How can you bring whimsy to your work?
When we assume roles in leadership, we sometimes forget that life is richer with play, joy, humor, and the element of surprise.
Several years ago, I taught third grade in Brooklyn in the neighborhood where I was living. Not only was it the best morning commute of my life before or since, but it also meant I could walk home for lunch and make it back in time to pick my students up from the schoolyard after recess.
One day, while eating at home, I decided to change my tie. “Let’s see if they notice,” I thought. (I know what you’re thinking, “Wow Mitch, you really didn’t have a life!”)
It was a little thing - probably subconsciously inspired by the game “I Spy” which we always played on field trips, or one of those hidden objects games from Highlights Magazine.
Needless to say, it brought great joy to my students when they realized something was different about me that afternoon. One or two keen observers noticed, then eventually the whole class would be on the look out after lunch for any wardrobe changes. It became “my thing,” and collectively our class’s thing. I didn’t do it every day, but it always brought smiles to their faces and got a chuckle out of me.
I was reminded of this little game I played last week while visiting an art gallery in NYC. When my girlfriend told me about the Takashi Murakami exhibit, I took a quick look at the website and thought I was in store for some beautiful art in the style of 18th and 19th-century woodblock prints and paintings. You’ve seen this gorgeous style, the most famous of which is probably “Wave off Kanazawa” (pictured above).
Murakami, a contemporary artist who some of you might know (I didn’t) from his collaboration with Louis Vuitton, painted a whole series in the style of the Japanese masters from long ago, but with a twist.
In each of the dozens of pieces showing at the gallery, you would see a traditional scene - nature, women in kimonos, people working in fields or shopping at a market, etc. Hidden in each of these beautiful paintings, there’s a little bit of play, something that catches the eye and doesn’t quite belong.
Can you spot the whimsy in the two paintings below?
To see the faces of folks at the gallery light up when they discovered these playful bits got me remembering my tie game, and the many memorable moments I’ve had in schools when humor and the offbeat broke through the tedium of the day-to-day.
The best teachers know that drama and humor are powerful techniques for engaging kids, so what about leaders?
Circle Up And Discuss (this newsletter is meant to prompt discussion, so as a team, kick these questions around):
How are you as a leadership team sprinkling whimsy throughout the year?
What times of year call for it the most (think: Testing season, winter months)?
Who on the staff is the whimsy maven? Tap those who know how to bring out the joy, amplify their ideas, and celebrate them for it.
Challenge yourself: What’s one thing YOU would like to do to elevate the joy in your role?
If you’re telling yourself “I can’t do it, I’m too important!” Sit with with that. Why? What are you afraid of? Worried you won’t be taken seriously? When doubt about being silly as a leader creeps in for me, I remember that Barack Obama made a whole “Thanks Obama” video while trying to dunk cookies in milk. If he can do it, so can we (Yes, we can!).
*If you’d like to discuss coaching, leadership circles for your teams or PD/retreat, don’t hesitate to reach out - I promise to bring the whimsy and make it meaningful and fun!