Think back to the last time you were completely engrossed in an activity, losing track of time and thoroughly enjoying yourself? Chances are, you were playing. Now, imagine bringing that level of engagement and joy to your workplace learning and development programs. Sounds too good to be true? Welcome to the world of play-based learning for professionals.
The Power of Play in Professional Development
When we hear the word “play,” we often think of children’s activities or leisure time. But what if I told you that play could be the key to unlocking your organization’s learning potential? At Bailey WorkPlay, we’ve developed a Playful Learning Framework that can radically change how your organization approaches professional development.
But first, let’s address the elephant in the room: “Isn’t play just for kids?” Absolutely not! Play is a fundamental human need that doesn’t disappear when we grow up. In fact, play can be even more crucial for adults, especially in the workplace.1
Why Play Works for Adult Learning
- Engagement: Play naturally captures our attention and interest, making learning more engaging and memorable.
- Stress Reduction: Playful activities can lower stress levels, creating an optimal state for learning and creativity.
- Safe Experimentation: Play provides a safe space to try new things and make mistakes without real-world consequences.
- Social Connection: Playful activities foster teamwork and improve communication among colleagues.
- Innovation Catalyst: Play encourages out-of-the-box thinking, leading to innovative solutions and ideas.
Introducing the Playful Learning Framework
Our Playful Learning Framework is built on five core concepts:
- Envisioning: Seeing beyond the obvious and imagining new possibilities.
- Experimentation: Embracing risk and learning from failure.
- Innovation: Generating new ideas and asking deeper questions.
- Collaboration: Building shared stories and working well together.
- Adaptation: Thinking flexibly and navigating complex changes.
These concepts are supported by ten key principles that guide our approach to creating effective, enjoyable learning experiences.
But Does It Really Work?
You might be thinking, “This sounds fun, but will it actually improve our bottom line?” The answer is a resounding yes! Companies that have implemented play-based learning report:
- Increased employee engagement and job satisfaction
- Improved retention of learning materials
- Enhanced problem-solving skills and creativity
- Better team dynamics and communication
- Increased adaptability to change
Taking the First Step
Incorporating play into your learning and development strategy doesn’t mean turning your office into a completely wild playground. It’s about strategically using playful elements to enhance learning outcomes and create more engaging, effective training experiences.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to have fun (although that’s a great bonus!). The goal is to create powerful learning experiences that stick with your employees long after the training is over.
In the coming weeks, we’ll dive deeper into each aspect of our Playful Learning Framework, providing practical tips and examples for bringing more play into your workplace learning.
Are you ready to get serious about play? Your journey to more effective, engaging, and enjoyable professional development starts here!
Follow along for our next post, where we’ll explore the power of Envisioning in workplace learning.
- Fluegge-Woolf, E. R. (2014). Play hard, work hard: Fun at work and job performance. Management Research Review, 37(8), 682–705. https://doi.org/10.1108/mrr-11-2012-0252 ↩︎
