How to Make Strategy Workshops More Creative

How to Make Strategy Workshops More Creative

Whenever I take a brief to facilitate a workshop I categorise them as either strategic (business or brand planning) or creative (generating ideas). I then shape the sessions accordingly. The strategy sessions tend to be relatively cerebral and formal, whilst the creative sessions are much more lively and playful. However, I’ve come to realise that this is a false distinction. The best workshops are where the two styles merge. When creative sessions become more strategic and vice versa. Here’s how you inject creativity into strategy workshops.

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The Best Tools for Online Innovation Workshops

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The Best Tools for Online Innovation Workshops

Given all the restrictions we’re living with, one of the key challenges for facilitators is how to create the same buzz as face to face sessions. This is particularly important in innovation workshops, where spontaneity and energy are vital. Like everybody else, I’ve had to adapt. Having planned and run a few online innovation sessions, here’s what I believe are the key tools and platforms you need.

How To Spot a Great Insight

How To Spot a Great Insight

Developing a deep understanding of consumer behaviour is one of the most important tasks a marketer needs to undertake. We’re always on the look out for that big, fresh insight that can unlock growth. Whole departments have been set up to generate insights. We go on training courses. We attend conferences. We learn the lingo.

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Coaching vs Mentoring vs Teaching vs Counselling

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Coaching vs Mentoring vs Teaching vs Counselling

Supporting others in this difficult time is essential. So, when your friends or co-workers ask for your help, how do you react? Most people just dive into offering solutions. Instead, learn to hold back, listen and figure out what kind of help they really need. Spend time immersing yourself in their problem.

Broadly, there are then 5 potential approaches you could take.

5 Ways to Make Your Presentation Memorable

5 Ways to Make Your Presentation Memorable

One of the most insightful books I’ve read on presentations was Nancy Duarte’s Resonate, where she recommended we always look to create S.T.A.R moments in presentations - ie Something, They’ll Always Remember. It’s a great piece of advice. Throughout our business careers we sit through and deliver many presentations, but how many are truly memorable? Here’s a few suggestions on how to ensure your presentation stands the test of time.

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Introducing Randomness into Idea Generation Workshops

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Introducing Randomness into Idea Generation Workshops

New ideas emerge by making random connections. You observe something over here, you observe something completely unrelated over there. You then bring the two together to produce something new and different. It’s this unique combination that forms the basis of something fresh. It’s why it’s called lateral thinking.

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How to Define Your Business Challenge

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How to Define Your Business Challenge

One of my favourite Einstein quotes is

‘If I only had 60 minutes to save the world, I would spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 mins thinking about solutions’

We rarely do this. Often, we’re guilty of seeing a problem and immediately jumping to solutions.. Hans Rosling in his book ‘Factfulness’ calls this ‘The Urgency Instinct’. It’s our need to act quickly in the face of an imminent danger. As a consequence we often make bad decisions or follow the wrong course of action. In his experience, decisions are rarely ‘now or never’ and rarely ‘either / or’.

How to Plan and Facilitate Strategy Workshops

How to Plan and Facilitate Strategy Workshops

In a previous post, I outlined how to facilitate idea generation session. However, what about strategy workshops?

Just to clarify what strategy workshops are all about:

Essentially the focus will be on planning and decision making. For example an annual brand plan or 3 year business strategy. It will usually involve team alignment. For example around an organisation’s vision, values or brand positioning.

How to Plan and Facilitate Idea Generation Workshops

How to Plan and Facilitate Idea Generation Workshops

In the marketing world, there are 2 types of workshop we’re asked to facilitate - the creative and the strategic. Creative workshops are all about idea generation - new products, services, names, communications. Strategic sessions are about planning and making decisions. Sometimes you can combine a bit of both, eg creating brand positioning, but they do tend to focus on one or the other.

How to Manage Your Cognitive Biases

How to Manage Your Cognitive Biases

Cognitive bias is the enemy of critical thinking. It restricts our ability to think rationally and make balanced judgements. Unfortunately, we’re all biased. Our points of view are shaped by our upbringing, our experiences, our ethnicity, where we live, what we choose to read, the people we hang out with, the organisation we work for. Wikipedia lists over 180 cognitive biases we all suffer from. Here’s a few of the most common ones.

How to Get Fresh Insight Without Spending Any Money

How to Get Fresh Insight Without Spending Any Money

Fresh insight is the foundation of any successful organisation. However, if you’re a fledging or small business how do you get real consumer understanding when you don’t have deep pockets or dedicated experts? Well, all you need is curiosity, a nose for commercial opportunity and a good dose of empathy. Here’s how.

How to Become a Great Notetaker

How to Become a Great Notetaker

In a previous post I discussed different ways to read more critically. Part of this is becoming a great notetaker. Note taking whilst listening or reading has enormous benefits. The act of writing stuff down makes it much easier to retain information. There’s much greater engagement with the content or subject matter. It encourages you to reflect as you read. It helps make the subject matter your own. It keeps you focused.