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Symes Group like to do things a little differently and they had some surprises up their sleeve at the World of Business Ideas conference this year.
Creative director Barbara Harvey designed and manned the creative playcentre, an interactive space designed to get people talking, thinking and … playing.
“When we saw that Sir Ken Robinson was speaking about creativity we thought it would be so fitting to create a space for the delegates to engage in creative play,” Barbara said. “We wanted the space to be fun, childlike, colourful, engaging and, above all, to tickle a creative spirit that might be forgotten about.”
In between presentations, delegates were invited to try their hands at puzzles, art, juggling, or playing the xylophone – all in the name of creativity.
“The two most popular items played and engaged with were Lego and play dough. And when we invited Sir Ken Robinson to the playcentre he loved seeing the play dough, saying ‘I love play dough, it's not used enough’.”
Barbara said the challenge to show their creativity was confronting for some.
“There were so many people that came up had a look and declared to me ‘Oh, I'm not creative”, walking away a little afraid. Which is so interesting because I believe that the biggest barrier to a person’s ability to be creative – and especially to think creatively – is their belief in how creative they are. If you think you're not creative or can't be, chances are you won't be.”
But people got the idea.
“The second day people started to really open up,” she said.
“Some of the great moments included delegates dressing up with the masks and boas, lots of conversations while making shapes with play dough and a few jamming sessions with the xylophone and ukuleles.
The concept proved a huge success.
“Overall I had an absolute ball. I was completely in my element, talking to random people trying to encourage them to juggle, drum and play. I had so many interesting conversations with intriguing, intelligent and insightful people.
“I hope we were successful in bringing some colour and fun to the WOBI foyer 2018.”
World of Business Ideas general manager Australia Malisa Milnaric was delighted with the playcentre.
“It was a beautifully designed space where senior-level executives were able to let their inner creative child run free by drawing, juggling, playing instruments and games.
“It captured the attention of many executives, along with world creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson.”
Symes Group also had a number of invited guests at the conference, including representatives from Microsoft, Arcadis, Westpac and Cisco. A special “think tank” lunch was mediated by Sodia board director and former Medibank Private CEO George Savvides. George got the group talking, posing questions like:
What do we need in leaders?
How do leaders invest in change for tomorrow – break through the vortex of inertia?
Sir Ken talked about doing away with the hierarchy in the workplace.
How do we achieve this?
George also touched on empathy, citing Fred Lee’s book If Disney Ran Your Hospital: 9½ Things You Would Do Differently.
It described the power of empathy in the healing process, highlighting the value of striving for it in the workplace.
The lunch provided a welcome opportunity for guests to interact and discuss some of the concepts covered in the talks.
Above: Sodia board director George Savvides.
Left: Kylie Owen of Cisco and Amy Baxendale of Arcadis.
Right: Symes Group's Barbara Harvey.