EP 83: Cultivating a Practice of True Play with Gary Ware

The Unburdened Leader

Do you have a relationship with play?

Do you integrate time to play into your life around work and rest?

Or does play feel elusive or like a luxury?

If it does, you’re not alone.

So many of us are weary and weighed down, trying to stay afloat while keeping up with life, work, and being engaged citizens. And we live in a culture that continues to prioritize work and productivity over play and rest.

But building a relationship with play can be an antidote to toxic hustle productivity. And play can help quiet the noise in our minds and temporarily distract us from our burdens, leaving us in a better place to come back and tackle them.

Today, I’m so excited to dig into the benefits of play with Gary Ware.

Gary Ware, the Founder of Breakthrough Play, is a corporate facilitator, keynote speaker,

certified coach, and author of the book Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play. Gary has over 14 years of experience in the corporate world holding various leadership positions. Gary also comes with nearly a decade of experience as a performer in improv theater.

After experiencing burnout in his pursuit for success and happiness, he realized that what was missing was play. Committing to a life of play is what led Gary to discover his passion for facilitating. Gary uses the power of applied improvisation and other playful methods to assist people in unlocking creativity, confidence, and better communication. Gary was recently featured as one of the Top 100 HR influencers of 2021 by the Engagedly HR software platform. When Gary isn't leading workshops or speaking, you can find him learning magic or off on an adventure with his wife Courtney and sons Garrett and Cameron.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why Gary defines play as an accelerant
• How we become play-deprived and how that contributes to burnout
• Why adults need to reclaim play and rebel against productivity culture
• Tips for bringing play into your work life and enlivening meetings
• Why play needs to be an invitation and you can’t just book a ropes course
• Three major barriers to play and their antidotes
• How to find micro moments of play and rest in your day

Learn more about Gary Ware:

• Breakthrough Play
• Instagram: @garyware
• Connect with Gary on LinkedIn
• Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play

Learn more about Rebecca:

• rebeccaching.com
• Work With Rebecca
• Sign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader Email

Resources:

• Hilton Carter
• Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, Stuart Brown
• 7 Gems Of Intercultural Creativity, Genein Letford
• Ted Lasso
• Real Genius