In association with ChangeMaker, Ian has been involved for many years in the design, creation & delivery of corporate business games. ‘Games’ is possibly not the best description of these events, but it’s better than the rather pompous-sounding alternative - ’experiential learning event’!
Whatever you call them, though, these often theatrical and complex events have been described as “an elegant piece of elaborate fore-play. A vehicle to get you to the real heart of the matter - a focused and business de-brief tailored specifically to the client company’s needs and the particular participants.”
Whilst events like “Bridging The Gap” ©, “Liquid Assets” ©, “The Orbital Onion” © and “The Great Divide” © are very different in their approach, look and feel, they all have one thing in common - involvement...
You tell me - and I forget.
You teach me - and I remember.
You involve me - and I learn.
Benjamin Franklin
Conferences & training events are increasingly created as ‘programmes of involvement’ - fun events which engage everyone. Unfortunately, the fun event is sometimes expected to achieve miracles on its own - with disappointing results. It is excellent practice to use the event to relax the participants and get them involved in a themed challenge. However, the game or event needs to be de-briefed by a professional facilitator who not only knows the game or event backwards but who also has an in-depth knowledge of business and training. Having taken the time to become familiar with the company and its objectives, the facilitator should then use the participants’ own comments and the dynamics & interactions observed during the game to give direction in the learning process and to relate what they have done during the game into their everyday job.
This absolutely should not be a tedious ‘chalk and talk’ process or even worse a condescending & patronising ‘this is how you could have done better if only you were as clever as us’ session. Instead, by asking some key questions which start discussion, and then by gently guiding the discussion whilst the participants draw out the learning points for themselves, a good facilitator will gradually help participants see how what they have experienced in the game relates to their everyday job. In this way attention and engagement is maintained throughout, buy-in to decisions is high, and action plans for tomorrow are willingly evolved.
We have such facilitators and have been complimented on de-briefing extremely effectively. Every time we run one of these events we are told that the game has been worth every penny spent on it - so could it be a solution for you?
To find out more about “Bridging The Gap” ©, “Liquid Assets” ©, “The Orbital Onion” © and “The Great Divide” © and other events, call Nugget on 07973 756 892