Kids’ playtime is often seen as a carefree, unstructured experience, but it can also be a rich source of inspiration for business strategy. As a consultant, I’ve worked with dozens of clients who are looking for innovative ways to approach problems and boost creativity. One unexpectedly useful place to look is at the way kids play – and what they can teach us about experimentation, risk-taking, and iteration. Take, for example, the way kids approach a new playset or toy: they often start by exploring its different components, testing its limits, and seeing what happens when they combine different elements in new ways.

Companies like play doh, which offers a range of creative play products, including play doh blooms, have built successful businesses by tapping into this kind of creative experimentation. By providing kids with a range of tools and materials, they encourage them to think outside the box and come up with new, innovative ideas. This approach can be just as powerful in a business setting, where companies are often looking for new ways to solve complex problems and stay ahead of the competition.

the importance of experimentation

Experimentation is a key part of the creative process, whether you’re a kid playing with playdough or a business leader trying to develop a new product or service. By trying out new approaches and testing different hypotheses, companies can reduce their risk of failure and increase their chances of success. This is because experimentation allows them to gather data and feedback, which they can use to refine their ideas and make better decisions.

the role of risk-taking

Risk-taking is another essential component of creativity and innovation. When kids play, they’re often willing to take risks and try new things, even if they’re not sure what the outcome will be. This approach can be just as valuable in a business setting, where companies need to be willing to take calculated risks in order to stay ahead of the competition. By embracing risk-taking, companies can encourage their employees to think creatively and come up with new, innovative ideas.

the power of iteration

Iteration is the process of refining and improving an idea or product through repeated testing and feedback. This approach is essential for creativity and innovation, because it allows companies to refine their ideas and make them better. When kids play, they often iterate on their ideas, refining and improving them through repeated testing and experimentation. This approach can be just as powerful in a business setting, where companies need to be willing to refine and improve their products and services in order to stay competitive.

the value of play

Play is often seen as a frivolous or unproductive activity, but it can actually be a powerful tool for creativity and innovation. When kids play, they’re able to explore new ideas and approaches, and to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This approach can be just as valuable in a business setting, where companies need to be able to think creatively and come up with new, innovative solutions to complex problems.

real-life examples

There are many real-life examples of companies that have successfully used play and creativity to drive innovation and growth. For example, companies like google and facebook have used play and experimentation to develop new products and services, and to stay ahead of the competition. These companies have created playful, collaborative work environments that encourage employees to think creatively and come up with new ideas.

putting it all together

So how can companies put these principles into practice? One approach is to create a playful, collaborative work environment that encourages experimentation, risk-taking, and iteration. This can involve providing employees with the tools and resources they need to think creatively, and giving them the freedom to try new approaches and test different hypotheses. It can also involve encouraging a culture of play and experimentation, where employees feel comfortable taking risks and trying new things.

• encourage experimentation and risk-taking
• provide employees with the tools and resources they need to think creatively
• create a playful, collaborative work environment that encourages iteration and feedback

play is the highest form of research, because it allows us to explore new ideas and approaches in a low-risk, low-stakes environment.

concrete examples from client cases

As a consultant, I’ve worked with dozens of clients who have used play and creativity to drive innovation and growth. One client, a software company, used play and experimentation to develop a new product that ended up being a huge success. Another client, a manufacturing company, used play and iteration to refine its production process and reduce costs. These companies, and many others like them, have shown that play and creativity can be powerful tools for driving innovation and growth.