Playfulness, Humor, and a Safe Space

A lighter touch can open up new perspectives

When faced with a difficult problem, a group can get stuck in familiar solutions. An unusual question or kind humor can help people look at the situation from a different angle. For example: “What would our process look like if we designed it for someone who knows nothing about us?”

But being playful doesn’t mean ignoring consequences. A joke at a colleague’s expense can make them less willing to speak up. Humor is useful when it lightens a shared problem, not when it ridicules a person or their concerns.

A good creative space lets people share an imperfect idea without being immediately humiliated. That doesn’t mean criticism is banned. After exploring ideas, it’s time for a constructive evaluation. The difference is whether you’re evaluating the idea or the person who suggested it.

When brainstorming as a group, you can start with a short round where everyone writes down their ideas individually. Share them afterwards. That way, the discussion doesn’t revolve around the loudest person from the start.

Not everyone enjoys improvising or joking in front of a group. The option to submit an idea in writing is just as valid. The goal is to bring in a range of perspectives, not to force everyone to have fun.

If an absurd idea comes up, try to see whether it contains a useful principle. “Let’s just stop customers from contacting us!” might be an exaggeration, but it raises the question of what information is missing from the website.

Try it out: Next time you’re tackling a problem together, offer one playful question and then ask what, if anything, in the answers could be useful in practice. Notice whether more people join in.