After working in Brazil, the US and the UK as both a lawyer and Creative Director, Rubens Filho co-founded Learning & Development company Abracademy to bring a little more magic to the world. Here, Rubens talks to FormScore about the value of injecting FUN into our working lives.

Why is having fun in the workplace important?

Fun is a positive emotion. Positive emotions broaden our thinking, making us more creative and able to see new possibilities. Stress, on the other hand, makes us overly focused on the details. While too much of either can be counterproductive, the most successful organisations champion more positive emotions.

Another important factor of fun is that it's key to building trusted relationships at work, whilst also increasing our capacity to learn. During play, we create empathy and learn how to do things collaboratively, to improvise, and to stay in the moment. When we're having fun, we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
We spend a large amount of our lives at work. Work can be stressful and intense, and that can seriously impact our health. Fun is a magic ingredient that can bring emotional security even in the most difficult situations. Let fun work its magic!

Do you think grown-ups have the right balance of work and play in their lives?

I think grown-ups are missing out! They care too much about being productive and, by doing so, forget to play. They become less productive, struggle to shift out of judgment mode, and end up paying a high price. Of course, some adults have a good balance; this can depend on their profession. But, as a rule, we adults have a lot of 'work' to do to introduce more play into our lives.

Your company Abracademy uses magic to facilitate learning; why magic?

Magic is an interesting tool in the learning space: the fact that you ask this question proves the point! Interest and curiosity are the first steps to effective learning. This is how children learn – by constantly asking questions about their environment.

Effective learning depends on good engagement, and magic is a fantastic tool to achieve just that. It's worth emphasising here how broad and varied magic is. Using magic allows us to explore a vast number of subjects – from empathy and curiosity, to decision-making and creativity.

The neuroscience of magic talks about the glitches and gaps of the brain: psychology informs us about social skills, and magic creates connection, belonging and communication, whilst also boosting confidence and self-awareness.

Magic is also extremely memorable. When a team experiences an Abracademy session, they don't forget it as soon as the workshop is over. There's a lasting effect that will benefit the group for a long time to come. That's why we call our workshops Magic Moments!

What would you say to an employer who thinks that play has no place in the world of work?

I would ask them to try it before dismissing it. Fun and play are associated with job satisfaction. Not only that, but great companies provide the best vision of our future. And a future without fun or play is not one I want to live in!

In this time of Covid, fun is a great way to help employees cope with all the uncertainty out there.

Do you think the pandemic has shifted our focus when it comes to prioritising happiness and fun?

I think the world's focus shifted towards resilience rather than happiness or fun, but the more we understand wellbeing and mental health, the more we'll understand the importance of play. It's a great way to build positive relationships and increase emotional awareness. In turn, this gives work more meaning, and creates more happiness, awe and curiosity. Ta-da!

And finally, are you a wizard?

Indeed I am: I'm Director of Spells (CEO misses the playful aspect of my work). I create magic spells; supporting teams and organisations in unleashing their own magic.

To find more about Rubens and the wonders of Abracademy, head on over to their magical website.