychology behind it. Naming our emotions can help us process our thoughts, lower barriers and connect more honestly with others.
Over time, our “feelings wheel” has affectionately become known as the “𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒚.”
That probably says something in itself.
Interestingly, when checking in myself, one of the words I often choose is playful.
Not because life is always easy.
And not because there aren’t pressures, worries or difficult conversations waiting outside the room.
But because humour, lightness and not taking ourselves too seriously can be deeply healthy things.
A little playfulness changes the atmosphere.
From my experience, it relaxes people and creates connection.
Sometimes a simple smile, a shared laugh or a moment of silliness can do more for a new cohort of participants than another perfectly crafted slide deck.
Research increasingly shows that humour and laughter can reduce stress, improve wellbeing and strengthen relationships.
But beyond the science, most of us simply know this from experience.
We remember the people who made us feel lighter.
And perhaps that matters more than we realise.
In a world that often feels heavy, rushed and serious, maybe being playful is not a distraction from good leadership and healthy relationships.
Maybe it’s part of them.
What happens to people when we give them permission to smile, laugh and relax a little?
