Do Leaders Really Outgrow Play?

Do Leaders Really Outgrow Play? A Note from the Training Room

Earlier last month, I had the privilege of facilitating a workshop for a truly mixed group — leaders and team members in the same room.

The brief?
Make it practical, engaging, Include activities — but, and I quote, “nothing childish!”

Ah yes, the age-old hesitation:
"Fun is great… but let’s not make it too silly — we have leaders in the room!"

As someone who’s been in the L&D space for over two decades, I’ve seen this mindset crop up many times. And honestly? It always makes me smile. Because the moment the workshop begins, something amazing happens:

Everyone — and I mean everyone — leans in.
They laugh, they compete, they collaborate, they problem-solve.
And yes, sometimes they even crawl on all fours (true story!).

Whether you’re a team member or a CXO, the desire to play, connect, and stretch your thinking through creative experiences is universal. The moment we give adults permission to learn differently — through stories, play, movement, reflection — something shifts.

They stop worrying about looking “grown up,” and start focusing on growing.
So here’s a gentle nudge to all the L&D professionals, HR leaders, and facilitators out there:

Let’s design for relevance, not age. Let’s drop the labels of “childish” and “serious.” Let’s honour what works — learning that sticks, sparks curiosity, and leads to action.

Because when the learning is real, no one minds getting a little silly along the way. 😉

What’s the most unexpected learning activity you’ve seen a senior leader enjoy? I’d love to hear your stories!