Come Out and Play

(Ryan Patrick is a contributing editor to The Daily Blur. He’s not only handsome but a mighty fine writer. You’re going to like him. A lot. You can check out his growing archive of posts here.)

“Can Rylie come out and play?”

My daughter’s friends ask my wife and I this question at least once a week.

I’d like to ask you the same question.

Can your employees come out and play?

Without doubt, your employees are your company’s most valuable customers. Customer delight begins and ends with your staff.

So, are you giving them the time, support, and opportunity to explore and enjoy their outside hobbies and interests? Are you letting them come out and play?

I can hear some of you now. “There’s a time for work and a time for play. I’m not paying them to play. Let them do their own thing on their own time.”

*Sigh*

Play theorist Brian Sutton-Smith once said, “The opposite of play is not work. It’s depression.”

And Jack Nicholson once typed, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” (Remember how THAT turned out?!)

The more involved we are in the things we enjoy doing, we are happier.

When we play, we’re happy. When we’re happy, we do better work. More of it, too.

Stress levels plummet.

Morale spikes.

Imagination sparks.

Productivity skyrockets.

‘Nuff said.

I’m thankful to my employers, past and present, who allow me to pursue my passions, even when it cuts into company time. In the last 25 years, I’ve been blessed with a bevy of bosses who’ve re-arranged schedules, covered bases, and made sacrifices so that I could come out and play.

In return, I’ve acknowledged their support and encouragement by hunkering down, busting my butt, and giving my all to make sure the work gets done.

Playing made me a better employee and a better person.

You have some great people working for you.

Let them come out and play.

P.S. – If you happen to be in southern Illinois this weekend, come see me and my friends play in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!