513: It Pays to Play! Revolutionizing Workplace Culture Through Play with Kristi Herold

Subscribe: RSS

How Can Play Revolutionize Your Workplace?

Kristi Herold

In this engaging episode, Nicole Jansen sits down with Kristi Herold, founder and CEO of JAM Group and author of It Pays to Play: How Play Improves Business Culture, to explore how integrating fun and play into the workplace can drastically improve culture, productivity and profitability.

Kristi shares her inspiring journey, starting with organizing social events in high school to creating a vibrant company specializing in adult recreational sports leagues and corporate events. With her commitment to fostering fun and connection, Kristi reveals actionable strategies and real-life examples of how play can lead to happier employees, stronger teams, and ultimately, better business outcomes.

Ranked in 2020 Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women and a leader of a global company that has connected millions of people through play, producing and delivering over 4,000 playful corporate events in over 30 countries, Kristi offers a fresh perspective as a businesswoman who understands both the importance of valuing your team and driving business performance.

What We Discuss in this Episode

Why are fun and memorable moments crucial at work?
How can underutilized office amenities become culture-building tools?
What’s wrong with relying solely on annual events for team bonding?
How can regular, creative social interactions foster a great workplace culture?
What is the JAM house system and how does it ignite camaraderie?
How do diverse activities cater to various employee interests?
What are the personal and professional benefits of social sports like pickleball?
How does outsourcing event planning benefit HR and culture teams?
Why is playful and clear communication important in maintaining a vibrant work environment?
How does Kristi’s organization support internal connectivity and enhance employee engagement?

Podcast Highlights

0:00 – Introduction

1:37 – The Importance of Fun and Memorable Moments at Work

3:11 – Underutilized Office Amenities and Their True Potential

6:15 – Why Annual Events Aren’t Enough for Great Workplace Culture

10:05 – Integrating Play into Daily Work Life Innovatively and Affordably

13:30 – House Systems and Playful Competitions at JAM

16:45 – Real-life Examples of Successful Workplace Fun Initiatives

20:12 – Benefits of Social Sports and Mental Health Insights

24:35 – The Role of Virtual and In-Person Events in Team Building

28:04 – Outsourcing Event Organization to Benefit HR

30:37 – Launching Gully Cricket—Innovative Ideas from Playful Interactions

34:52 – Participation Processes and Encouraging Joint Activities

37:05 – Connecting Fun with Business Networking and Client Acquisition

40:20 – Conclusion and Special Offer from Kristi Herold

Favorite Quotes

Employee Engagement: “People remember the fun moments, not the boardroom meetings.”

Diverse Activities: “Fun should always be optional—offer diverse activities to cater to different interests.”

Leadership and Fun: “Leaders should champion play to drive engagement and productivity, showing it through their own participation.”

Episode Resources

Get the LEADERS OF TRANSFORMATION community PLAYING with this Special Offer:

10 recommendations on how to integrate PLAY at work with Kristi’s free PLAYbook. PLUS 25% off a JAM event with your team: https://www.kristiherold.com/lot25/

Book: It Pays to Play: How Play Improves Business Culture

Website: www.jamgroup.com

Connect with Kristi Herold and JAM Group

Personal Links:

Company Links:

Did You Enjoy This Episode?

If you enjoyed this episode please let us know! 5-star reviews for the Leaders Of Transformation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music are greatly appreciated. This helps us reach more purpose-driven entrepreneurs seeking to make a positive impact in the world. Thank you. Together, we can make a difference!

Other Episodes You May Like

Tags: