Why can’t work be more like play?

I recently asked a friend the above question. His response stunned me: 

“I get well-paid precisely because it’s work. If it was play, I wouldn’t get paid!”

For many, work and play are mutually exclusive. 

Everyone knows we'd rather not be there. It's why pay is called “compensation”. 

We don't like Mondays.

We can't wait for that Friday feeling.

We work when we have to, play when we can.

Which makes perfect sense. If we ignore human nature and what gets results.

Play is nature’s way of mastery. 

With play, learning is effortless.

Without play, learning is, well, hard work.

Play is how my children learned two languages by age four, while after decades I’m still struggling with intermediate French.

Play is why we love to watch top class sports stars. Or, as they are also known, players.

Researchers asked two groups of children to draw a picture. The first group was told to play; the second was offered a reward.

The result? The “reward” group produced worse quality drawings and drew for only half the time of the “play” group.

Kids who are allowed to lose themselves in play learn and improve better, faster. Could that be true for us big kids too?

Many companies seek a culture made of qualities like high engagement, learning, creativity, and whole-hearted performance. 

In a word, what does that sound like?

Of course, there are realistic limits. We can’t waive a wand and turn work into play. Can we?

Fair enough. But could we not make work just 1% more playful? Maybe 2%? How about 10%? 

If your work could be the tiniest bit more playful, what would you change today?

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Photo credit: Flower Norris, age 10