Work hard, play hard — at the same time
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If play helps us think better at work, the next question is: How can you have a playful mindset on the job?
Why it matters: We all have different "play modes," and finding yours could help you approach work with more curiosity and creativity, according to Piera Gelardi, Refinery29 co-founder and author of the forthcoming book "The Playful Way" (out in April).
In her book, Gelardi lays out six distinct play-at-work styles:
1. The curious quester
- Strength: Asks great questions.
- One way to "play" at work: Turn projects into experiments and treat setbacks as data, rather than failure.
2. The mundane alchemist
- Strength: Makes boring work engaging.
- One way to "play" at work: Give meetings a clever name and gamify tedious tasks.
3. The visionary dreamer
- Strength: Has a big-picture imagination.
- One way to "play" at work: Ask "What would need to be true for this to happen?" and lead bold brainstorms.
4. The joyful jester
- Strength: Humor and social connection.
- One way to "play" at work: Find moments of levity — through a well-timed joke or GIF — to help the room exhale.
5. The expressive creator
- Strength: Storytelling and visual thinking.
- One way to "play" at work: Ask "How might we sketch this idea" and use mood boards and metaphors to explain strategy.
6. The wonder wanderer
- Strength: Pattern recognition.
- One way to "play" at work: Notice what others miss and help teams see the big picture.
The bottom line: Your playful strengths aren't distractions from serious work — they make you better at it, Gelardi says.
