What are the most effective team workshop design principles for teaching problem-solving skills?

1 Define the problem

The first step in any problem-solving process is to clearly define the problem that needs to be solved. In a team workshop, you can use various methods to help your participants identify and articulate the problem, such as brainstorming, mind mapping, SWOT analysis, or asking the 5 whys. The goal is to help your participants understand the root cause, the scope, the impact, and the criteria of the problem.

2 Generate ideas

Once the problem is defined, the next step is to generate as many ideas as possible to solve it. In a team workshop, you can use techniques such as brainstorming, brainwriting, SCAMPER, or reverse brainstorming to encourage creativity and divergent thinking. The goal is to help your participants explore different perspectives, possibilities, and alternatives without judging or filtering them.

3 Evaluate and select ideas

After generating a large number of ideas, the next step is to evaluate and select the most promising ones. In a team workshop, you can use tools such as voting, ranking, scoring, or matrix analysis to help your participants compare and contrast the ideas based on their feasibility, desirability, and viability. The goal is to help your participants narrow down the options and choose the best solution for the problem.

4 Implement and test ideas

The final step in the problem-solving process is to implement and test the selected solution. In a team workshop, you can use methods such as prototyping, simulation, role-playing, or feedback to help your participants turn their ideas into reality and test them in a safe and controlled environment. The goal is to help your participants validate their assumptions, learn from their mistakes, and refine their solution.

5 Use active learning

One of the key principles of effective team workshop design is to use active learning strategies that involve your participants in the learning process. Active learning can enhance motivation, retention, and transfer of problem-solving skills. Some examples of active learning methods are case studies, scenarios, games, puzzles, or quizzes. The goal is to help your participants apply their knowledge, skills, and attitudes to real or simulated problems.

6 Facilitate collaboration

Another key principle of effective team workshop design is to facilitate collaboration among your participants. Collaboration can foster communication, teamwork, and innovation in problem-solving. Some ways to facilitate collaboration are to use small groups, assign roles, provide guidelines, encourage feedback, and celebrate successes. The goal is to help your participants learn from each other, leverage their strengths, and overcome their weaknesses.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?