Play is a powerful driver. But maybe not in the way you think.

Knowing your own play style is a great asset, but knowing someone else’s play style can be just as valuable, especially when it comes to your kids.

This past weekend, I was in the yard with my daughter and asked if she wanted to help me water the garden and plants.

She softly and rather uneventfully said, “Um, no thanks…”

I know her dominant play style is the Dreamer, someone who loves immersing herself in stories, role-playing and make-believe, so I asked the question again, but a little differently:

“Do you want to pretend we’re farmers taking care of our crops and watering them?”

A huge smile appeared on her face, followed by an enthusiastic head nod.

“YESSSS!”

The task was exactly the same. What changed was the way we approached it.

We made it playful, but playful in a way that connected with her. Pretend play and becoming someone or something else is fun for her.

This is what we mean when we talk about play. It isn’t always about the activity itself; it’s about bringing a playful approach to how we do it.

As leaders, knowing our team members’ play styles and understanding what makes each person light up can help us support the different ways they approach their work. We can create opportunities that make work feel a little less like, well…work.

Play is a powerful driver. When someone feels energized by what they’re doing, that can be play, even at work.

Want to discover your play style? Take the quiz: https://lnkd.in/gDaexKtB