From Workplace to Playspace: Innovating, Learning and Changing Through Dynamic Engagement - Hardcover

Meyer, Pamela

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0470467223 ISBN 13: 9780470467220

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 2010

Synopsis

From Workplace to Playspace is about visionary, courageous, innovative, and persistent organizations that challenge long-held preconceptions about the incompatibility of workplace and playspace. Each day organizations across industries and with wide-ranging missions are discovering that playspace is the space they can and must create every day at work if they are to think creatively, question old assumptions, respond effectively to the unexpected, and engage all to work at the top of their talent. Filled with case examples from such organizations as Learning Curve International, Google, Chicago Public Schools, Umpqua Bank, and Threadless, the author provides both the conceptual framework and the principles to guide practitioners to create playspace for innovating, learning and changing in their organizations.

About this title

About the Author

Pamela Meyer, Ph.D., is founder and president of Meyer Creativity Associates. She teaches at DePaul University where she is also a Faculty Fellow at both the Center to Advance Education for Adults and the Center for Creativity and Innovation at the College of Commerce and the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. Meyer speaks and consults internationally.

www.meyercreativity.com

From the Back Cover

From Workplace to Playspace

This innovative book draws on more than twenty years of research and consulting work with organizations as diverse as Google, Chicago Public Schools, Threadless, Learning Curve, Theater Oobleck, and Umpqua Bank. Author Pamela Meyer outlines how organizations can create dynamic workplaces—or "playspaces"—that inspire creative collaboration, learning, and positive change.

From Workplace to Playspace reclaims play as a key dynamic of organizational success.

The book shows leaders, facilitators, and participants how to shift their organizational mindset from one of workplace—with all its constraining connotations—to playspace—with the dynamic engagement it fosters. The "Playspace" approach is being used successfully across businesses, industries, government, and arts organizations, and in those that are well funded, as well as those with limited resources.

From Workplace to Playspace is an informative guide for building a supportive workplace environment that will help everyone work, create, and learn at their best.

From the Inside Flap

Praise for From Workplace to Playspace

"If you have always suspected that play is a necessary ingredient to success in the workplace, buy this book. Meyer makes the case in a compelling and rigorous way. If you have always resisted the idea of play as a legitimate professional approach, buy this book. Meyer will convince you otherwise." —Kat Koppett, author, Training to Imagine, and founder, Koppett + Company, LLC

"A uniquely creative approach to bringing energy to your teams and workplace. The real-life examples will convince you that it is possible." —Anna Zaltz, director, Global Leadership Development, PepsiAmericas, Inc.

"This book is for anyone who cares about the quality and vitality of ideas. Instead of the prescriptive how-to of many business books, it awakens one's awareness of being in a meeting: how we maximize our own contributions and bring out the best in others. Since reading this book, I am conscious of how I 'show up' and what I do to enliven the exchange of ideas."—Cheryl Small, director of alchemy, Leo Burnett

"This book is essential reading for managers, team leaders, entrepreneurs, collaborators, and all who have the ability and opportunity to transform work and organizational life. The mindset shift Meyer describes that is the heart of this book—the creation of Playspace—is a new leadership imperative to help people and organizations inspire lasting and meaningful change."—Lisa Gundry, Ph.D., professor and director, The Center for Creativity and Innovation, DePaul University

Edition details

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0470467223
• ISBN 13: 9780470467220
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256