Why Your Team Needs to Play: The Secret to Trust, Innovation, and Growth

What does it mean for a team to “play”? In this episode of the Leadership Vision Podcast, we explore this question through the lens of Chapter 2 from Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane, with authors Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring.

At Leadership Vision Consulting, we define play as more than just fun—it’s “practice in disguise.” When teams engage in playful activities, they are actually rehearsing new behaviors, trying out ideas, and building the relational trust necessary for real transformation.

“The importance of play is to give the characters of our life a different context to be who they are.” — Brian Schubring

Play provides a safe environment where teams can experiment without fear of failure. It invites creativity, fosters belonging, and makes space for voices that might otherwise be unheard.

Why Play Matters for Teams

In today’s conversation, Linda and Brian explain that play is not just about easing up on seriousness — it’s about embracing intentional practices that help teams perform better under pressure. When a team is playful, it can:

• Build deeper relationships through shared experience.
• Surface hidden talents and new perspectives.
• Unlearn bad habits and replace them with healthier patterns.

Brian shares stories from clients who built intentional “playgrounds” into their team culture, such as monthly unstructured work sessions or framing meetings as “practice” rather than performance. These low-stakes environments helped unlock collaboration and trust that carried over into high-stakes work.

“When teams are given the permission to play for the first time, they’re not going to know what to do… but leaders can gain so much by just watching.” — Brian Schubring

Recognizing When Play Becomes a Trap

But not all play is good. Linda warns about “comfort culture” and “complacent play,” where teams avoid hard conversations or challenging work under the guise of togetherness.

“Sometimes play is conflict avoidant.” — Dr. Linda Schubring

Too much unstructured fun can lead to a lack of accountability. That’s why leaders must stay observant. Are people withdrawing? Quiet quitting? Coasting on culture without growing? Play should move a team forward, not keep them stagnant.

Tools for Intentional Team Play

In the episode, we suggest a few ways to bring intentional play into your team:

• Create a playground – carve out time to experiment.
• Celebrate learning and unlearning – mistakes are welcome.
• Play with Strengths – design team games around what people do best.
• Schedule time to leap – give people space to take risks.

These aren’t gimmicks. They’re strategies that empower teams to do their best work together by helping individuals feel safe, seen, and supported.

Let’s Play

As Linda says, start small. Pick one action step. Try it this week. Play isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. And when leaders create intentional spaces for it, teams can grow in surprising, transformative ways.

Listen to the full episode for practical examples, metaphors, and stories that bring this chapter to life.