Solutions December 2017 | Page 23

With Mark Sanborn is because you can. Nobody is performing at their maximum capability (or at least nobody I’ve ever met has tried to make that claim). The Potential Principle is this: we all know how good we’ve become, but none of us know how good we could be. You speak of the importance of “play” and encourage your readers to begin playing again. How is “play” related to performance and what are some of the ways leaders can incorporate playtime into their busy lives? Mark: Play inspires us because it is fun. I’m not referring to being frivolous, but rather to bringing a sense of play—wonderment, creativity, adventure and fun—to your work. Somber people rarely create inspired results. If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, chances are your colleagues and customers aren’t enjoying doing business with you. How can “play” bring artistry to performance? Mark: Jack Stack wrote a terrific book years ago that has become a system and mantra for many companies. It Solutions 23