Team Workshop

Where do you stand

Improve Personal Initiative by communicating your own understanding
80-100 minutes
5-15 people
Remote & on-site

Background


In this exercise, the team has to answer different questions regarding their individual proactive work behaviour. It can be used with a variety of questions, not just the ones provided here. The exercise can help create an understanding of the definition of proactive behaviour and personal initiative while giving food for thought for reflecting on their past behavior. You can also use this exercise to get insights on how the last sprint went.


Team workshop instructions

Preparation

  • (Big) Moderation cards & whiteboard
  • Optional: The scale can be made clear by adhesive strips on the floor. (Strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree)
  • Different (videocall-) rooms needed for breakout sessions.

Attention: Be aware that if there is an intermediate level on the scale, there may be ambiguous results.

Remote? You have the possibility to run the workshop remotely by having an online whiteboard at your disposal on which a timeline can be displayed.

Check-In (5 minutes)

  • Welcome the team and introduce the workshop

Overview: Everyone answers various questions regarding their proactive work behavior.

Goal: Create an understanding of proactive work behavior and reflect on yours.


Step 1 (3 minutes)

  • Let all team members stand up and move into the prepared space (at the beginning, they should all stand in one line in the middle)


Step 2 (20 minutes)

  • Read the provided questions
  • The team members have to position themselves in the room depending on their answer to the question
  • Make notes on the results to discuss them afterwards.

Questions:

I propose ideas to improve work processes.

Even if there is a general problem (eg. sales dropping), I try to find the reason for it.

When a problem occurs, I try to find a solution immediately and independently.

I almost never do more than what is asked of me.

If I believe in something, I will make it happen, no matter the odds.

I like being a champion for my ideas, even against opposition.

I am good at identifying opportunities for improvement.



Step 3 (30 minutes)

  • Reflect the answers of the team members

You can talk about these topics:

Discuss the reasons for the position they have chosen.

Discuss possible differences between team members and analyze the reasons for them.

Thinks about whether different positioning can make it more difficult to achieve team goals.

Come up with ideas on how to increase personal initiative and what is needed to do so.



Step 4 (2 minutes/per person)

  • Each team member should name the most important aspect of initiative and proactive behavior.


Ending (10 minutes)

  • Summarize the results.
  • Emphasise how Personal Initiative is shown by this exercise.

Example

“Even though every team member has a different understanding of the extent to which personal commitment can be helpful, it is good and useful to consider what the team members would like and expect. All team members are sensitized to the topic.”

First Aid ⛑🩹

Didn’t go as expected? Check out the following tips.

  • The team is divided on the extent to which individual initiative can be useful and helpful

    Make clear it is okay to have different opinions. It is important that everyone is open minded about other people’s views and willing to compromise.
  • People are unconftable to position themselves because they don’t want to say they’re better/ worse in something than the others

    Make it clear, that this is not a competition and nobody will be judged, everybody should just focus on themselves.

Got curious?

Discover other team workshops

Role Clarity

Reflect on your Team Role

Analyse internal customer-supplier-relationships across teams to improve Role Clarity
50-75
5-20
Mindset

Increasing Self-Awareness

Improve your mindset by increasing awareness
45-50
2-10
Commitment

Attention Training

Improve commitment by paying closer attention to others
50-70
10-20
Mindset

Everyday Mindset Examples

Improve your mindset by becoming aware of it
33-45
3-10
Commitment

Individual Goal Setting

Improve commitment by setting goals
45-70
3-9
Communication

Active Listening

Improve communication by listening
35-45
5-15

You have a workshop in mind that we should add?
Propose a new workshop & get featured!