A conversation on TED.com: Whatever happened to recess?

Kevin Noble
Danville, CA
United States

Director, Interactive Marketing and Innovation, Genentech

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Whatever happened to recess?

Play and social capital building is so important to creativity and innovation. We have made it a point to incorporate it as much as we can into our work/professional routine. I am always looking for new ideas so I am asking those of you that have found effective ideas, activities and events to increase play to share. Big or small, all ideas are welcome!

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Chris Spagnuolo
- +1
Feb 26 2011: Great question! My team encourages active play at work. On a daily basis, ad hoc play is encouraged, but on a team-wide basis we make it semi-mandatory. We've taken "field trips" to museums, local breweries, and the fire house. We also play croquet, have a weekly game day and we've even incorporated play into our interview process. Potential candidates have to work with existing team members to build a marble track together (it let's us gauge their level of creativity, collaboration, and their ability to embrace playfulness).
- Kevin Noble 50+
  - 0
  TED Attendee
  
  Feb 28 2011: Chris - great stuff! The marble track in the interview process is very unique. I also like your field trips ideas.
  
  We are building our social capital approach now and we may borrow a few of these ideas. We currently incorporate the typical team building and happy hour type activities. My teams also employ a "Secret Friend" approach where they get to know another team member well and secretly provide words of encouragement, small tokens of appreciation and other motivations trying not to get caught while doing so. We have also used geocaching as a game to find our ways to events and gatherings.
  
  The impact on mood and motivation of these activities is tremendous so I hope a few more people share ideas.