Growing Pains?
Time for ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’…
Perspective & clarity through connection with nature.
In a nutshell…
A ‘break from the norm’ indoors/outdoors problem-solving workshop
Discovery-led (so no coming in cold)
Designed by an expert facilitator with decades in the field
Delivering perspective and clarity as well as implementable next steps
For teams of 3-12
In beautiful outdoors locations
Why ‘A Breath Of Fresh Air’?
We all know what it is to be so immersed working in the business that it becomes impossible to work on the business. And while it’s a challenge that is common to all businesses, it’s particularly relevant to those in the start-up/scale-up world - as well as those who have ambitious plans for growth.
And it’s one thing to take time out of the office with colleagues to talk about the business, but another to be able to really achieve the clarity of mind and vision necessary for resonant and impactful change.
Which is where ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ comes in. And yes, it’s a workshop - but not in the traditional sense. Instead it is carefully and specifically designed to offer value far beyond what you would ordinarily expect, merging as it does the regenerative nature of the outdoors with expert facilitation from someone who’s spent many years in the field.
Expect breakthroughs beyond the office as we give you a chance to assimilate and integrate the needs and desires of your business - all with a decent dose of time outdoors and plenty of opportunity for team building.
Suitability
Is it for me?
If you’re a founder/leadership team within a business on the start-up to scale-up track, then yes.
If you’re a differently-sized business with ambitious growth plans, then yes.
And if you’re any kind of team or leader with changes to make that you’re struggling to make time for, then - again - yes.
This workshop is for all of you.
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What might be some signs that I’m a good fit?
There are many common ‘growing pains’ on the journey - whether your goal is growth, integration, efficiency gains or otherwise. Here are just a few that might indicate you’re a good fit for this workshop:
Communication difficulties are becoming more common
Previously proven processes are beginning to fall down
There’s an increasing level of team conflict
You’re repeatedly having to realign people towards goals
Client satisfaction has taken a dip - and you can’t pinpoint why
You’re looking to make a specialist hire, but are concerned with the ripple effect
(to be personalised for you)
Example Agenda
9:30am | Grounding - some simple group exercises to set the tone for the day (outdoors, weather permitting)
10:00 | Interactive Problem Identification - the post-it & sharpie bit
11:00 | Fresh Air - after all the serious problem stuff, a chance for some serious fun
12:00 | Lunch - something healthy, hearty & tasty (outdoors, weather permitting)
12:30 | Activation - mitigating that post-lunch slump and activating your body & mind
12:45 | Solutions - the ‘so what’ alongside the ‘what are we going to do about it’
14:00 | Refresher - whether it’s a walk, a dip or something else, here’s where everything integrates… and fresh ideas float to the surface
15:00 | Review & Refresh - what have we missed, what’s to be added, what new inspiration has hit?
15:30 | Prioritisation - the what, the by when & by whom
16:00 | Close - the place where we close and take this energy out into the world
How it works
Consultation
The first thing we’ll do is set up an initial consultation - to understand the lay of the land and the problems looking to be resolved.
We’ll dig into the background of the business and your reasons for engaging with this work but also more value-based topics such as brand and company culture. And of course we’ll also want to determine who the participants are for the workshop - those key players that are necessary to see this through to its end.
That we understand all this is key - not only does it form the bedrock of our work together but it’s also the central touchpoint for any assessment of success.
As for location, ideally we don’t do this in the office. The whole point here is to switch up the usual context of things and breathe some fresh air into the problem - so let’s start as we mean to go on.
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Discovery
The foundations set the trajectory for all else, meaning the discovery phase is essential. Here, you can expect a situational analysis alongside individual stakeholder interviews with all participants* - again with a switch-up of location where possible and ideally outdoors if location allows.
The interview questions follow on from what was covered during consultation but, as a guide, might be expected to cover topics such as current sticking points and areas of confusion as well as the individual’s unique view on the direction and ambitions of the business.
The goal is to enter the workshop suitably (but not over) informed - so that our time together on the day is of the greatest value and return.
* There is scope to interview a limited number of additional stakeholders not attending the workshop, should the circumstances suggest that this be valuable.
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Workshop
The workshop itself is scheduled not longer than a month after the interviews, at an agreed location in close proximity to nature. There are a number of known facilities that we can use or, if further afield, it might be that there’s somewhere you suggest. Lunch plans will vary depending on location but rest assured yours and your teams fuelling for the day will be taken care of.
There is a strong preference for going device-free (and there certainly won’t be any powerpoint) and while you can see an example agenda for the day above, yours will be tailored to you and signed off as part of discovery. And yes, this isn’t a team-building day per se, but we will be up and on our feet as well as outdoors so you can expect it to come with a kit list of appropriate footwear and clothing!
Expect serious business mixed with serious play - a richly productive and enjoyable day out of the office that pays dividends long beyond the final close of the doors.
What do I leave with?
The tangible shift in energy and motivation is immediate, as are the clear and actionable next steps. Above and beyond that you can expect to walk away with all of the below and more:
Greater clarity
New perspective & shared understanding
Improved team morale
Blockers identified
Quick wins defined
Clear next steps
Prioritised action plan
Outputs
FAQs
If you’re convinced and you’d like to discuss a more personalised agenda and look at availability, get in touch and we can set up a conversation. Alternatively you might like to check out some FAQs below.
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What happens afterwards?
With the clarity of mind and energy boost received from the workshop, I’d expect the immediate implementation of quick wins and the ongoing execution of everything else. However, if there are concerns about this work as you return to the business then we can look at measures to mitigate them.
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Would this work as a QBR?
Rarely are things ‘one and done’ - so whether it’s a quarterly business review or something additional yes, it’s highly recommended to revisit this as a regular activity within the calendar year.
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Can this be delivered remotely?
Whilst on the odd occasion it might be possible to do a consultation and/or a stakeholder interview remotely, the preference leans strongly towards in person and out of the normal office environment. Plus of course the workshop itself can only be attended in situ. There’s a reason that the work is positioned this way and to sidestep that would be to sidestep the overall benefit available here.
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You talk about founders/leaders but what about the rest of the team?
Your people are your most important asset and yes, there’s absolutely benefit in cascading this activity throughout your business and deploying it within functional teams as well as at leadership level. It’s the power of clarity, perspective, understanding and alignment but organisation-wide - why not get in touch to discuss.
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What if I need more than one day?
Longer workshops can also be arranged, and can be discussed as part of an initial conversation.
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What about ongoing support?
Whether it’s offering space for reflection, workshop facilitation or team coaching, monthly check-ins and/or in-between support can be arranged on a retained basis.
Ready?
