Description
Book SynopsisWhat if every day at work felt like your team’s most productive ‘away day’?
The most successful and innovative teams and organisations are highly collaborative, creative and productive - you will find the principles of great workshops infused throughout their culture.
This is a book about how running great workshops, and taking inspiration from them, can lead to a great team environment. Workshop Culture will show you how to create a happy and engaged team through small actions which lead to big results. It features a practical and accessible toolkit to help improve your team’s performance and productivity.
Workshop Culture gives you:
- Inspiring case studies from forward-thinking and innovative teams that have found success from a workshop culture
- A structured methodology that you can follow to bring more happiness, productivity and engagement to your team
- Practical exercises to help you build new skills and knowledge, and increase impact at work
Alison Coward is a team culture coach, consultant and founder of Bracket, a consultancy that partners with ambitious, forward-thinking companies to build high-performing, collaborative team cultures.
Trade ReviewThe best book on team culture I’ve read, I can‘t wait to implement with my team - Amazon 5*
I have used workshops for years. I've been a facilitator and have run my own workshops. But this wonderful book shows that I've been thinking of it in the wrong way. I can be using workshops as a core methodology for implementing change. I can't wait to start using this guide in the field. Delighted to have found it. - Amazon 5*
From the very beginning, this book is all about teams, communication and collaboration. I loved that. I was looking for a book on how to increase productivity at the workplace and instead came across one that reminded me of how to engage people, first as people and on their ideas and also what conflict is and how to be a better facilitator...this is for anyone who wants better for their workplace. – NetGalley
If you're passionate about fostering collaboration, innovation, and a positive team environment, Workshop Culture is a must-read. Alison's expertise shines through, making this book an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enhance their workshop experiences and drive meaningful results. – LinkedIn
An amazing book. It's an inspiring insight into how to build a collaborative culture for teams but, more than that, it's practical and I can see already how it will make a significant difference at my company. – Amazon 5*
An illuminating exploration into the impact of well-structured workshops on team performance and organizational success. It illustrates how embracing the principles underlying exceptional workshops can revolutionize team environments, fostering productivity, engagement, and a pervasive sense of fulfillment. – NetGalley
What ...sets this book apart is its deep dive into the root causes of workplace challenges, accompanied by real-world examples and success stories. The author's authenticity and wealth of experience shine through, making the content both engaging and practical. - Amazon 5*
Table of ContentsForeword by Alex Osterwalder
Introduction
PART 1: IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM
Chapter 1: The impact of the problem
Impact 1: bad meetings
Impact 2: low engagement
Impact 3: lack of purpose
Why are you implementing a workshop culture?
Chapter 2: Why workshops are the solution
Why great workshops lead to great team cultures
What you are designing for in a workshop culture
PART 2: INTRODUCING WORKSHOP CULTURE
Chapter 3: Understanding workshop culture
The four foundations of a workshop culture
Foundation 1: workshops are more than a one-off event
Foundation 2: maintain a constant balance between creativity and productivity
Foundation 3: make tiny tweaks, not sweeping changes
Foundation 4: a workshop culture is designed
Chapter 4: Leading a workshop culture
Collaboration: a collaboration mindset
Facilitation: there’s something about facilitation
Strategic thinking: important, but not urgent
Design mindset: designing for culture change
Turning ideas to action
Behaviour change
If you can run great workshops, you can implement a workshop culture
PART 3: THE FRAMEWORK
The five-pillar framework for high-performing teams
Chapter 5: Alignment – seeing the bigger picture
Dynamic and fluid teams
The bigger picture – setting your team’s direction: alignment, clarity and purpose
Strategy development – ideas into action
Crystallizing team values
Chapter 6: Cohesion – self-awareness and connection
Balancing the team and individual
Building self-awareness for team performance
Individual productivity, team productivity
Building empathy for team cohesion
Chapter 7: Communication – meetings and workshops
Impactful meetings use design and facilitation
The responsibility of a meeting facilitator
Make your meetings more workshop-like
Facilitation techniques to improve your meetings
A holistic look at our meetings
Chapter 8: Design – designing ways of working
Team culture as a product in development
Designing routines and rituals over ‘team building’
Optimizing team productivity – what design can address
Designing connection
Chapter 9: Change – continuous improvement
A new approach to change
Understanding behaviour change
Tools and techniques to initiate and sustain change
Building a workshop culture – a blended approach to change
Conclusion
Toolkit
Workshop Culture: A Guide to Building Teams That Thrive (summary)
Notes
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Index
