Workshops for Creativity, Teambuilding and Problem Solving
My experience: Design Dash, Playcilitation, Theory U & more
Workshops in Theory
Definition
A workshop is a type of interactive meeting, that involves a larger group, that engage in a set of activities to discuss or solve a problem. Workshops create a space for deep, meaningful work to happen and also help to tap into the wisdom of the group. — Facilitator School
3 Fundamental Needs Addressed by Workshops
I recognize three fundamental needs that organizations often seek to address: creativity, teambuilding, and problem solving. Today’s business world rapidly-evolving. Organizations understand that a creative workforce is an innovative one, able to adapt to change quickly. In addition to creativity, teambuilding becomes a focal point as companies recognize the importance of cohesive and collaborative teams. A harmonious team not only boosts employee morale but also enhances productivity and encourages the exchange of diverse perspectives. However, the notion of teambuilding must be redefined by the recent increase in remote work especially in corporate work environments. In addition to creativity and teambuilding, leveraging workshops to enhance collective problem-solving capabilities can be paramount in navigating the complex challenges that organizations encounter. By addressing these three key aspects, workshops are assets contributing to a dynamic and resilient work culture. There are other aspects beyond the ones mentioned such as learning and mediation, however, since this article is based on my personal interest, I will not dive into these topics.
The Keys to a Successful Workshop
Active participation: Getting everyone involved is key to a successful workshop. Participants should be engaged in the process of co-creation and active dialogue to achieve a specific objective together.
Clear goals: To ensure the workshop accomplishes what you want, set and voice clear goals at the beginning. This involves determining the desired deliverables, knowledge and beliefs.
Warm and inviting environment: As the facilitator, it’s important to set the tone for the workshop. Relatableness, trustworthiness and listening create a more open environment for getting the most out of your participants.
Effective facilitation: Good facilitation is crucial to guiding participants toward achieving the goals while nurturing an engaging environment Facilitators should have the right skills and methods for different situations.
Application and feedback: The activities and materials being discussed should always be relatable and useful to those attending the workshop. Time should always be set aside following the workshop to make sure participants are applying the knowledge and skills learned and are getting the support they need.
Hidden Gems: Play & Movement
In the realm of workshops, two often overlooked dimensions that can significantly enhance people’s experience as well as the overall outcome are play and movement. Incorporating Play into sessions adds an element of creativity and spontaneity, encouraging participants to approach challenges with a fresh perspective by adopting different roles throughout the session. Movement, on the other hand, introduces a physical dynamic to the learning process, fostering a more engaged and energized atmosphere. Leveraging the mind and body connection can enhance creativity, spatial memory, and overall vitality. Play and movement not only contribute to a more enjoyable workshop environment but also unlock new avenues for problem-solving and teamwork. This way workshops transform into dynamic spaces where creativity thrives, teamwork flourishes, and problem-solving becomes a collaborative adventure.
Exploring Play & Movement is my key area of interest as a Facilitator. My background in giving Group Fitness Trainings equips me with a unique angle on how to tactfully guide people through space to create engaging and rejuvinating group experiences. I am curious to learn more about this in 2024 so let me know if you have hands on methods to share!
Workshop Concepts & My Experiences
Having introduced the concept of workshops, in this section I will reflect on the workshop formats that I have facilitated and experienced as a participant. Beyond explaining the formats I will the rate the workshop formats on the extend to which they stimulate the following benefits: Creativity, Collaboration, Play, and Movement.
The Design Dash
The Design Dash is an excellent tool to help people experience Design Thinking first hand. I used it during my time as a Service Designer in the department Design, Agile & Innovation at Zurich Insurance Germany in 2019. As part of the company’s agile transformation we used educated other departments about the Design Thinkng methodology and provided them with a first hand experience.
In short: The Design Dash is a 1-hour workshop format in which several teams consisting of 3 to 4 people each solve a fictional problem in six steps. The steps range from user research, to prototyping. Here are some tips from my experience facilitating the Design Dash if you are planning to use it. Make sure to read the complete guide first.
Tips for Practitioners: During the prototyping phase, I recommend to move beyond the Design Dash’s instructions by incooporating lego and other creative material into the exercises. Be truly creative in making this workshop template your own and tailoring it to your participants! Overall, the Design Dash is useful to teach participants the fundamentals of Design Thinking and give them a glimpse into the world of User-Centered Design. Participants will conduct interviews, derive insights and put their creative muscles at work. Upon their return to daily task, given continued support from experts, participants are likely to enhance their team’s capabilities to innovate.
