The Strategy Top Performers Use to Master Technology—It’s Not What You Think

The world is transforming at breakneck speed, leaving us to navigate new tools and technologies daily. But what if I told you the secret to mastering these changes isn't another crash course or user's guide? It's something you've been doing since childhood: play. Rediscovering play could be the key to not just adapting to technology, but thriving with it.

Play isn’t just for kids—it’s essential for growth and learning at every stage of life. As Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown explain in A New Culture of Learning, play thrives in the balance between the rules of a system and the freedom to explore within it. It’s in this creative tension that real learning happens.

Imagine exploring a new technology like it’s a 'sandbox game'—a space where you can poke around, make mistakes, and build. In fact, Gregg Thompson emphasizes in The Master Coach that play can predict outcomes in a safe environment, letting you learn without real-world stakes. And let’s not forget the joy it brings—in the words of Dale Carnegie, 'people rarely succeed unless they have fun doing it.' When play becomes part of the process, success feels less like work and more like a natural outcome.

3 Ways to Embrace Play with Technology

Treat New Tools Like a Game. Think of your first interaction with a new app or software as a challenging level in a video game. What’s the objective? How many different ways can you achieve it? Explore without worrying about mistakes—they’re part of the play. For instance, a new project management tool like Asana or Trello? Create a mock project just for fun! Test its features by planning something non-work related, like a vacation or a passion project. By exploring freely, you’ll uncover tips and tricks you might have missed in a rigid demo.

Create Low-Stakes Experimentation Zones

Bring your team into a collaborative 'sandbox' where innovation and play can flourish. Choose a technology your team is curious about and spend an hour just exploring it together with no pressure to perform—no goals or deliverables required. Tools like Slack, AI platforms, or whiteboarding apps can be explored in this way. You might even celebrate 'failed' ideas that spark laughter or creativity—it’s these moments that often lead to breakthroughs.

Set Aside “Playtime” for Personal Growth

Dedicate 20 minutes a week as 'playtime' to experiment with a new tool or technology. Use this time to do something fun and unrelated to work: try generative AI to generate creative stories, take a virtual reality tour, or explore coding platforms for beginners. Over time, this play builds confidence and adaptability, while uncovering ways these tools could enhance your productivity or career.

Just Play

The next time you feel daunted by new technology, set aside the fear of ‘getting it wrong’ and approach it with the lighthearted curiosity of play. Try things. Make mistakes. Laugh at the unexpected outcomes. Play isn’t just a distraction; it’s a powerful way to learn, innovate, and adapt in a fast-changing world.

What tool or technology will you play with this week? Take a chance, dive in, and see where exploration leads you. I’d love to hear how it goes! Let me know.

.Kent

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