What are the best ways to keep your team engaged during a CPS session?

??Set clear goals to guide the team's efforts & keep them aligned. ??Encourage participation to inspire creativity & keep engagement high. ??Utilize breakout sessions or teamwork activities to foster a sense of belonging & contribution. ??Ensure topics discussed are directly relevant to your team's work. Relevance increases engagement. ???Respect everyone's time. Use timers for activities to maintain energy & focus. ?? Acknowledge & celebrate each team member's input. Recognition boosts morale & motivation. ??Integrate elements of fun or gamification. Challenges, quizzes & light-hearted activities can make sessions engaging. ??Seek feedback afterwards on what worked well & what needs improvement to keep future sessions engaging & effective.

Ensuring that team members understand what the problem is, why it should be solved, the impact of solving or not solving the problem, are parts of creative problem solving that cannot be underrated. Next is to set realistic expectations and assign responsibilities to each member of the team. Responsibilities can be assigned based on the team members strength, area of curiosity or interest etc. This way, the individual abilities and strengths of each member of the team is combined to solve the problem, thus achieving the set goal while complementing each other’s strengths

I find it helps to have a structured yet flexible METHODOLOGY that takes people from Point A (their starting point... not having solved the problem) to Point B (having solved the problem in a way that works for everyone... at least well enough, if not perfectly). Having a structured, research-based methodology keeps everyone on track and moving together in a positive direction, and makes it fast and easy to regroup and regain control if things start to move in an unproductive direction.

It's very important to set clear goals with your teammates before starting any CPS sessions. Because it will help your teammates to better focus on what they have come for. Always encouraging the participation of your teammates as this will let you know more about the skills of your teammates.

Clearly defining the problem to solve and desired outcomes is crucial. This clarity provides focus and direction for the team. Ensure everyone understands their role and how their contributions align with the overall objectives. By setting clear expectations, you create a framework for productive collaboration and creativity, fostering a shared sense of purpose and accountability among team members.

Encourage the participation of all the team members during problem solving, regardless of their rank or years of experience. It is important to note that a team consists of different individuals which would definitely see things from different perspectives and approach problems from different angles. The combination of these perspectives helps solve the problem holistically

Foster an inclusive environment where every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute. Embrace diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences, recognizing that innovation thrives on varied viewpoints. Encouraging participation from all team members not only promotes innovation but also enhances team cohesion and morale, leading to more effective problem-solving and decision-making processes.

??Encourage Participation: Foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing ideas and perspectives. ??Use Interactive Techniques: Incorporate brainstorming, mind mapping, and other interactive activities to stimulate creativity and engagement. ??Rotate Facilitation Roles: Allow team members to take turns leading discussions and activities to maintain interest and involvement. ??Provide Breaks: Schedule regular breaks to prevent fatigue and maintain focus throughout the session. ??Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate achievements and milestones reached during the CPS session to keep motivation high.

I find it’s most useful when the facilitator ensures everyone has had an opportunity to speak and when the facilitator offers validation and encouragement to everyone who participates. We all feel more engaged when someone makes us feel what we have to say has been worthwhile. So a simple technique is to just ensure everyone has a chance to say something. It’s best if the facilitator knows everyone’s names or has name tents to call individuals out indirectly to contribute. For the more passive participants, acknowledging they had said something during a conversation also helps.

Foster an inclusive environment where all team members feel valued and empowered to contribute their ideas and perspectives. Recognize and celebrate the unique backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints of team members, understanding that diversity fosters creativity and innovation.

Allow for free-flowing brainstorming sessions to generate a wide range of ideas (divergent thinking). Then, guide the team towards evaluating and refining these ideas to identify practical solutions (convergent thinking). Striking a balance between exploration and focus ensures thorough problem-solving while maintaining momentum, maximizing the potential for innovative solutions to emerge.

Provide opportunities for both generating a wide range of ideas (divergent thinking) and then narrowing down those ideas to select the best solutions (convergent thinking). Alternate between brainstorming sessions to explore possibilities and structured discussions to evaluate and refine ideas, ensuring a comprehensive approach to problem-solving.

Offer timely and constructive feedback to acknowledge contributions and guide improvement. Recognizing team members' efforts and achievements boosts morale and fosters a positive work environment, increasing engagement and commitment. Regular feedback sessions demonstrate appreciation and support, motivating continued excellence and driving overall team performance.

Make “constructive feedback” and “appreciation of effort” a lifestyle in your team, whether it is feedback from managers to direct reports or feedback amongst peers. If an idea is brought up and doesn’t seem to tackle the problem in anyway, rather than giving feedbacks that makes the individual feel their idea was irrelevant and their efforts a waste of time, make your feedbacks constructive while acknowledging and appreciating their efforts. This boosts the morale of your team and encourages better participation in future projects or brainstorming sessions.

Continuously evaluate progress and adapt your approach as needed to address emerging challenges or capitalize on opportunities. Keep an eye on key metrics such as productivity, collaboration, and morale, identifying areas for improvement and optimization. Be proactive in soliciting feedback from team members, ensuring that the process remains effective and responsive to evolving needs, ultimately enhancing team effectiveness and achieving desired outcomes.

In addition to the above strategies, leverage technology and collaboration tools to facilitate communication and streamline workflow. Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge-sharing to leverage diverse expertise and perspectives. Foster a culture of experimentation and risk-taking, where failure is viewed as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. Invest in ongoing professional development and training to equip team members with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their roles and drive innovation.

Flexibility: Allow for flexibility in approaches and processes, recognizing that different team members may have unique working styles and preferences. Risk-taking: Encourage a culture where taking calculated risks and embracing failure as a learning opportunity is encouraged. Feedback loops: Establish feedback mechanisms to gather input from team members throughout the problem-solving process, promoting continuous improvement and adaptation. Accessibility: Ensure that resources, information, and support are readily accessible to all team members. Well-being: Prioritize the well-being of team members by promoting work-life balance, providing opportunities for rest and rejuvenation, and offering support when needed.

Team engagement starts way before a CPS session. If you can keep the team engaged before a CPS session, then they’ll automatically stay engaged during the session. I’d suggest delegating different aspects of the team task to each team member to oversee. This indirectly nurtures them for a CPS session. When the time comes, they’ll naturally engage themselves with whatever is on board.