Setting Clear Objectives For Design Thinking Sessions

Back leading workshops for the first time since Unilever days. I love workshops/offsites. But it’s helpful to clarify what they are for and what they are definitely *not* for. The biggest mistake I see teams make is thinking that these are for “ideation” or “brainstorming”. While this kind of kumbayah creativity is common and feels good in the moment… it rarely produces anything of value. The conditions for creativity generally and ideation specifically cannot just be manufactured in a room with a fixed time box. That’s why you’re far more likely to come up with a brilliant idea walking your dog, rather than being locked in a room with senior SaaS leaders. These workshop sessions are for making decisions. Getting alignment. So here’s what you can do to make sure the outcomes actually drive your business forward: - Get all the right people in the room. You need representation from the departments that will be doing the work. - Encourage diversity of opinion. Arguments are healthy; you don’t want a room full of yes-people. Expect tension. - Make pre-work mandatory. Homework is good. This is where the ideas happen. Capture them and bring them to the sessions. - Map your agenda to energy levels. Be realistic about three 8-hour workshops, don’t put something heavy at 5pm on the third day. - Furthermore, be ruthless about agenda. Rabbit holes and tangents do not produce results, they just muddy your clarity. - Ditch the decks when you can. Nobody pays attention, they are poor communication tools, and they take too long to prepare. - Make the output digestible. No 40-page PDF. Make it shareable and easy to review.

Are you setting up your learners for measurable success? 🤔 When objectives are built around observable skills, it’s easier to gauge the effectiveness of your training and see the impact on your learners. Observable skills are those that can be demonstrated and assessed, like delivering a presentation, leading a meeting, or using a new software tool. This approach allows both learners and stakeholders to clearly see progress and results, giving everyone a shared understanding of what success looks like. By focusing on what learners should do rather than just know, you create objectives that translate directly into real-world actions. Observable objectives encourage learners to actively apply their knowledge, making the learning experience more meaningful and directly tied to their work. This focus on actionable outcomes can also help you refine your training materials to better align with what the organization needs. Want to make your objectives easier to measure? Try these steps! ⬇️ 👉 Start with action words like "present," "analyze," or "evaluate" — verbs that can be observed and assessed. 👉 Set a context to make skills application-specific, e.g., “Present the quarterly budget in a team meeting.” 👉 Include criteria to define quality, such as “Analyze customer feedback accurately and suggest at least two improvements.” 👉 Use real-world scenarios learners may face, like “Evaluate team dynamics to create an actionable team-building plan.” 👉 Focus on what the learner will show or produce after training, such as “Demonstrate proficiency in the new project management software by completing a sample project.” Keep in mind, the clearer your objectives, the easier it will be to measure — and achieve — success. ---------------------- Hi! I'm Elizabeth! 👋 💻 I specialize in eLearning development, where I create engaging courses that are designed to change the behavior of the learner to meet the needs of the organization. Follow me for more, and reach out if you need a high-quality innovative learning solution. 🤝 #LearningObjectives #InstructionalDesign #ObservableSkills #CorporateTraining #PerformanceGoals #eLearning #LMS

I have participated in a lot of meetings, huddles, and planning sessions over my career. The ones that are most valuable to the team are action oriented or focused on task(s) at hand. Here are some key ways to make your discussions more focused: 1. Set clear objectives and desired outcomes: Clearly define the purpose of the meeting and what you aim to achieve by the end. Establish specific objectives and outcomes that focus on actionable items or decisions. 2. Prepare an agenda with action items: Develop a well-structured agenda that includes specific action items or topics to be addressed during the meeting. Each agenda item should have a clear objective and desired outcome. 3. Assign roles and responsibilities: Designate roles and responsibilities for participants before the meeting. Ensure that key individuals are assigned specific tasks related to the meeting's objectives. This ensures accountability and action after the meeting. 4. Create a conducive environment: Encourage active participation and collaboration during the meeting. Foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas, asking questions, and providing input. This will contribute to generating actionable insights and solutions. 5. Focus on problem-solving and decision-making: Direct discussions towards problem-solving and decision-making. Encourage participants to bring forward challenges, share ideas, and collectively find solutions. Aim to reach decisions that will lead to specific actions or changes. 6. Clarify action items and next steps: Clearly articulate action items and next steps throughout the meeting. Summarize key tasks, decisions, and assignments, ensuring that everyone understands their responsibilities. Clarify timelines and expectations for completion. 7. Follow up and track progress: After the meeting, follow up on action items and track progress. Send a meeting summary that includes action items, responsible parties, and deadlines. Regularly check in with participants to provide support, address any roadblocks, and ensure that actions are being taken. 8. Assess and evaluate: Reflect on the effectiveness of the meeting and the action items that were generated. Evaluate whether the objectives were met, if actions were taken as planned, and if desired outcomes were achieved. Use this assessment to improve future meetings and make them even more action-oriented. By implementing these steps, your meetings can become more focused on taking action, driving change, and achieving concrete results. #outcomes #huddles #meetings #hospitaloperations