Bayeux Tapestry

A team journey from the past to the future

For teams to move forward together they sometimes have to remember who they are and where they have been. Perhaps the team members change frequently, perhaps they have all gone through an unpleasant period or perhaps they just want to move forward with a greater sense of purpose and direction.

For teams to effectively move forward to the challenges of the future it is sometimes important for them to know where they have been, what they have done and how they felt about it. This workshop will take the team on a journey from the past, through the present and into the future.

If you are looking for a team building event that will raise an awareness of unity within the team and that will provide an opportunity for all the members to contribute, learn from and work with each other toward a common goal then this is the team build workshop you are looking for.

What happens on the workshop?

Over the course of the workshop the team will build a visual representation of their journey from the past to the future.

The Past

The team will identify and discuss the ‘facts’ as well as how they felt. This could raise both positive and negative feelings. We will explore all topics and issues that are important to the team. It is important to ensure that there is a common understanding throughout this workshop. The process will be done in a fun and non-threatening way, particularly if the issues are sensitive. Any emerging trends will be discussed as a group.

We say goodbye to the past.

The Present

The team will identify their current roles and responsibilities and then, in a structured way, we will evaluate what they do. It is usual at this stage that we will identify activities which are redundant either because they do not have to do them or because they only do them because they are enjoyable but not necessary.

Various techniques will be introduced to help the team analyze their activities and identify improvements.

The Future

The team will now identify the ‘challenges’ that lie ahead for them ensuring that there is a common understanding within the group. The team will identify the characteristics or attributes that are required to meet these challenges. In effect, this is what the team must do/be in order to be successful. We will use various techniques to help the team articulate or identify characteristics and to stimulate ideas.

The outcomes of the workshop will depend upon the intent of the workshop as discussed with the client. However, they will include personal and team action plans, an evaluation of how well the individuals and the team are doing for the key success characteristics and the ‘next steps’ that can be carried forward to future team meetings.

Each stage of the ‘journey’ will be facilitated to ensure that the real issues are identified and all the participants are given an opportunity to express their feelings.

Which teams would benefit from this workshop?

This workshop would benefit:

• every team where they want a better understanding of themselves in order to improve their performance

 

• a team that is very dynamic with many members joining or leaving over a period of time. It is an excellent workshop for re-focussing the team and reminding them of their identity and how they relate to the organization

 

• a team where there is a history of issues and discontent. The workshop will help them to identify, understand and discuss the issues in a non-threatening environment. They will then be able to put in place action plans for the future without the baggage of the past.

Recommended Duration: 1-2 days