Welcome to the 173rd episode of Biz-Souls, where the boardroom meets the ball pit and spreadsheets shake hands with silliness! In this episode, Rona Lewis and Jeffrey Hansler cap off a three-book exploration into the weird and wonderful world of better business thinking — and guess what? This time, Rona wrote the book. Literally. Presenting: ‘Play and Profit – How Play Enhances Organizational Success’ by Rona Lewis! That’s right, after analyzing the deep dives of ‘Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction’ by Philip Tetlock and Dan Gardner (aka “crystal balling for data nerds”), and ‘Positive Intelligence’ by Shirzad Chamine (hello, inner Sage!), the Biz-Souls duo hits the trampoline of transformation with Rona’s brand-new guide to purposeful play. Play and Profit isn’t just about blowing bubbles in the breakroom — it’s a science-backed, fun-forward strategy that helps organizations innovate, embrace failure (without throwing staplers), and make smarter decisions with a smile. Jeffrey, naturally skeptical of anything involving finger painting outside kindergarten, challenges Rona on everything from the definition of “fun” to whether workplace dodgeball is tax-deductible. Rona, certified play professional and proud possessor of more bounce than a yoga ball, holds her own — even if she occasionally has to toss a metaphorical Nerf dart to get Jeffrey back on track. ‘Superforecasting’ taught us to expect the unexpected and Play and Profit helps us enjoy the unexpected. ‘Positive Intelligence’ helps us quiet the “Saboteur” in our minds and play helps us amplify our inner genius (and maybe our karaoke skills). Her book shares pathways to building psychologically safe environments… where it’s safe to fail, safe to laugh, and totally acceptable to have a LEGO sculpture on your desk. Rona introduces her P.L.A.Y! framework, a five-stage process designed to foster psychological safety, active listening, attunement, and yielding to creative processes. This approach encourages teams to embrace challenges as opportunities, leading to increased innovation and productivity. In this podcast you’ll discover how this discussion builds upon concepts from the previously covered books ‘Superforecasting’ and ‘Positive Intelligence’, illustrating how play complements strategic thinking and mental resilience in organizations. Special shout out to Jessica Brustad (Rona's original partner at Playful Mind Project), Cathy Arkle who designed the cover of Rona's new book, and James Franklin, who took amazing photos of Rona for the book. Tune in to discover how a playful mindset can revolutionize your organization's approach to success and take your team from burnout to bounce-back? Hit play, toss your tie in the air, and discover why business is better when you play it forward. #BizSouls #PlayAndProfit #WorkShouldBeFun #RonaRules #JeffreyJabsBack #PurposefulPlay #CorporateCultureShift #InnovationThroughPlay #Superforecasting #PositiveIntelligence #WorkplaceInnovation #TeamEngagement #LeadershipDevelopment #CorporateCulture
