The Leadership Tool You're Likely Ignoring at Work

What if the real antidote to fear… is play? 🎈I sit down with Kirsten Anderson to unpack something we don’t talk about nearly enough - the power of play. Kirsten believes (and I agree!) that play isn’t just for kids, it’s a serious tool for unlocking creativity, connection, and even productivity at work. Yes, productivity and play can coexist, and when they do, amazing things happen.Kirsten shares how her years running a wildly creative toy store taught her lessons that now help grown-ups tackle tough problems in the workplace. We dig into the bottom-line benefits of bringing play into work cultures and how it can actually reduce fear, fuel innovation, and make teams more resilient.If you’re a leader, builder, or thinker who’s tired of fear-based, overly serious work environments, this one’s for you. Let’s reimagine what’s possible when we take play seriously.Resources Mentioned: Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul | by Dr. Stuart BrownPlayful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through the Power of Play | by Gary WareThe Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your life |  by Mike Rucker, PhDHidden BrainUsing Play to Rewire Your Brain & Improve Your Brain | Huberman Lab Sir Ken Robinson Ted Talk | Do Schools Kill Creativity?Eleven Minutes to Mars CourseConnect with Kirsten:Kirsten on Instagram (@ KirstenPlaying )Kirsten on TikTok (@ KirstenPlaying)Kirsten on LinkedInMore About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.