One Apple A Day #471 - Stay playful
A few weeks ago I had an inspiring conversation about playfulness with my dear friend Luca. While we were reflecting on what "being playful" means to us, we realised that in playing, like in every human experience, there are both form and essence.
Because the form is the only visible one and the easier to model, we usually focus on it. It is what most of the companies did years ago when "gamification" became one of the main buzzwords in the digital industry. I did it too.
My feeling is that the "gamification" approach didn't deliver the expected impact because it was all about form. We were trying to apply the typical visible elements of games to other areas. But the essence wasn't there. We were just asking people with a business mindset to use a playful form.
What could happen if we do the reverse? If we infuse a playful mindset into other forms?
For Luca and I, a playful mindset or attitude is about being always curious, making everything experiential, seeing everything as an opportunity to learn and discover, focusing on the act of playing more than on the outcome, having fun together.
What about you? What is the essence of playing for you?
And what would happen if you infuse that essence in your work?