In the modern cult of busy-ness we find ourselves careering from intense work to family commitments to intense exercise and self-improvement, but when do we make time for pure fun? Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing, we became self-conscious. Leisure time might be zombie-time in front of the TV, phone, or computer, or it might be training for a marathon or pumping iron. But these activities don’t rejuvenate like free play does. Free Play can be an important source of relaxing back into the body and letting go of stress.

Looking at the past gives us a great insight into the constancy of the human condition. We may have had incredible scientific and technological advances but ancient wisdom remains ever valuable because human foibles are pretty consistent. The stoics still have a lot to teach us…

This way of operating draws heavily on traditional management approaches which were very rational, scientific, ‘masculine’ ways of doing things. It did not allow for the more ‘feminine’ aspects of organisational development, flattened structures, collaboration, empathy, nurture, to name but a few. . . .

We need to be mindful that self-sacrifice is seen as the ultimate medal of honour in this culture of busy, and we risk slipping into superwoman when we mix up caring for our team with taking on board too much or too many of their problems. . . .