Me, myself and I…So nice to meet you
Teamwork Survival Toolbox
FROM: Unknown
Your mission if
you accept it:
Make the whole
project team
collaborate
efficiently
This phone will
self-destroy in
10 sec.
WE ARE A TEAM
The job is done by people
Give their role back to them
socialize before / during work
Society, mentalities evolve
Change meeting dynamic
More ideas, different ideas, innovation
Make more sense
Encourage differences, disruptive thinking, out of the box
More agile
Validate strategic choices
More support and engagement
More performance (part of it, understand)
Let’s build a toolbox!
[Brainstorming, mind mapping…] & workshops
GOALS
1.
Communicate
openly (taboo-free)
2.
Allow
catharsis
(what needs to be told)
3.
Integrate
perceptions
(because they are « real » too)
4.
Use a twist of
humor
(makes the medicine go down)
5.
Stimulate
creativity
(think different)
6.
Stay
coherent
(group cohesion)
7.
Learn
the message (roadmap, plan, steps...)
8.
Envision the
future
(and plan it)
Alternate and combine workshops
Be prepared!
Before you start…
COGNITIVE
BIASES
1.
Confirmation:
I only consider information that reinforce my views
2.
Attention
:
I only see what I like most and consider it more
3.
Self-satisfaction:
I own my success, others are to blame for my failures
4.
Knowledge:
I only trust my knowledge and don’t look for other elements or
views to understand a situation
5.
Ambiguity:
I tend to ignore options for which I lack information
RESISTANCE
1.
Active / passive disapproval
2.
Rejection, help refusal
3.
Tensions, asking for help, withdraw
4.
Depressive, disillusioned people
5.
Opposition, blame, bashing
6.
Ego-tripping, egocentric, selfish people
Might be encountered…BUT their opposite (more often) too…
It is
YOUR
responsibility to manage it as a Moderator
but
THEIR
success is so good.
A workshop?
Open communication
Positive understanding
Future vision
Group coherence
‘
About what exactly?
Communicate Openly
•
Moody Woodpecker
•
Catch the peanut
•
Like it or Not
•
News or Fake News
Moody
Woodpecker
Everyone choses one toon-man on the picure that fits the best
with him / his mood in the given context (project, company,
team…). They put a pin or sticker on the spot
In turns, people describe and explain their choice and eventually
how things might change / improve.
The Moderator notes the positive and negative aspects and
communicate how / when feedback and actions will eventually
take place.
!
!
This mainly is a projective workshop
-
RESPECT
others
- Comments or discussion may be optional
- Limit the allocated time per person
- Play along (start in order to break the ice)
Material etc.
Pretty easy
but…
30 min – 60 min
Give them enough time (5 min) to discover the tree
Ask for the first volunteer instead of going around the table
- describe and explain their choice
- elaborate (are they on the tree, outside, why…)
Keep an eye on the timing (5-10 min / p.p. is generally enough)
Moderator needs a good psychology / social background (framing…)
Tree can be projected (overhead) or printed out
Opening: explain the rules (respect…)
Closure: Make sure feedback and actions will be done when possible
(possibly taken care upfront with decision makers)
Emotional / timing /
psycho-trip
5 – 10 people
Like it or Not
Everyone writes
3 things he/she likes and 3
things he/she dislikes
on colored post-its and fix them in the respective columns on the
dedicated wall.
Topics are prioritized with the help of colored stickers (1,2,3)
The group reviews the topics on the wall and infers a synthesis
and possible improvements / action points.
!
!
Group dynamics is key
-
RESPECT
others’ viewpoints, benevolent attitude
- PARK if too emotional
- Perceptions are NOT people
- Let the group decide
Material etc.
Easy
45-60 min
Independent or neutral moderator may help
Do not guide or decide – just moderate
Rephrase, ask for elaboration, active listening
Do not allow critics – just explanations
Ensure topics are general enough
Ensure the list is not too long so that it can be managed
Opening: remind them the rules (respect, open-minded…)
Closure: summarize and draw conclusions together with the group
Criticize / Debate
4 – 15 people
2
1
3
News / Fake News
Everyone writes 3 – 5 news and 3 – 5 fake news on color post-its
(e.g. news are green and fake news are orange) and post them on
the dedicated wall
The moderator picks news and fake news in turns and reviews
them with the group.
The group decides (after the discussion) which ones are real news
and which ones are fake news.
The Moderator summarizes and « rebuilds » the wall with real
news only. A clear « News » header is affixed and the wall is shared.
!
!
Moderation is key
-
RESPECT
others
- PARK if too emotional
- News are NOT people
- Limit the allocated time per topic
Material etc.
