Learn the key elements and tips to design and facilitate successful team workshops. Discover different formats, agendas, and techniques to engage your team and achieve your goals.

In a complex environment the purpose is not enough. You need to have clear an outcome which sometime it’s only a direction. Direction as something to work together without wasting time in trying to agree.

What makes a team workshop successful?

Team workshops are a powerful way to engage, align, and inspire your team members. They can help you solve problems, generate ideas, build trust, and foster collaboration. But what makes a team workshop successful? How can you design and facilitate a workshop that meets your goals and satisfies your participants? In this article, we will explore some key elements of effective team workshops and share some tips and best practices to help you plan and run your own.

Key takeaways from this article

Define your purpose early:

Clearly articulate why you're holding the workshop and what you aim to achieve. This helps set expectations and guides your planning, ensuring all activities align with your goals.### *Tailor your format:Select a workshop format that fits your team's needs, whether it's brainstorming or a design sprint. Consider team size, problem complexity, and resource availability to ensure an effective session.

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Fabrizio Faraco

Strategy and Innovation advisor LEGO®…

1 Know your purpose

Before you start planning your team workshop, you need to have a clear and specific purpose. Why are you holding the workshop? What are you trying to achieve? What are the desired outcomes and deliverables? Having a clear purpose will help you define the scope, duration, agenda, and format of your workshop. It will also help you communicate the value and expectations to your team members and stakeholders.

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Fabrizio Faraco

Strategy and Innovation advisor LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator - Design Sprint and Design thinking Facilitator #buisnessagility #lean #training #mentor
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In a complex environment the purpose is not enough. You need to have clear an outcome which sometime it’s only a direction. Direction as something to work together without wasting time in trying to agree.

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Sabine Picquet 🔴 🟡 🟢 🔵

Experte en performance et cohésion d'équipes intergénérationnelles | L'alliée des Femmes Leader | Certifiée DISC, Coaching collectif et Neuro-pédagogie | Spécialiste Gen Z
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Définir en amont non pas l'objectif de l'atelier mais la situation idéale souhaitée. Cela peut être aussi bien un plan d'actions qu'un changement d'état d'esprit. Cela fera l'objet d'un travail poussé du manager ou RH avec le coach qui animera ensuite l'atelier.

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2 Choose your format

Depending on your purpose, you may choose different formats for your team workshop. For example, you may opt for a brainstorming session, a design sprint, a retrospective, or a visioning exercise. Each format has its own benefits and challenges, and you need to consider factors such as the size of your team, the complexity of the problem, the level of creativity and collaboration required, and the availability of time and resources. You also need to decide whether your workshop will be in-person, online, or hybrid, and what tools and platforms you will use to support your activities.

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Alessia Berti

Creative Thinker - Career Facilitator - Empowering Wonder-full People💡
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Before selecting a format, introspect on your objectives and the desired outcome. Avoid opting for sophisticated tools merely to showcase your skills and knowledge; instead, prioritize understanding the genuine needs. Your focus should be on serving the participants. Remember the principle that less is more - less fancy tools more generous listening.

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3 Design your agenda

Once you have chosen your format, you need to design your agenda. Your agenda should outline the objectives, activities, timings, and roles for each part of your workshop. You should also include breaks, icebreakers, energizers, and feedback sessions to keep your team engaged and motivated. Your agenda should be flexible enough to accommodate changes and adjustments based on the dynamics and needs of your team. You should also test and refine your agenda before the workshop to ensure that it is realistic, relevant, and effective.

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4 Facilitate with skill

As a facilitator, your role is to guide your team through the workshop process and create a positive and productive environment. You need to have a range of skills and techniques to facilitate effectively, such as active listening, asking open-ended questions, summarizing and synthesizing, managing conflicts, encouraging participation, and providing feedback. You also need to be prepared for any challenges or issues that may arise during the workshop, such as technical glitches, distractions, disagreements, or confusion. You should have a backup plan and a contingency plan to deal with any unexpected situations.

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Pete Pereira

🌟Top Leadership Development Voice 🌟Leadership Teams Coach ⭐Work Styles Assessment Certification ⭐Culture Transformation Strategist
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During introductions, I often use this exercise: Introduce the person on your right. If he/she is a kitchen accessory/equipment, how would you describe them? This can be very revealing in understanding the dynamics of the group: 1. Superficial answers: Low levels of comfort/relationship building 2. Considered, thoughtful answers: healthy, growing level of relationships 3. 'Safe' or repetitive answers usually point to a lack of trust/psychological safety It helps you shape the rest of the session 🙂

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5 Follow up with action

The success of your team workshop does not end when the workshop is over. You need to follow up with your team and stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes and deliverables of the workshop are implemented and sustained. You should document and share the results and insights from the workshop, as well as the action items and next steps. You should also solicit and analyze feedback from your team members and stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the workshop and identify areas for improvement. You should also celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of your team members and stakeholders.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Sabine Picquet 🔴 🟡 🟢 🔵

Experte en performance et cohésion d'équipes intergénérationnelles | L'alliée des Femmes Leader | Certifiée DISC, Coaching collectif et Neuro-pédagogie | Spécialiste Gen Z
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Pour maximiser les chances de réussite, une bonne connaissance des parties prenantes sera nécessaire. Plusieurs possibilités pour cela. La plus performante sera d'organiser des entretiens de pré-mobilisation avec tous ou certains membres représentatifs de l'équipe, en complément du travail réalisé avec le manager.

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What makes a team workshop successful?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Know your purpose

2 Choose your format

3 Design your agenda

4 Facilitate with skill

5 Follow up with action

6 Here’s what else to consider

Team Facilitation

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What makes a team workshop successful?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Know your purpose

2 Choose your format

3 Design your agenda

4 Facilitate with skill

5 Follow up with action

6 Here’s what else to consider

Team Facilitation

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