Always a Privilege

​Recently I had the great privilege of being invited to facilitate a leadership team through their team building workshops.

Facilitating activities to enhance team member connection and the feeling of ONE team is always a privilege as I am invited into their leadership space, with all its beauty and struggles.

So what makes for a wonderful leadership team workshop?

​I believe we need to start with connection - I re-connect with each team member and they need to re-connect with each other (even more so in these times of working together in virtual spaces).

For a smaller group, I begin the re-connecting with some fun activities that mostly involve pairs, telling each other something they did not know about each other (for example, where they were born, a special activity, an anticipated travel destination).

For a larger group, I set up a small group (4-6 people) activity such as 'Come here, I'm outta here' which I learnt from Viv McWaters from Creative Facilitation* or other activities that get participants talking and re-connecting with each other.

Following connection, I design activities that achieve the purpose of the leadership gathering and meet the objectives that the senior leader, who has briefed me, has established. 

The following are key:

• Use movement - design activities in which people need to move into spaces to work with someone different, then they might need to move again or move to post key themes from their discussion on the sticky wall
• Use a sticky wall (ripstop nylon, hemmed and then sprayed with adhesive glue) so that groups post their key themes to this validating every team member's input
• Use colour - to spark creative thinking, to keep interest, and to keep the session away from boring 'everyday' black and white type activities. This can be achieved with coloured paper, coloured textas and colour in the room. 

It is also important to remember, the activities chosen need to suit each group. What works for one group might not suit another. By talking with other facilitators and continually learning, you will add more resources to your tool kit. After 30 years as a professional facilitator, I am still adding more to my repertoire. ​

*I highly recommend Viv McWaters' workshops.