So, you’re a Taskmaster. Here’s a playful activity with purpose that will help you and others solve problems together and improve your workplace. Go get them!
Mission Title: The Problem Playground
Objective: Use playful inquiry as a tool to solve a workplace problem.
Players: 3 – 12
Playbox Materials: Pens, post-it notes, serious play materials such as building blocks, collaging supplies, clay (optional)
How to play:
- Identify the problem you want to solve and frame it as a play challenge question. For example: How can we make the shared storage easier to use and maximise space? How can we simplify our seminar preparations? How can we reframe our weekly meetings to help us celebrate our successes?
- Give people permission to play by adding a playful to the activity. Examples could be:
- Every idea must be exaggerated or whimsical.
- Ideas must start with ‘Imagine if…’
- Pretend you’re designing for a fantasy world.
- Suggest solutions using metaphors.
- Create an idea puddle but instructing everyone to scribble or sketch playful ideas on sticky notes and put them into a central “puddle.” Remind people there is no evaluation or ranking of the ideas, and that all ideas should be sploshed into the puddle. (Note: You could get people to use building blocks, clay, collaging supplies or other serious play materials to represent their ideas if you’re feeling extra playful!)
- Sift out the pearls of playful wisdom by asking people to pick one idea each that:
- sparks a smile,
- feels doable, and
- would actually improve things.
- Move from play to purpose by identifying a small practical step people can make in the next week to kickstart any of the selected ideas. Such as:
- We’ll trial a two-minute tidy moment at the end of the day.
- End each meeting with a quick round where everyone shares one small win from the week.