A strategy-building workshop I conducted this morning with this brilliant executive team. When discussing strategy, it can be a vast topic, but what is strategy? It could be a plan of actions to achieve your goal(s), or it could be as simple as my 9-year-old son said: 'It's just a way to win!' and I totally stick to that definition.
What we expect from a strategy-building workshop varies among different organizations with different purposes, but it should provide an opportunity for the team to have important conversations about:
Who we are (Brand)?
Where are we going (Vision)?
Why do we exist (Mission/Purpose)?
What is our focus(es) to achieve our vision (Strategic Priorities)?
My favorite question is always about the Why because without knowing the Why, how can we drive and move forward? One easy way to explain the importance of why is to show the team the Golden Circle from Simon Sinek. When I say 'why,' it is not just about the purpose of the organization or the business, but why the team members are here today, spending their valuable time and energy in this session discussing their business strategy. They all have their own individual reasons and purposes to be part of the idea, and that's what we all want to find out. All these questions were answered using the LEGO® Serious Play® approach, giving the team a chance to revisit and share their passions at a deeper level.
Apart from this building activity, the team did a fantastic job on a SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. At the initial stage of the business development process, they have done a really good job on strategic priorities and action items. Well done, Team!
Thinking about your next meetup for a serious topic? Here are some fun ideas for team building and people development.
