The one where ENJOY DIGITAL got together and built their hybrid working future
We’ve been engaging a lot in the conversation surrounding hybrid working and some of our previous articles have considered that good hybrid working practices must work for the individual, the business, and the customer.
Recently we designed a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® session for an innovative, forward thinking, digital agency. Enjoy Digital is one of the fastest growing digital agencies in the UK, helping clients across a range of sectors be more competitive, profitable and efficient, through innovative digital strategies, experiences and activations. This integration requires strong teamwork, trust and agility – attributes that have been challenged over the last few years with the pandemic. The team at Enjoy Digital quickly mobilized and adapted to remote working with the leadership team introducing additional communication channels, looking for ways to keep everyone connected and engaged.
As COVID-19 restrictions eased it was important for the business to re-group and return, to some degree, to the office. Whilst there was no outright opposition, some embraced it more than others. There were certain roles that could quite easily function 100% remotely and others where an office presence was important. The leadership team was keen to promote a flexible working environment that encouraged everyone to thrive. The Last Friday Club was created as an opportunity for all to gather on the last Friday of each month to energise, be creative, and have fun together. Like our musings in a previous article, this intentional collaboration had to add value and deliver something for the team that they couldn’t get if they were working remotely.
Enjoy Digital approached us to come and deliver a session that would continue the high energy, creative, fun vibes but also generate discussion surrounding hybrid working. As part of the scoping, we asked some key questions to help us plan for an impactful LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® ½ day workshop.
This involved:
- Quickly connecting the room
- Warming people up surrounding LEGO® bricks, metaphor, and storytelling
- Individual builds surrounding the benefits and limitations of hybrid working, then discussing the relationships and impact of these
- A shared model of how the agency shall respond to hybrid working going forward
On the day, Chris, the CEO, approached us and whispered “I don’t really like LEGO” – there’s always a pessimist! However, he promptly joined a table, with a pile of bricks in front of him, and got involved. With organization values that include Always Innovate, Be Brave, and Succeed Together, he definitely was role modelling. Afterwards he came up to us and said, “I’ve learnt more about my team and how they think in these past few hours than I have in a long time”. Music to our ears!
There were 5 tables and, following the warm-up, people built their thoughts and feelings on the benefits of working in a hybrid way including the limitations. In their table groups, they discussed the builds, were curious about each other’s perspectives, and arranged every person’s model on a biggest/smallest impact continuum. One person stayed behind to share the group's thoughts whilst all others rotated to hear from every other table.
Reflecting on this, individuals then built what they wanted the future of hybrid working to look like at Enjoy Digital. Sharing with each other what they had built and then combining their thinking to build a shared view. This approach ensures that everyone has a say and can contribute. During this collaborative stage the group kept revisiting the overall story of hybrid working that their model intended to portray – it allowed for any disagreement to surface whilst also strengthening their thinking and belief in what needed to happen going forward. The groups rotated once more allowing everyone at Enjoy Digital to hear from everyone else.
The laughter and energy levels in the room were infectious but this isn’t just a fun day out!
It’s important that clear actions are generated, particularly when people have given the time (and trust) to share what they really think.
All groups consolidated their thoughts using a simple facilitation tool to help move to action thinking.
Following any session we facilitate, a Play Debrief is created containing the outputs (visual and otherwise) surrounding the workshop.
Andrew, Operations Director, said, “In the room it’s easy to lose yourself in the fun and energy, without realising you are actually working! The insight generated has helped us, as a senior leadership team, learn more about what motivates and engages our team, and shape our ways of working”
Reflecting on the overall LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® experience, Alex, Managing Director, said, “The workshop was highly engaging, provoking some really honest and insightful discussions with our staff. I can see how using LEGO® bricks can make such a difference in so many business contexts.”
Enjoy Digital, when talking digital, say ‘Build it better’. Involving, connecting, and engaging their teams, they used LEGO® bricks to build better outcomes.
Visit www.prometheanplay.co.uk if you are interested what this could mean for your organisation.
Promethean Play Ltd | Company registration no. 13687926 | VAT no. 437 3419 89
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.