Team Collaboration and Design Workshops

The power of cross-functional teams to envision possibilities via design thinking workshops is an extremely valuable way to deliver new value. Company’s that fully embrace the creative capabilities that reside in their employees have the sensibility that they can leverage innovation as a a core cultural value. Design thinking approaches and tools represent a perfect framework for creating and delivering programs that can help identify new business strategy’s, product roadmaps, customer experiences while also aligning and motivating at team’s mission.

The key success factors utilizing these workshops to support and channel creativity are based on a few key workshop development principles.

1. Identify, as specifically as possible, the workshop’s sponsors key objectives and clearly outline the workshops deliverables and associated timelines. One of the most disappointing outcomes, is that the workshop can inspire and be rewarding day or two of teamwork but then…the ideas don’t seem to materialize.
2. Interview the leadership participants regarding their views and expectations regarding their needs, expectations, fears, and any wish list items they would like to see addressed. Also who they would like to include.
3. Based on the needs and goals, perhaps also size of the group, select the design thinking tools and activities that would help support the goals and audience. Thoughtful attention to these activities, the inputs, outputs and ultimate deliverables greatly help to make the workshop a pleasant experience for the participants. Most, importantly, this pre-work determines how the workshops inputs and outputs can be materialize into quantifiable results.
4. Develop a draft agenda that breaks down each of the discovery sessions. The following structure as an example;

• Goal: Workshop Expectations, Goal/Objectives, Logistics.
• Output: Start List of needed definitions, List of questions for customers, Homework Notes.
• Handouts: Agenda, Workshop Values.
• Materials: Large Post-its, Lists (needed definitions, customer questions, homework findings)
• Topics: What/Why vs. How/When. Workshop Format, (Exercises, Questions, Findings); Output, Housekeeping.
• Exercise 0: Self Introductions; Homework Findings, Large group discussion.
• Process Steps: a) Facilitator to open workshop with quick overview of goal, agenda, workshop principles and values, housekeeping topics. b) Move on to self-introductions and homework review exercise.

5. Circulate the “draft agenda” for feedback to all participants. Gather feedback, answer questions, and publish a final agenda a few days before the workshop. This is one of the best ways a facilitator can get a sense of everyone’s individual comfort levels and address any areas of concern.

6. Develop “Facilitator” Notes for each of the activities that line up the the participant. This is handy in the case you have co-facilitators but it also allows the facilitator to anticipate organizational needs and any participant recruitment which may be required at any given point.

7. Develop a Workshop presentation that can be used to provide a “map” of the workshop activities, breaks, purposes. This helps to keep the group oriented and realizing what progress is being made midst what can somewhat feel as a very abstract “brainstorming” experience. This approach also allows the facilitator the opportunity to check-in with participates on emerging themes, concerns, and questions that arise that would could either be recorded or addressed to keep things moving smoothly.

8. During the workshop itself, it is critical for the facilitator be able to manage the different personality types and adherence to the workshop values introduced at the beginning of the session. This can include role modeling, inviting the quieter people to contribute more or the verbose folks to channel their energy.

9. Ensuring time for a wrap-up at a point where there is still enough energy and brain power to not only be  retrospective regarding the design thinking activities but also provide for the most important workshop topic…”potential next steps.”

10. The workshop readout is the facilitator’s opportunity to relay the important work and accomplishments of the workshop itself. It must also convey the team’s feedback on what next steps they would like the workshop take under consideration. Lastly, this readout includes key themes, recommendations, and any additional discovery that would be helpful across the organization, with partners, and/or with customers.