Skip to content The best ideas don’t come at a desk. They come from play.
At an experiential marketing company, people were encouraged to explore. Individually in pairs,
they visited pop -up events, museum exhibitions, or local festivals . When needed , admission was
reimbursed . Each month , the full team came together to debrief: What did you notice? What
inspired you? How could we use these ideas to create better experiences for our clients ?
The result? Fresh ideas, stronger collaboration, and a shared collection of insights for future
projects. Over time, reviewing this database at the start of each new project became a spark for
inspiration and ideation.
Why it matters: Engagement grows when people are exposed to new ideas and environments.
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace (2023) identified learning and development
opportunities as a top driver of engagement worldwide . Creating space for exploration is one
of the simplest ways to deliver those opportunities. And it does more than fuel ideas. It shows
respect for curiosity, strengthens the people –manager relationship, and helps remote and
hybrid teammates connect . Exposure to unexpected places and experiences expands creativity
and builds momentum for future work.
Everyday Moves
Give people time to explore. Give people a few hours each year to explore something new , even
if outside your industry.
Cover the cost when needed. Even if many experiences are free, paying for admission signals
that exploration is valued.
Debrief as a team. Ask what inspired people and how it could connect back to the work.
Document insights in a shared collection. Build a database of takeaways, then review it at the
start of new projects for fresh ideas.
Work and play do not have to be opposites. When organizations make room for exploration,
they spark innovation, strengthen collaboration, and uncover better ways to serve their
clients. Most importantly, they build the trust and engagement that keep people connected.
What’s one step you could take to give your people the chance to explore and bring fresh
ideas back to the team?
LinkedIn Week 11 Posts
