Work Is Broken...Play Will Fix It

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Why does work feel worse now than ever? 85% of workers are disengaged, 81% are job-hunting, 72% feel underpaid, and nearly 80% struggle with work-life balance. These are more than just numbers—they're the sign of a workforce barely hanging on. Businesses are losing almost $500 billion, with absenteeism, turnover, and accidents spiking.

But wait—aren’t there more leadership books, consultants, and workplace experts than ever? Yet it still feels like we’re just spinning our wheels, hitting productivity goals while employees are left out in the cold. The truth? The system rewards mediocrity and penalizes playful innovation.

Steven Johnson put it best: “You’ll find the future where people are having fun.” This talk is a call to action for leaders who want to embrace a play-oriented mindset—creating a work environment that celebrates risk, failure, and joyful experiments. We’ll dive into dismantling the patriarchal, outdated work environments of the past and building a culture driven by empathy, compassion, and shared humanity. Let’s turn work into a place where people want to show up—and where they can do their most vibrant work.

Work Is Broken...Play Will Fix It!

Learning Objectives

Challenge outdated workplace norms prioritizing productivity over employee well-being, engagement, and innovation
Discover transformative, play-oriented approaches to foster psychological safety, risk-taking, and genuine connection in the workplace
Equip leaders with the tools to replace rigid hierarchies with empathetic, human-centered practices that inspire collective growth and creativity

Work Is Broken...Play Will Fix It
WorkHuman Article

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