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Play at the Office (PATO) provides a system of play tailored for tech and product teams, built around the SPACE for Play framework. It’s useful for teams in other industries, too!
We know play is good. Research links it directly to lower burnout, higher engagement, stronger psychological safety, and skill growth; all things most teams are struggling with right now.
Imagine a team that looks forward to working together. One that communicates better without being told to and grows without formal training. That’s what a consistent play practice builds and it’s more achievable than you think.
SPACE for Play is the framework that makes embedding play into the everyday possible, so connection, safety, and growth happen naturally over time.
Put play to work
Play is the foundation of higher order thinking and connection. It helps us problem solve, experiment, and collaborate. But for too long, it’s been excluded from the workplace.
We’re here to bring back play, and with it, all of its benefits, including fun and joy at work.
Folks in tech are reporting record rates of burnout. Every year, Gallup reports a decline in engagement across the board. Most corporate trainings, yearly retreats, and one off workshops don’t have a lasting impact.
Play can. And almost nobody is using it.
Starting your own play practice at work will create the type of environment your team needs to share bold ideas, lean on each other, and feel engaged. Through games, improv, and playful methods, we’re making play a serious part of how teams work.
84%
of tech workers report burnout
76%
are more likely to stay with continuous training
76%
more engagement on teams with high safety
$440b+
lost to disengagement in the US annually
19%
of orgs have a method in place for upskilling teams
SPACE for play, everyday
Playful teams are creative, innovative, and connected teams. The SPACE for Play framework gives teams a simple system to start an ongoing play practice that nurtures Safety, Purpose, Autonomy, Care, and Enablement.
Through these 5 dimensions, you’ll create a team culture that turns up engagement, energy, and meaning.
Safety means the team can be weird, wrong, whatever, without it costing them
Every game and activity has a job based on needs
Team members can choose when and how they engage
Care is the practice of seeing each other as people and not just job titles
Growing soft skills, individually and as a team, through fun
Ready to play?
Every team’s play practice starts somewhere. Find the best starting point.
How can you start?
Take this 5 question quiz to see which dimensions across the SPACE for Play framework your team should focus on first. At the end, you’ll receive ideas for what to try next.
Free – No sign ups or anything
Let’s chat!
Looking for a facilitated session? A custom workshop? Some help putting together a DIY play practice? PATO will help you figure out what works best for your team.
Free 30m call
articles & resources
Thoughts on play
Research, game guides, resources, and more
Roll for Connection
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Meet the gamemaster
Hey y’all! I’m Lissy
I’m on a mission to make play an every day part of work.
I’m passionate about applying games and playful methods for good. Over the last 15+ years facilitating, UXing, and designing, I’ve seen firsthand what makes extraordinary teams.
As a UX strategist would, I turned it into a system. SPACE for Play combines everything I know about human centered design, games, and facilitation into a framework based on the best teams I’ve worked with and existing research.
Start your play practice, one email at a time
Every Tuesday(ish), I reach out with games, stories, and practice tips to help level up your team’s connection, creativity, growth, and joy week by week.
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