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Can play make us work better? You better believe it! Simon Young reviews a book that gives many different perspectives on the benefits of play in our work life.

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Play is undervalued in our culture, except on the sports field. It's a shame, really, because according to Wade Jackson of the Improv Bandits, humans are the only animals that don't play as adults.

Animals are pretty smart. They use play to learn how to deal with really serious situations. Because animals don't get degrees, they learn in the most effective way - by experience.

That's why kittens fight so much - they're learning how to deal with potentially life-threatening situations. 

But we're smarter than kittens. We write manuals, we develop training videos, we assemble in classrooms and talk and talk and talk and talk. 

Talking is great - it's what we have over the animals - but there's a particular problem with our western culture is that we talk without being aware of the people and things around us. We talk from our heads, and miss the hearts of those we want to reach.

Imagine if we put play into every part of our day. 

Imagine if our organisations were seen as a gigantic game. Would it encourage us to take it any less seriously? Not even! Have you seen sports fans lately? There's a lot of passion going on there! Often from people who put their souls on hold when they clock into work the next day.

Below is a video book review I did of The Red Rubber Ball at Work. It's one of several books on the subject of play at work. I'd love to know what you've found helpful in the comments below.