Serious play for Riviera’s team wellbeing
When is the last time you played? Not played a sport or played with your kids or pet, but played just for yourself and your own wellbeing? At Falay, we are enormous advocates for the power of play, and love embedding playfulness in our work wherever possible.
Last week, Zeynep and Erika facilitated a playful half-day event for Helsinki-based independent cinema Riviera, as part of their wellbeing day. We employed techniques inspired by authentic relating and improvisational theatre to create an enjoyable and fun experience and help team members enhance their sense of connection and team spirit.
Our approach incorporated various activities designed to foster genuine interactions and spontaneous creativity. Authentic relating exercises encouraged participants to engage deeply with one another, fostering empathy and mutual understanding. Meanwhile, the improvisational theatre games provided a light-hearted atmosphere that encouraged spontaneity and laughter, breaking down barriers and promoting a sense of unity amongst the team.
“The best recreational day ever”
We received incredibly positive feedback from this event. Participants expressed their appreciation for the unique experience - hearing such feedback made us extremely proud to have facilitated such a positive and impactful experience!
When people feel seen and heard in meaningful ways, it visibly transforms their culture towards a more caring and regenerative direction - and this is crucial for our systems change agenda. We believe that shifting organisational culture towards a regenerative spirit is one of the most profound interventions we can implement to support sustainability transformations.
Playful methods are excellent tools for building capacity for system sensing, as well as for helping individuals understand their roles and agency within the systems they’re part of. By nurturing our individual and collective wellbeing we can foster caring and resilient environments that move away from the dominant exploitative cultures that often rely on hierarchical rules and continuous reinforcement to maintain.
“Every company should do this once in a while”
In the current fast-paced and often stressful work environment, creating spaces where employees can connect authentically and playfully is more important than ever. These methods not only improve individual wellbeing but also strengthen the overall organisational fabric, leading to more innovative and adaptive teams. By promoting an atmosphere of openness and creativity, we help teams to better navigate complexities and challenges.
If you’re looking for content for your team day, please get in touch! Let's work together to create workplaces that are not just productive, but also joyful and nurturing for everyone involved.
