Strategic Playing: Why In-Person Connection Still Matters

I recently spent two hours with a team that works in one of the highest-stress professions you can imagine. Their days move quickly, their decisions carry real weight, and they rarely get the luxury of slowing down. Which is why this session—two hours of genuine connection and shared laughter—was far more meaningful than it may sound on the surface.

The Power of Being in the Same Room

The moment the group gathered in person, something shifted. You could feel people relax. Shoulders dropped. Conversations started before we even began. These are the small, almost invisible cues that simply don’t translate through a screen.

There’s a growing body of research that supports this. Studies on organizational culture consistently show that in-person interaction strengthens trust, increases psychological safety, and improves collaboration. One study from the University of Oxford found that when people laugh together—even briefly—it boosts endorphins, strengthens social bonds, and increases the likelihood of cooperative behavior.

And that’s exactly what I saw happening in real time.

Play as a Pathway to Connection

This session wasn’t about strategic planning. It was about strategic playing.

We used simple activities like Yes… And, group Wordle, and Fortunately/Unfortunately—not as fillers, but as tools. These games help people break out of familiar communication patterns, listen more closely, and respond more generously.

We also explored The Curse of Knowledge—that tendency we all have to assume others know what we know. Through the activities, the team got to experience how quickly miscommunication can happen, and how easily clarity returns when we stay curious and build on each other’s ideas.

Laughter wasn’t a distraction from the work. It was the work.

Research backs this up too. Teams that laugh together show higher levels of creativity, better problem-solving, and greater group cohesion. Shared humor increases oxytocin—the same chemical tied to trust—and Cambridge research has shown that it measurably improves team resilience.

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone—Safely

What stood out most was the willingness of the group to participate fully. People stepped outside their comfort zones—not because they had to, but because the environment felt safe enough to try.

For teams living under constant stress, these moments aren’t just enjoyable; they’re restorative. They allow people to release tension, reconnect with one another, and reset mentally in a way that builds genuine resilience.

Fun With a Purpose

My workshops center around one simple idea: fun with a purpose.

Play isn’t extra. It isn’t fluff. It’s a tool for stronger communication, deeper trust, and healthier relationships at work. When a team takes time to reconnect as people—not just professionals—everything that follows becomes easier. Collaboration, productivity, morale, and even retention all improve.

What happened in that room reaffirmed something I’ve believed for a long time:

Teams don’t just need strategy. They need connection. They need human moments. They need space to laugh, reflect, and reset—together.

In person.

Fully present.

Ready to grow stronger because of it.