Introducing a new DES workshop, “Creating Connection and Belonging on Teams”
As leading remote and hybrid teams becomes the norm, leaders are challenged with bringing their teams together while apart. To help address this need, Department of Enterprise Services (DES) learning specialists developed a new half-day workshop, “Creating Connection & Belonging on Teams.”
In this instructor-led workshop, leaders learn fun and effective ways to increase purpose, connection, and belonging in their virtual and hybrid meetings. Learners are guided through a structured process of creating activities they can use with their teams to build connection and belonging.
The workshop begins with a “warm welcome” to set the tone and demonstrate the importance of engaging people right away. It addresses the concepts of connection and belonging — what these terms mean and why they’re important for teams. Strategies for minimizing “othering” are discussed. “Team leaders can practice the techniques they’ll learn in this workshop, but they won’t lead to belonging if othering is present,” said Elizabeth Castro, one of the workshop facilitators.
DES learning design and delivery professionals partnered with staff from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to pilot test the workshop. Feedback from pilot workshop participants was overwhelmingly positive, with a number of learners suggesting that the workshop would be useful to all employees as well as leaders. Learners also noted the positive impact of the workshop on their individual sense of engagement and feeling heard and valued.
A core aspect of the workshop is co-designing a short activity with a small group and delivering that activity to a slightly larger group of participants. A few participants noted that the structure provided made the activity doable. “We provide ideas, templates, and detailed instructions to help learners create a short activity that is meaningful and fun to share,” said Jodi Kline, a facilitator for the workshop. “Learners reported their design session left them excited and empowered by the creation process.”
Workshop activities are oriented around sharing about oneself, doing something as a team, or learning together. Employees of agencies with access to the Washington State Learning Center can register via the Learning Center. Extended enterprise employees (people who do not have access to the Learning Center) can view the course in DES’ course catalog and get registration information. This workshop is also available for single-agency agreements (SAAs) for agencies wanting the workshop delivered specifically for their employees with optional modifications as needed.
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Elizabeth Castro (above left) and Jodi Kline (above right) are learning design and delivery professionals with the Workforce Learning and Performance team at DES. They facilitate leadership development courses across the Washington state enterprise.
