Are expectations holding you back?

How often do we enter a workshop or meet someone new with a set of expectations about what we’ll get out of it? From a workshop, we might expect the opportunity to broadcast our own solution, and from a meeting, we might expect that the other person will buy what we’re selling. In doing so, we limit our ability to fully explore what else might be possible.

Imagine a scenario where seven people enter an innovation workshop, each with the mindset of promoting their own solution. Ten minutes in, they’re already discussing solutions in detail, instead of broadening their collective horizons. If the workshop’s aim was to dig into that specific solution, this approach would be fine. However, if the goal was to explore different options and look outside the box, then it falls short.

Have you ever felt confined by your own expectations in a workshop or brainstorming session? Or hindered by others’ expectations to gain the full value? Instead of broadening your collective horizons, you are stuck within the expectations.

Expectations vs. intentions

Expectations are specific outcomes we anticipate achieving. While they provide direction and clarity, they can limit creativity and exploration by focusing too narrowly on a predetermined topic, technique or solution.

Intentions, on the other hand, are broader and more open-ended. They set a direction without dictating the exact outcome, encouraging curiosity, exploration, and the discovery of new possibilities.

Setting intentions

When facilitating innovation workshops, I like to set intentions. Sometimes together with expectations and sometimes intentions alone. Here are some examples of intentions that can be set for an innovation workshop:

• Explore the unknown: Encourages participants to venture beyond their comfort zones and consider new possibilities.
• Go nuts: Invites wild, unconventional ideas and fosters a playful, creative atmosphere.
• What would a 4-year-old do?: Prompts participants to think with the uninhibited curiosity and imagination of a child.

There is value in both

Workshops with clear expectations and scope are valuable for providing structure and tackling specific problems efficiently. However, balancing these with free, explorative workshops is crucial. The latter drives true innovation, boundary-breaking ideas, unstoppable progress, and sustainable success. They keep you competitive, future-ready, and can position you as a groundbreaking leader in your industry.

Cultivating a culture of curiosity

Intention-driven workshops not only spur innovation but also contribute to a more curious company culture. They foster curiosity, and the creativity generated in these sessions ripples throughout the organisation. Participants leave feeling more engaged, inspired, and open to new ideas. This cultural shift enhances teamwork, improves problem-solving, stimulates continuous learning, and makes an organisation more adaptable to change. This boosts your team’s overall engagement and satisfaction, contributing to a more curious culture.

It requires practice

Adopting a more flexible approach to workshops can be challenging. It might feel less secure, harder to justify financially, and difficult to facilitate. However, the potential rewards far outweigh these challenges. With the right facilitation skills, you can guide participants into an open-minded exploration mode. Emphasise the importance of the journey over the immediate results, and you’ll see participants becoming more innovative and collaborative.

The first few sessions might be shaky. I suggest bringing in a skilled facilitator to get started on the right foot. Once you’ve done a few, you’ll be able to continue on your own, although it’s still beneficial to bring in professional facilitators from time to time to spark new ideas and approaches.

Practical tips for facilitators

1. Set clear intentions: Clearly communicate the intention of the workshop before it begins. Encourage participants to embrace the unknown and be open to wild ideas.
2. Create a safe environment: Ensure a safe space where participants feel comfortable sharing unconventional ideas without judgement.
3. Encourage playfulness: Use playful prompts and exercises to loosen up the group and stimulate creative thinking.
4. Balance structure and freedom: Maintain some structure but allow for spontaneous and unstructured moments of creativity.
5. Reflect and celebrate: Regularly reflect on the process and celebrate small wins and breakthroughs to keep the energy and motivation high.

Next time you are setting up a workshop, ask yourself: Are expectations limiting us? Is there a risk that participants will come in with a specific solution in mind? If the answer is yes, try setting an intention instead and see how it transforms your workshop. Write the intention big on the whiteboard to remind yourself continuously why you are there. If you derail, point back to the intention.

Relevant for overall growth

At Curious Creator, we work a lot with intentions as a complement to expectations for personal and organisational growth. It frees up thinking outside the box, questions the status quo, and fosters growth in a broader sense. It helps individuals and organisations expand their capabilities, adapt to change, and continuously improve with a more open mind.

Have fun and experiment with setting intentions and running workshops and meetings with these in mind. If your organisation or team is new to these types of workshops, bring in a professional facilitator who can make the process look effortless, guide you in the right direction, and make everyone feel safe and supported.

If you need help facilitating, reach out. At Curious Creator, we love to guide you in your growth and innovation while helping you create a more curious culture overall.