I recently led a forum with a powerhouse group of high-achieving leaders and coaches and asked one simple question:
“How do you feel about play?”
I expected to hear things like “I love it!” or “I wish I had more time for it.”
That’s not what happened.
Instead, the responses were filled with resistance and confusion:
- “What do you even mean by play?”
- “Who has time for that? Don’t you have a job?”
- “I’m terrible at play. This feels dumb.”
For these driven women—many of them Enneagram Type 3s—play felt like a distraction. Something frivolous. Certainly not a valuable use of time.
But what if that belief is backwards?
What if play isn’t a detour from productivity—but a direct path to it?
Not a reward you earn once the work is done, but a vital source of fuel. As essential to your performance as sleep, rest, or hydration.
That reframe—play as an energy maximizer—changed everything.
Where Do You Start?
Many people don’t even know what “play” looks like for them anymore. That’s where tools like The Conscious Leadership Group’s Play Styles worksheet come in. It helps you name and reclaim what actually lights you up.
Once you know your personal play style, the next step is to experiment. To give yourself permission. And to practice doing it without guilt.
Want to Go Next Level?
Bring play into your work. Yes, even in your serious, high-stakes leadership role.
The best leaders I know use play to spark creativity, deepen connection, and build energy on their teams. It’s not fluff—it’s function. And it doesn’t have to be forced or cheesy.
Here are a few simple ways leaders are integrating play into the workday:
- Take your next 1:1 meeting outside—on a hiking trail or even a chairlift.
- Turn your next innovation session into a Shark-Tank-style competition with real prizes.
- Use corporate jargon bingo to bring humor into long all-hands meetings.
- Introduce music or short movement breaks into team strategy sessions.
- Start your day with a creative practice—like painting, writing, or drawing—before checking your inbox.
These aren’t distractions. They’re performance enhancers. They bring teams alive and remind people they’re more than just producers.
If Your Energy Is Dipping, Ask Yourself:
- Where can I play more this week?
- How can I bring more play into how I lead?
Because in a world that often glorifies burnout, your ability to access joy isn’t a luxury—it’s a leadership edge.
