Monday, 17 September 2012
A number of companies seem to be following in the footsteps of Google and LinkedIn by encouraging fun in their workplaces, it has been revealed.
While Google employees are paid to play beach volleyball, go bowling or scale a climbing wall, employees at LinkedIn can play football or ping-pong when they tire of answering emails.
“I think there are some enlightened companies that are beginning to get this, especially companies in research and development and design,” Fox News quoted Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, as saying.
Brown offers play consulting for tech and non-tech companies, including Whole Foods as not only does having a playful atmosphere attract young talent, but experts say play at work can boost creativity and productivity in people of all ages.
“There is good evidence that if you allow employees to engage in something they want to do, (which) is playful, there are better outcomes in terms of productivity and motivation,” Brown said.
Play can also lower your stress levels, boost optimism, and increase motivation to move up in a company and improve concentration and perseverance.
“All sorts of creative new connections are made when you’re playing that otherwise would never be made,” Brown added.
Playing also engages the creative side of your brain. When you’re fully engaged in play, you lose some of your psychological barriers and stop censoring or editing your thoughts. This allows creative ideas to flow more freely.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/13/work-hard-play-harder-fun-at-work-boosts-creativity-productivity/