Somewhat Difficult
120 min
Independent or neutral moderator may help
Moderator needs to know the business / context
Moderation is required for the discrimination phase (choosing news)
Ask people why they think fake news are spread and how to limit them
Opening: give them examples of news and fake news (out of context)
Closure: summarize and clarify
Discrimination phase / politics / propaganda
4 – 15 people
Understand each other’s
•
Geopolitics
•
If I were U
•
Personas
Empathy map
Put yourself
into their shoes
26
Geopolitics
Several team representatives involved in the same project /
organization are invited. They all get a map
Each team indicate
on their map
the key elements that define
them
Main resources / activities / responsibilities
Exchanges with other teams
Needs / Requirements
Maps are progressively put in common and discussed with the
whole group, then explained to the whole teams (outside)
!
Moving from step 2 to step 3 is key
-
No communication before in common
- Perception + learning what others do
- Ensure transmission after the workshop
Material etc.
90 – 120 min.
Moderator must know about the context and organization
No communication allowed between teams before maps are compared (distance)
Final understanding and agreement is key in the end to ensure support
and transmission
Not too many participants (reconciliation becomes long
/ difficult)
Opening: introduce the exercise – set the expectations
Closure: summarize & ensure further transmission
(e.g. done by the Moderator in the different teams)
Politics / Propaganda / Transmission
4 – 10 people
Somewhat Difficult
If I were U
Everyone (preferrably one per team) is invited to describe, on a
schedule what are the tasks / activities he / she is usually doing.
The Moderator collects all schedules and read them aloud, one by
one, while the group is trying to guess whose schedule it is.
People get to know each other’s, Group is more coherent
!
!
Keeping it interesting is key
-
Interaction (during the writing)
- Pedagogy, rephrasing
- Encourage active listening
- Ask precisions / questions
Material etc.
40-60 min.
Moderator must know about the context and organization
Moderator should ensure he/she understands the tasks / schedule
No communication allowed between people before schedules are read
People whose schedules are read must not react
Not too many participants (long
/ boring)
Opening: introduce the exercise – set the expectations
Closure: summarize & ensure further transmission
Politics / Propaganda / Transmission
4 – 10 people
Somewhat Difficult
PERSONAS
Whom are we designing for?
Who are our users?
Who are our customers?
Envision the Future
Envision the product/project
•
Magic Wand
•
Roses &
Chrysanthemums
•
Stairway to Heaven
Magic Wand
The group defines a topic / problem that they want to get solved but
don’t know how
In turn, everyone takes the wand and expresses one thing he / she
would change if he/she were a wizzard.
« If I were a Wiz, I’d change… »
The group chooses for the preferred spell amongst those proposed.
Moderator reformulates the objective and make it atteinable.
They identify what they need to build the spell / wand (
people
,
resources
,
knowledge
,
time
…) and transpose these to their context
(problem). A step-by-step action plan is inferred.
Moderator formulates the initial problem and the final spell
!
!
Problem complexity and action plan are key
-
Timing (40 min.)
- Respect other’s ideas
- Great freedom
Material etc.
90-120 min.
Moderator must know about the context and organization
Problems should not be too complex – manage ambitions & expectations
An action plan should result from the exercise but make sure participants use the
spell / wand semantic
Opening: introduce the rules – set the expectations
Closure: summarize & ensure further transmission
Too ambitious / Believe in magic (not realistic)
6 – 10 people
Fairly Difficult
Spell
(goal)
Wiz needed
(support, knowledge)
Magic ingredients
(resources, money)
Magic recipe
(action plan)
Roses &
Chrysanthemums
The group is divided into 2 teams: Roses & Chrysanthemums.
Both teams are asked to envision the future 3 years ahead
Roses are assigned to listing actions (key success factors) that will
make the project succeed. Chrysanthemums are doing the same
but with key failure factors that will make the project fail.
In turn 1 representative of each team presents their vision of the
future
Visions are compared, lessons are learnt
Moderator summarizes
!
!
Actions are key in both teams
- Chrysanthemums should NOT limit to actions
not done
- Scenarios / Actions must be realistic
- Prejudice & bias
Material etc.
90-120 min.
Moderator must know about the context and organization
Moderator must be able to detect / defuse prejudices and biases
Actions and their consequences should be realistic
Actions are narrated in the past tense
Atmosphere reinforcement (rose / skulls stickers) optional
Opening: introduce the rules – set the expectations
Closure: summarize & merge. Conclude.
Not realistic / Passive Chrysanthemums
4 – 20 people
Fairly Difficult
Worse than Death
Not really a workshop – rather a way to get rational
Goal: Take distance, streamline
Moderator asks to formulate fears
(e.g.: if he doesn’t cope with his teacher, he will end as a junkie)
Moderator ask
on every step
of the reasoning
what the worst can be
to
get / help the person question how rational his/her arguments are and how
likely they are going to occur
(Ref: « the bat » of Bigard)
!
!
The person should come to the conclusions that his/her
fears are irrational by him/herself
No judging, no immediate confrontation
Wait for the best moment to confront & reframe
Material etc.
20 min.
