Adding Play to Your Work

You know what they say about all work and no play making Jack a dull boy, right? I say that all work and no play makes work dull as well.  So why not try adding some play to your next meeting?

I learned this from my friend Vicki Guinn who now works with Campus Crusade's music and arts ministry called Keynote.  To keep the creative juices flowing at meetings she would bring in things to play with like modeling clay, finger paint, markers, jacks, etc...  At one meeting she had someone craft a replica of a 1700's sailing ship out of popsicle sticks!  For the more creative people, instead of this being a distraction, this actually helps them stay engaged in the discussion.  And it sends a signal that says, "We don't want business as usual here.  We want you to think creatively and out of the box."  

If you're a CCC staff person or student reading this, odds are you have some lengthy planning meetings coming up here at the end of the semester or quarter.  Why not stop by the dollar store on your way to the meeting and pick up some play things?  Throw them out at various points in the meeting to stimulate fun and creativity.  Who knows, you might actually have people saying, "That all day meeting was fun!"

(If you are reading this on Facebook, this was taken from my blog at http://bobfuhs.typepad.com)

Comments

[Joe Schlie]

Thanks Bob, I'm sending this to some of our French staff...I'll translate it into French, and you'll sound even more intelligent than you already are! Thanks for helping us!

[Bob Fuhs]

Joe,
Thanks for the comment and for the encouragement! C'est tres bon! Merci!

Bob