Inspring Team Days with ChangeLabs
A ChangeLab is a co-creative approach developed to aid in the development of thriving organisations and places. The approach blends design thinking, systems thinking, and the art of hosting to bring about much-needed change. There are six distinct types of ChangeLabs, each with a unique purpose and desired outcome. The approach involves facilitating a dedicated team for a series of sessions, supporting the members in defining their purpose, identity, strategy, and capacity, and creating change.
My role is to serve as a guide and facilitator throughout the process, helping the team to leverage inspiring locations and cutting-edge tools to accelerate and enhance the co-creation process. Depending on the specific challenges faced by the client, we may blend multiple labs into one or more team days. In some cases, a single ChangeLab can be enough to significantly advance progress.
Ultimately, an inspiring ChangeLab is a key element in establishing the necessary commitment to drive meaningful change. By following this co-creative approach, organisations and communities can thrive and become more successful in their value creation..
Idea Lab
Ideas, Innovations,
Transitions
This one-day workshop is designed to be interactive and engaging for the team, where they collaborate on developing cutting-edge innovations for the organisation. The workshop aims to highlight the intricate workings of the organisation within its ecosystem, which leads to valuable new perspectives and ideas for the team. These insights are then transformed into three innovative interventions, which can potentially have a significant impact on the organisation's success.
Why
The majority of teams within organisations are often preoccupied with their daily tasks, leaving little time for discussing fundamental solutions with one another. As a result, the process of developing new ideas and promoting systematic innovation is often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. However, it's still important to set aside time and space to explore new possibilities.
What
To tackle this issue, the team can initiate an "Idea Lab" by first gaining an understanding of the organisation's structure and its relationship with the surrounding ecosystem. This allows the team to develop innovative ideas that have the potential to transform the organisation. An Idea Lab acts as a sort of organisational acupuncture.
How
The team can utilise the method of system mapping, which involves designing the ecosystem on large sheets of paper. This creative process helps the team to gain insight into how the organisation interacts within its environment. Based on these insights, the team can identify the top three interventions that will contribute to growth and innovation.
Duration
This process can be achieved through two half-day workshops at a remote location or as a full team day, depending on the team's needs and preferences.
Preparation
Two hours meeting with the client
More info
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Futuring Lab
Trends, Future Scenarios, Direction
In this one-day workshop, the team members come together to discuss their future plans and aspirations. To support this process, a context-specific 'radar' is used to provide insights into potential future developments and phenomena that may impact the organisation or city. Based on this information, the team works together to sketch out four different scenarios for the future. These foresights can be instrumental in guiding decisions regarding the direction and course of action for the organisation or city going forward.
Why
The future is characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, commonly known as VUCA. However, there are certain developments and phenomena that are well-known and will undoubtedly impact the direction and trajectory of organisations and cities. Recognising these factors can positively influence a team's future strategy.
What
To address this issue, the team can participate in a "Future Lab" to gain an understanding of their organisation's or city's future. Participants will learn that the future is yet to be determined but will significantly impact the entire ecosystem in which they operate. The lab will aim to visualise relevant developments and phenomena through four future scenarios.
How
To achieve this, the team can use a cutting-edge platform to gain insights into contextual developments and phenomena within the next 2-5-10-20 years. The information gathered will be used to create four large posters that will visualise the future scenarios. In the "Strategy Lab," the team will further synthesize the impact of these scenarios on the direction and trajectory of their organisation or city.
Duration
The Future Lab can be conducted in two half-day workshops at a remote location or combined as a full team day, depending on the team's needs and preferences
Preparation
Two hours meeting with the client
More info
Strategy Lab
Capacities, Course, Plan of Action
In just one day, the team will work towards gaining clarity on how to navigate a rapidly changing environment. The morning session focuses on 'building' the organisation by examining its structure, processes, and resources. In the afternoon, the team shifts its focus to identifying and developing the essential capabilities needed to ensure the organization remains fit-for-the-future. By the end of the day, the team will have a better understanding of how to adapt to changes and be better equipped to handle future challenges.
Why
Our current reality is stress-testing our abilities like never before. What was once hypothetical - the idea of a dramatically altered world - has now become our present reality. It is essential for organisations to develop the capacity to deal with such a fast-changing and hyper-connected world.
What
To achieve this, your team can participate in a "Strategy Lab" to learn how to plan for surprises and crises. The lab will focus on integrating essential capacities into the organization's strategy, including adaptability, sensitivity, resilience, interconnectedness, diversity, and collaboration.
