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

Leaders Of Transformation

How Can Play Revolutionize Your Workplace?

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?

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

Episode Show Notes and Additional Resources:

https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/513-it-pays-to-play-revolutionizing-workplace-culture-through-play-with-kristi-herold/

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

________

📣 SUBSCRIBE to the Leaders of Transformation Podcast

👇 CONNECT with Nicole Jansen on Social Media

▶︎ YOUTUBE

▶︎ INSTAGRAM

▶︎ FACEBOOK

▶︎ LINKEDIN

▶︎ X/TWITTER