We have all the information we need in the room

A few weeks ago I organised a creative sprint for a games studio in the UK with Jussi Solja who I know for many years and with whom I have done this a few times in the past. It's one super intense week with a mix of internal and external experts to solve a challenge that in the usual asynchronous client-experts relationship takes months. After a good amount of preparation, it begins with bringing everybody on the same page with relevant insights and then there is a collective process to distill the information and instantly execute. At the end of the week the team is aligned, has results and knows what's next. One of the things that stuck with me this time was the sentence:

We have all the information we need in the room!

It left me thinking that - if well prepared - the hive-mind can do extraordinary things and achieve an extraordinary amount of work in very little time. I wonder if something like this should be on the agenda as a regular event for companies. In our often hybrid and asynchronous way of working, it feels that things are often moving at a lower pace than you'd think and any project lead has to constantly re-align people.

Undistracted regular sprints can be a game-changer for all sorts of companies (not only the games studios I have been working with), not only for creative challenges but also for various other business obstacles. Here are a few examples of how these focused sprints can benefit different aspects of a company's operations and I'm looking forward to experiment in these areas:

1. Product Development: When a company is looking to develop a new product or improve an existing one, a regular sprint can bring together cross-functional teams to brainstorm ideas, prototype, and iterate quickly. By having all relevant stakeholders in one room, decisions can be made rapidly, and the product development process can be significantly accelerated.
2. Process Improvement: Companies often face challenges in optimising their internal processes. Regular sprints focused on process improvement can identify bottlenecks, streamline workflows, and implement necessary changes efficiently. With the collective intelligence of the team, innovative solutions can be devised and put into action swiftly.
3. Strategic Planning: Instead of lengthy strategic planning sessions that stretch over weeks, companies can opt for regular strategic sprints. These sessions enable leadership teams to align their visions, set goals, and devise actionable plans for the short and medium term. The frequent sprints keep the company agile and responsive to market dynamics.
4. Innovation and Ideation: Generating fresh ideas and fostering innovation is vital for any company's growth. Regular sprints dedicated to ideation can unleash the creative potential of employees, leading to groundbreaking concepts and novel approaches to common challenges.
5. Employee Training and Development: Training employees to acquire new skills or adapt to industry changes is crucial. Regular training sprints can deliver focused learning sessions that quickly upskill the workforce, ensuring they stay competent and competitive in their roles.

From the undistracted creative sprints that I have participated in, I have seen amazing benefits for Companies:

1. Faster Decision-making: By bringing together all necessary stakeholders in a concentrated timeframe, regular sprints ensure faster decision-making, reducing the time spent on deliberations and indecisiveness.
2. Enhanced Collaboration: Cross-functional collaboration is maximised during sprints, leading to better communication, increased camaraderie, and a shared sense of accomplishment.
3. Accelerated Project Timelines: Regular sprints enable companies to compress project timelines significantly, making it possible to achieve in a week what might otherwise take months.
4. Improved Focus and Productivity: Knowing that they have a limited time to accomplish their goals, participants in a sprint tend to be more focused and productive, eliminating distractions and inefficiencies.
5. Increased Employee Engagement: Involving employees in regular sprints can boost their engagement and satisfaction, as they feel more involved in decision-making and problem-solving processes.
6. Adaptability to Change: Regular sprints foster a culture of adaptability, allowing companies to respond swiftly to market shifts, customer demands, and unforeseen challenges.

I believe that undistracted regular sprints offer a powerful avenue for companies to unlock their full potential and achieve exceptional results. However, their success hinges on thorough preparation, ensuring that all the essential information is readily available in the room. By bringing together diverse talents and expertise, these sprints foster a hive-mind approach, enabling teams to tackle complex challenges with remarkable speed and efficiency.

While committing to such intense deep work periods may initially seem like a significant investment, the benefits from these focused efforts are unparalleled. The accelerated decision-making, heightened collaboration, and increased productivity lead to tangible outcomes on all levels of the organisation. Projects that might typically take months are accomplished within a single week, positioning the company ahead of its competition.

Moreover, the adaptability and responsiveness cultivated through regular sprints empower companies to navigate swiftly through the ever-changing business landscape. It creates a culture of innovation, where creativity flourishes, and employees feel empowered to contribute their ideas and insights. This heightened employee engagement and sense of ownership not only spur the company's growth but also foster a rewarding and fulfilling work environment.

In a hybrid and asynchronous work setting, where pace can often be hindered, undistracted regular sprints serve as a powerful antidote, ensuring that progress is continuously propelled forward. Embracing this approach as a regular practice can drive companies towards sustained success, making them agile, resilient, and capable of turning challenges into opportunities.