Moderator should have an active listening
Moderator should be able to detect biases and shortcuts
Moderator should be creative, facilitate the story telling and reframe
Apply some « routine » (e.g. « OK, and now imagine the worst…which is? »)
Opening: Formalize fears
Closure: synthesis and conclusions
Realistic / Benevolent reframing
1 person
Rather easy
Stairway to
Heaven
The group / persons must define their current situation (bottom)
and the desired situation (Heaven on top)
(Alt. Past is at the bottom, Present is somewhere in between)
They must identify 12 steps separating bottom to top
Moderator can either animate the discussion (group) or invite
everyone (people) in turn to present their own Stairway to Heaven
Steps are discussed / reconciliated so that they match with the team
objectives
4 possibilities: (team vs. individuals) x (Past vs. Present at the bottom)
!
!
Steps are key
- Realistic
- Reconciliation for the whole team if individuals
- Prejudice & bias
Material etc.
60 min.
Moderator must know about the context and organization
Moderator must be able to detect / question prejudices and biases
Steps and their descriptions should be realistic
Starts at present (Alt.
From Past to Future – shows team / people progress
)
Make objective attainable and desireable
Focus on positive aspects / progress
Applicable to teams / projects / people / organization
Opening: introduce the rules – set the expectations
Closure: Summarize & eventually derive an action plan
Not realistic / Biases
4 – 12 people
Fairly Difficult
Together
We are a team
•
Break an egg
•
Our coat of arm
Break an egg
The group is divided into sub-teams of 3-5 people. Each team is
given:
One (raw) egg
20 plastic straws
2 meters of string
The moderator explains the goal: the egg must be able to sustain
a fall of several meters (e.g. one floor).
Teams must design and test their solution
!
!
Capturing group interaction is key
- Observe and note
- Restitute observations
Material etc.
Fairly Easy
60-90 min
Workshop organization / management
Capacity / capability to capture group interaction & dynamic
Manage to communicate group success / failures (no face loss) to perform
better in the future
Monitor time
Foresee some « spare » eggs in case of accidents during the conception phase
Opening: present them the rules
Closure: summarize and draw conclusions (works, works not, interactions…)
Location / Cleaning / Ego-tripping and tensions
5 - 15 people
The Moderator presents an empty coat of arm with the following
quadrants:
VALUES
–
BELIEFS
–
GOALS
–
TASKS
with a banner space reserved for a
MOTTO
The project team is then invited to fill in their coat of arm starting
from their historical experience / how they project into the future
Individually:
My best / worst moments
As a team:
Team’s best / worst moments
Complementary drawings are allowed
The group build his final coat of arm & motto
(optional high quality finish / post-processing)
!
!
Sincerity is key
- Playing the game is essential
- It’s
everyone’s
coat of arm & motto
- Ask precisions / questions
Our Coat of Arm
Material etc.
Fairly Easy
120 min
Moderator should know about the context & organization
Capacity / capability to transform facts into concepts
Rephrasing and turning into positive values
Not too many – prioritize / straight
Allow everyone to discuss and express his / her opinion
Suits well for new teams, new roles, new projects, new missions
Opening: Explain the concept
Closure: summarize and get the final coat of arm & motto
Big-picture / Summarizing / Conceptualizing
4-12 people
VALUES
GOALS
TASKS
BELIEFS
MOTTO
DIY
Build your own tool!
What’s your quest?
1.
What do you intend to do?
What is your goal? What is your target? How will you reach it? What are the
steps? (stairways to heaven)
2.
Who is your audience?
Who exactly? How many? What level? Individuals? Groups? Teams?
3.
What is your budget?
Material, time to design, goodies etc.
4.
How much time do you have?
One workshop? Several? Hours? Days? Minutes?
5.
How difficult could it be?
Expertise required? Social skills required? Social risk? Personal risk?
6.
How will you engage them?
Fun? Art? Social activities? What skill / characteristic do you want to activate?
7.
Is there a history (them / you)?
Things that worked? Things that failed? Trends? Habits? Style?
8.
How sustainable should it be?
One single problem? A long-term vision? A transformation?
What’s your
name?
1.
Game opening phase:
goal, rules, objectives, what not
2.
Execution phase
:
let them do, support, comment, note, observe, act, help
3.
Lessons learning phase:
compare, gather, discuss, confront, comment
4.
Finishing & Polish phase:
re-build, improve, plan actions
5.
Game closure & transmission phase:
summarize, transmission & synthesis, next steps, feed back
What’s your
favorite color?
1.
It won’t be perfect the first time
1.
Go to point 3 if you have no chance for a second trial here
2.
Get feedback and improve until it works fine
1.
Prepare some feedback forms
2.
Be subtle with your doubts and fears
3.
Be benevolent with yourself, you can only do your best…but do it!
3.
Get a free trial
1.
Friends, family, good & understanding colleagues
2.
Get a ready-made solution (book, workshop)
3.
Get return of experience (Book, web, blog)
Mission possible
