013 - How to make meetings better by using workshop techniques - with Alison Coward

In episode 013, I talk to Alison Coward, a founder, facilitator, book author and keynote speaker. Alison runs Bracket, a consulting agency that helps teams work better together. We talk about “workshop culture” and the fact that not every professional gathering must turn into a workshop. Instead, we can use workshop elements that will help boost team collaboration and creativity in meetings and everyday business. In the show, Alison shares how to create a workshops culture with groups who are not used to post-it notes and sharpie markers. Alison’s reflections on creativity at work will inspire you to design and deliver workshops that work. 

Click here to download the free 1-page summary

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.

Questions and Answers

[1:11] What’s the story behind your company name “Bracket”?

[5:15] What did you learn from your time working with creatives about the facilitation of business meetings and workshops?

[6:43] How do you get management teams to become more “creative”? 

[7:48] How do you facilitate creativity without getting into the “touchy-feely” zone and how do you turn the outcomes into something productive? 

[9:45] What will you then do with these ideas to get to the productive bit?

[11:53] What is the timeframe you advise your clients to take for a workshop to tackle a specific problem?

[13:21] What is the difference between a workshop, a group discussion and a meeting? 

[15:48] How can we bring the dynamic part of a workshop into a meeting? 

[19:30] How would you initiate this transformative process of introducing workshop culture into a team? 

[26:08] Do you have ground rules that come along with what you call “workshop culture”?

[28:05] What are the ingredients you need to bring workshop culture into a “normal meeting”?

[28:36] With what kind of exercises would you use for that?

[29:38] Not every team can afford hiring a facilitator for a “normal” meeting. Could a team member take on this facilitation role? 

[34:33] Do you believe in taking mindfulness into meetings?

[35:50] How do you deal with a situation where a check-in comment risks to take the meeting somewhere else? 

[36:54] What’s the magic that gets work done in a workshop?

[38:06] To what extent is the facilitator responsible for the follow-through of workshop outcomes? 

[40:37] How can we bring the energy back up in a full day workshop – especially after everyone comes back from lunch? 

[45:03] Why are organisations today so much m