How
The team will utilise sophisticated frameworks and canvases to swiftly assess the organisation's capabilities. Based on this shared insight, team members will develop a clear action plan to ensure the strategy's renewal and the organisation's development.
Duration
The duration of the Strategy Lab is two half-day workshops at a remote location or can be combined as a full team day, depending on the team's needs and preferences.
Preparation
Two hours meeting with the client
More info
Identity Lab
Identity, Values,
Patterns
This half-day workshop is designed to be an energizing experience where the team can rediscover their organisation's identity and values. To support this process, a sophisticated tool is used to provide insights and input for the session. The tool allows for the visualisation of the organisation's identity, values, and entrenched habits in a quick and efficient manner. Through this process, the participants will construct a clear narrative that aligns with the organisation's values and develop a concrete action plan for moving forward.
Why
Future-fit organisations are characterised by an intense sense of identity. The individuals working within such organisations have a clear understanding of who they are and why they do what they do. This strong sense of identity is essential for engaging individuals in change, providing substance to the organisation's purpose, structure, and cohesion.
What
In the Identity Lab, participants co-create the organisation's collective identity and shared values, visualising it using a simple online tool. The team adds examples from everyday practice to their insights, developing a narrative that details their identity and values. The result is an inspiring story that can be shared with the organisation and its stakeholders.
How
Team members will receive an invitation a few days before the Identity Lab to complete an online questionnaire, which should only take 10 minutes to answer. The results will appear in ValueMaps. During the lab session, the results will be further developed with visualisations and storytelling, and participants will conclude with a clear narrative and action plan.
Duration
The Identity Lab will take half a day with the team at a remote location.
Preparation
Two hours meeting with the client.
More info
Next Lab
Network, Self-organisation, Platforms
Over the course of three half-day sessions, a team of network partners works together to design their organizations as a single, cohesive network. Throughout the process, the participants gain valuable insights into how their individual parts can develop within the larger ecosystem. The resulting design serves as a strong foundation for the pilot program, self-organisation, and platform design, which will enable the network to work more effectively and efficiently as a unified entity.
Why
The increasing number of relationships between organisations is rapidly changing the world. This is partly due to technological developments in information and communication technology (ICT), which generate a massive amount of data, putting pressure on communication among ecosystem partners. As a result, decision-making has become too slow, organisations must become more adaptive and flexible to keep up with the pace of change. Platform models and self-organising ecosystems can provide a solution to this problem.
What
In the Next Lab, the team of network partners becomes aware of the ecosystem in which their organisations operate. Using practical frameworks and canvases, they redesign existing structures, systems, and processes into a flexible network structure and social platform. The team will then develop a pilot project to experiment with the actual transformation into a network organisation.
How
In the first workshop (half-day session), the network partners draw the ecosystem they are part of on canvases, outlining the organisations and relationships in the network. In the second workshop (one-day session), information flows and network decision-making are made visible. Insight is gained into the network's natural roles and tasks, and a pilot project is developed to begin optimising activities in collaboration with partners.
Duration
The team will participate in three half-day sessions at a location outside their usual workspace.
Preparation
Two 2-hour meetings with the client
More info
...
Urban Lab
Participation, Urban Plan, Interventions
During this session, a group of residents, housing organisations, municipalities, investors, and other stakeholders collaborate to develop a comprehensive plan for the future of their neighborhood. By using a combination of canvases and Duplo, the current state of the neighborhood is made visible, providing a clear picture of the existing conditions. With this information in mind, the group works together to formulate interventions and actions that will guide the neighborhood's future development, ensuring that it remains a vibrant and thriving community for years to come.
Why
Developing a district or neighborhood is a complex process that requires the engagement of various individuals and organisations, including community members, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders. Successful development relies on participation and an effective approach.
What
To initiate the process, an interactive session is conducted with residents, housing corporations, governments, investors, and other neighborhood stakeholders. During this session, participants share insights about the current state of the neighborhood and engage in a conversation that shapes interventions and activities for its future development.
How
The session utilises UrbanSpaces, which consists of canvases and Duplo bricks. The canvases depict all the relevant elements in a neighborhood, and participants discuss the current stage of development of each element. This sharing of perspectives leads to a collective awareness of the neighborhood's current and desired state.
The session can also provide insight into the impact of an intended change or investment.
Duration
The interactive session with the team takes half a day and is conducted at a location within the neighborhood.
Preparation
Two hours with the client
More info