I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys R Us kid.

If you look around my office, you’ll see Gumby & Pokey, Shrek, Mr. Potato Head and Mr. M&M. Hiding in a cabinet drawer are Nemo, a blue dog whose head bobs when you touch it and accessories to transform the plastic spud in to Mrs. Potato Head. I wish I knew what happened to my plastic soldiers.

So why all the silliness in a business office? Come on … admit that you’ve got some toys or games hiding somewhere in your office. Be brave. Put them out for everyone to see. More importantly, put them out for you to see. These toys make me comfortable … and that helps when thinking, writing, talking and taking action.

Business is hard enough. Find devices that help you soften that hardness a little to interact better with staff and clients. And if your boss asks you why you’re playing with toys during work hours, just tell him/her you read in a self-help book how much it leads to increased work productivity.