- ++ Creativity
- ++ Collaboration
- + Play
- - Movement
Playcilitation at Atlassian
In November 2023 I attended the launch of Playcilitation at Atlassian. During the event we were introduced to the concept and experienced it first hand in a workshops facilitated by Tzoe. But what is Playcilitation? Well the event teased it with this description:
Playcilitation is a paradigm shift in team dynamics, merging playfulness and facilitation to revolutionize how teams collaborate and innovate
To paint a more concrete picture I’ll share my experience as a workshop participant with you. As you can see from the pictures we played two games. The first game was about building a tower by stacking wooden pieces on top of each. This was done using a specialised hook that each one of us controlled to a degree by pulling the string in our hand. Only by synchronising our goals and actions was it possible to land the hook in one of the blocks notches. This collaborative group effort was a balancing act and we failed a lot before finally completing the exercise. During our problem solving process we naturally refined our approach taking significant breaks. With each attempt to stack the blocks we thus became better at it. In the second game, 2 teams competed with one another in an advanced version of tic-tac-toe. During this game I felt a lot more freedom in several ways. On one hand, in terms of having less movement restrictions because it was not required to hold on to the string that kept you in proximity of the group’s center. On the other hand there was more freedom in individual expression because the groups were smaller and new people spoke up that were previously quiet. This was my experience as I recall it a few months later.
At the time, our Facilitator Tzoe Keat observed quite a few group dynamics during both exercises. Thus, after each game she prompted us to reflect in an open group setting. That way we arrived at some key insights about each person’s role and behaviour within this particular group setting. Insights like this that are drawn from playful, collaborative workshops, guided by an expert can unlock many avenues. They enable teams to realise how to improve their collaboration by communicating more effectively and playing to each team members personal strengths. In addition, playful exercises connect people and afford spontaneous interactions that may not occur during everyday office work.
- ++ Collaboration
- ++ Play
- + Movement
- - Creativity
Theory-U for Co-Creation & Social Innovation
Creativity, Collaboration, Movement and Play
I first encountered Theory U during my participation in the Young Innovators Honours Program while I did my HCI master’s at Utrecht University. I was intrigued by its socially transformative approach which greatly inspired me to think outside the box career wise. Mind you, before my introduction to Theory U, I thought my skills in design could only be used to build the latest tech product. The highest possible impact I could imagine at that point was creating an app for a sustainable company… I had no idea of the field of social design. Despite that, unbeknownst to me, I had already practiced social design prior to starting the program. I just didn’t know what to call it. I had started a social initiative to bring students together during covid by providing free fitness trainings. During the program I therefore, decided to apply the principles of Theory U within my impact-focused workout community.
Utilizing an online whiteboard platform, we engaged in a collaborative process of 2D modeling to visually represent the current state of our system. This step entails painting a picture of the actors and factors that impact a system’s surface dynamics. We were then able to uncover hidden layers of the groups dynamic through having an open dialogue in the safe space I created. On the basis of this, we could then collectively explore an emerging future. The Theory U framework served as a valuable tool to foster engagement, empathy, and co-creation among members, ultimately enriching our community’s positive impact.
- ++ Collaboration
- ++ Creativity
- + Movement (assuming 2D Modelling in an offline environment)
- - Play
Custom Problem Solving Workshops
Various elements from the methods that I presented can be combined to create new workshop formats that are tailored to a client’s needs. Read the case study below to find out how my team and I designed and tested a career workshop for 40 UX Designers using AI, and how we facilitated our session at the NS offices in Utrecht.
- ++ Collaboration
- ++ Creativity
- - Play
- - Movement
Lego Serious Play
Creativity, Collaboration, Movement and Play
Lego Serious Play emphasizes that effective leadership involves acknowledging that leaders may not have all the answers. Success is tied to actively listening to every voice in the room, recognizing people’s innate desire to contribute and take ownership in a collective effort. The approach aims to address suboptimal team dynamics, tapping into the untapped knowledge within team members. In our complex and adaptive world, fostering an environment where every member can contribute and voice their perspectives leads to a more sustainable business.
The aim marketed by Lego Serious Play (LSP) Facilitators and Agencies resonates with my integration of Lego into the Design Dash and strongly reminds me of my Playcilitation experience described above. I look forward to experimenting with LSP method’s and playbook’s in the future.
- ++ Collaboration
- ++ Play
- ++ Creativity
- - Movement
— — — END OF FILE ;)
Additional Reading
Website: Design Dash — Molly Clare Wilson: Link
Website: What is a Workshop — Facilitator School: Link
Website: Theory U — U-School: Link
Website: Introducing Playcilitation — Atlassian: Link
Website: Lego Serious Play — Lego: Link
Book: The Secrets of Facilitation — Michael Wilkinson: Link
Book: Visual Thinking — Williemien Brand: Link
