In a world obsessed with productivity, could play be your team's secret weapon?

Brandon Wetzstein has helped transform teams at major organizations by tapping into the power of strategic play. In this episode, he breaks down why traditional "serious" approaches often lead to mediocre solutions, and how structured play can break through conventional thinking to unlock breakthrough ideas.

Key Episode Highlights:
[00:03:45] Why NASA and Google use play-based methods for complex problems [00:12:30] The psychology behind why play creates psychological safety [00:18:20] How one leadership team resolved long-standing conflicts through play [00:25:15] Practical techniques for introducing play in traditional environments [00:35:40] The science of why play leads to better solutions than conventional methods

Whether you're:

• Leading a team through transformation
• Looking to drive innovation in a traditional industry
• Trying to break down silos between departments
• Building psychological safety in your team

This episode provides actionable strategies for using play as a serious business tool.

Featured Guest: Brandon Wetzstein, founder of In8 Create, certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, and expert in using play-based methodologies for organizational transformation.

Resources Mentioned:

• Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn
• In8 Create
• Book: "Play" by Dr. Stuart Brown
• LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology

Tags: workplace innovation, leadership development, team building, organizational psychology, corporate culture, professional development, business strategy, team communication, change management, employee engagement

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

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• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
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AI Is Making 71% of Workers Less Productive: The Truth About Tech Burnout + Why You Need $1.6M to Retire

We're tackling tackle two major workplace challenges:

• AI & Burnout: We expose alarming new research that shows a massive disconnect between executives and workers when it comes to AI. While 96% of leaders are betting big on AI to boost productivity, 71% of employees report it's actually making them less productive and more stressed. We unpack five hidden digital stressors that are burning out today's workforce and share real solutions for managing the tech overwhelm. Plus, find out why Gen Z – our most tech-savvy generation – is actually the most anxious about AI's impact.
• The Retirement Crisis: Brace yourself: we reveal why the average American now needs $1.6M to retire comfortably – and that number keeps climbing for younger generations. We break down exactly how much each generation needs to save (Gen Z, you might want to sit down for this), and count down the surprising best states for retirement in 2024. Is traditional retirement even realistic anymore? We get honest about what retirement might actually look like for millennials and beyond, plus share practical strategies for planning your financial future - like moving to Delaware.

Whether you're drowning in AI tools or wondering if you'll ever be able to retire, we've got the data, the insights, and the real talk you need to hear.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

In this week's workplace headlines, dive into the groundbreaking 2024 McKinsey & Lean In Women in the Workplace report revealing young women face twice the ageism as their male peers. Learn why it will take 50 years to reach pay parity and discover the shocking real cost of return-to-office mandates - averaging $1,200 monthly per employee. Plus, explore why progressive companies are adding divorce support as their newest employee benefit.

We break down these critical workplace trends and share their personal experiences navigating corporate America's gender dynamics.

Key topics:

• Latest Women in Workplace Report findings
• The true cost of RTO policies
• Divorce support is the hottest new employee benefit
• Young women's experiences with workplace ageism
• Corporate America's progress toward gender parity

Suggested Tags: #WomenInWorkplace #WorkplaceEquity #CareerAdvice #ReturnToOffice #EmployeeBenefits #WorkplaceCulture #GenderEquality #CareerDevelopment #WorkLifeBalance #CorporateCulture

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com