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At some point, we stopped playing. We swapped lego, dismantling tape recorders, and make-believe adventures for emails, etiquette, and quietly colouring inside the lines.Along the way, we forgot that the way we learned as kids — through curiosity, experimentation, and creative play — is still how humans learn best.It’s something I see all the time when working with professional teams. The instinct to explore is still there — it’s just been buried under years of referencing only what’s been done in the past, needing to get things “right”, and not make mistakes. And that’s a real loss — for individuals and for businesses.<h2>Why Play is a Must for Contemporary Leaders </h2>Play taps into the drivers that make learning stick:<ul><li>Curiosity: Play invites exploration without the pressure of getting it perfect. </li><li>Creativity: It clears the fear out of the way, making space for real ideas to emerge. </li><li>Problem-solving: Play gives you permission to test, iterate, and figure things out in real time. </li><li>Engagement: When you’re actively doing something, you remember it — and you apply it again.</li></ul>My recent experience studying the &#039;Master of Technological Futures&#039; taught me that the moments I learned the most—and felt the greatest sense of joy and achievement—were when I was tinkering, getting stuck, and trying again. Whether it was experimenting with a new AI tool or building an entire programme in Miro, it was the challenge that made the learning stick.As humans we are wired to try, fail, adapt and create.In a world where creativity, critical thinking and problem solving are some of the most sought after future-ready skills - Play isn’t a warm-up to the &quot;real work&quot;. <h2>When Did We Stop Playing?</h2>As kids, play was how we figured out the world. We built, we imagined, we failed spectacularly (and then tried again). And if we had good teachers - they didn’t tell us failure was bad — it was just part of learning.As adults, we picked up a different message: avoid mistakes, leave creativity to the artists, and focus on perfecting technical skills above all else. That might have worked in more predictable times. Today though, it’s a liability.In a world of constant disruption - it’s the skills we picked up playing (curiosity, creativity, and resilience) that businesses can’t afford to live without.<h2>Why Play Matters for Business Right Now</h2>Play isn’t a break from serious work — it’s how serious work gets better. Teams that are encouraged to experiment, test ideas, build things together and explore different ways of thinking:<ul><li>Solve problems faster: because they aren’t afraid to try. </li><li>Bounce back stronger: because they know how to handle things that don’t go to plan. </li><li>Collaborate better: because they build trust through shared challenges and creativity. </li><li>Adapt faster: because change feels like an opportunity, not a threat.</li></ul>Play isn’t childish — it’s strategicFrom where I sit, the businesses that embrace play aren’t just more joyful work places  — they’re the ones that keep finding new ways to win, especially when the rules keep changing.

We&#039;ve just launched The Play Lab - a hands-on space where teams explore emerging tech, build ideas, and reconnect through play - designed for curious minds across business and learning.I&#039;m really excited to open the doors to this new kind of learning space - I’d love for you to be part of it.

Explore The Play Lab - Play Article

Play isn’t just fun — it’s a strategic tool for clearer thinking, faster learning, and better problem-solving. In today’s performance-driven workplaces, we’ve forgotten how powerful play can be. This blog explores why it’s time to bring it back.

01 May, 2025

Why Play Is Serious Business

Ana Ivanovic-Tongue

Introducing The Play Lab