Page 258 - How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations That Win

THE WHY OF WORK

Consider who in your organization is great at humor and
playfulness while still being a credible and contributing
employee. How does he or she pull this off? What can you
learn from this person?
Wendy: I’m not as good at humor as Dave, but I believe in
the power of play. In my work as a psychologist I often invite
adult clients to experience working in trays of sand, using
miniatures to create whatever they like. Sand tray therapy
is a powerful educational technique as well, helping people
express without words what the nonverbal and most creative
part of the brain knows but cannot articulate. The great psy-
chologist Carl Jung once said, “Often the hands will solve a
mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.” This is
true for big grown-up problems, not just little-kid problems,
but big grown-ups often consider play beneath them. When
I can get people to simply play in the sand and then tell me
about their creations, they are often stunned at what they
learn that they had no idea they knew. And this learning
usually sticks far better than word learning alone.
Play has many uses for creative problem solving and inno-
vation. Not only can we play directly at solving problems or
imaginative innovation by drawing, crafting, or just manipu-
lating objects, but sometimes taking a break from a pressing
problem to go bat a ball around or knit for a while will allow
creative solutions to kick in.
Pick up that pencil once again and number your piece of
paper from 1 to 5. How could you enhance the atmosphere
of appropriate humor, fun, and playfulness as a leader in
your work setting? If nothing comes to mind, make this a
group brainstorming exercise and see what others come up
with.

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