S1E11: Being Playful with Lisa Lloyd

Ever wondered how playfulness and authentic communication could revolutionise workplace culture and transform leadership? In this episode, Chris talks with Lisa Lloyd, a psychologist whose journey from traditional corporate environments to pioneering human-centred approaches offers fascinating insights into how creating the right environment enables both people and businesses to flourish.

Lisa shares her compelling perspective on workplace dynamics, revealing how understanding and responding to human needs creates environments where creativity, innovation, and authentic connection can thrive. Through her work with organisations across various sectors, she demonstrates how focusing on the human side of business leads to better performance and engagement.

The conversation explores the deep connection between environment, emotional awareness, and performance, with Chris and Lisa diving deep into:

• How creating psychologically safe environments enables peak performance
• Why pausing and self-awareness are crucial for effective leadership
• The importance of normalising emotional responses in professional settings
• How playfulness naturally emerges when stress levels decrease
• The role of curiosity in fostering innovation and connection

Key insights include:

• The distinction between controlling performance and creating conditions for excellence
• How acknowledging emotions can transform team dynamics
• The importance of leaders modelling authentic behaviour
• Why collective intelligence trumps individual brilliance
• The power of understanding and working with our natural stress responses

The discussion takes fascinating turns into how both playfulness and emotional awareness can help manage uncertainty, foster genuine connections, and create environments where innovation flourishes. Chris and Lisa explore how maintaining self-awareness and encouraging authentic expression leads to more effective leadership and deeper workplace relationships.

A particularly powerful moment comes when Lisa shares her experience working with a managing director who acknowledged his discomfort with one-to-one interactions, leading to a compelling exploration of how owning our strengths and weaknesses enables more authentic and effective leadership.

Want to learn more about Lisa's work? You can find her at:

• Website: Its Time for Change
• LinkedIn: Lisa Lloyd

This episode offers valuable insights for leaders, consultants, and anyone interested in how creating the right environment through playfulness and authentic communication can transform both personal and organisational growth journeys.