BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
www.mrca.org  —  Midwest Roofer
8
G
rit, discipline, and a get-it-
done attitude are qualities 
we take great pride in. 
However, many of us came to believe 
that professionalism is linked with seriousness and 
that play had no place in the workplace or on a 
construction site. As someone who appreciates 
enjoyment as well as someone who has spent 
enough time with weary workers and burned-out 
estimators to know that something has to give, I 
want to question that notion.
What if adding a little play to our operations served 
as a performance tool rather than a diversion?
What We Get Wrong About Play
The word “play” conjures up thoughts of idleness, 
or waste of business funds. However, according 
to organizational psychology, play is an inherently 
driven activity that fosters participation, flexibility, 
creativity, and interpersonal relationships. Play is 
not the opposite of work, it serves as its fuel. 
That fuel is frequently scarce in a field like ours 
that is high-pressure and high-stakes. 
We frequently focus on increasing productivity 
through stricter scheduling, improved logistics, 
or more oversight, but we hardly ever inquire 
as to whether employees are emotionally and 
cognitively engaged in their work. Your bottom line 
is significantly more at risk from a distracted crew 
member who is merely going through the motions 
than from someone who is laughing while working.
The Business Case for Play
According to research, play-based settings 
contribute to better learning, stronger team 
relationships, lower stress levels, and higher levels 
of innovation, something that many corporate 
leaders outside of our sector already know. 
Businesses have incorporated play into their work 
environments because it helps them outperform 
their rivals, not because it’s trendy. 
The ROI of play may appear slightly different in 
SERIOUS WORK, 
STRATEGIC PLAY: 
UNLOCKING PRODUCTIVITY
The roofing industry doesn’t play around, and that’s exactly the problem.
By: Jonah Moore, Kreiling Roofing Company

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