During a time marked by remote work, our dynamics have evolved. How we'll engage and collaborate moving forward is a journey we must undertake collectively. This is the inspiration behind our Dialogue Mat on life after Covid. By Lasse Jalling - Partner and learning architect
It began as a springtime pondering: What comes next once we return to the office? We’re diverse as individuals and distinct as organizations, requiring a collective approach to determine our best path forward. One thing is certain: the post-pandemic working world won’t mirror its former self. No matter where a business stands in its post-COVID journey, now is the perfect moment to exchange experiences and reimagine our collaborative future, all within the organization’s parameters.
Given that many will spend less time physically at the office than before, the value of those in-office moments becomes paramount. When people come together now, they anticipate a richness to the experience that can’t be replicated on a computer screen. This is especially true for discussions centered around shaping the post-pandemic office dynamic.
Dialogue tools for conversations about the future
Leveraging our extensive of experience from workshops and dialogic processes, we’ve crafted two distinct Dialogue Mats in partnership with our clients and collaborators: one universally adaptable, and the other specifically tailored for business organisation. These tools offer a foundational structure for internal discussions – whether kickstarting a conversation about the emerging ‘new normal’ or refining existing frameworks. Our “Back to the Future” Dialogue Mat delves into the core considerations regarding post-COVID employee interactions. It combines our varied experiences, the influence of digital transitions on our work dynamics, the lessons learned, and crucially, our forward-looking individual needs.
Spanning an introductory segment, group discussions, knowledge sharing among participants, and laying the initial groundwork for the journey ahead, a workshop will take about 2.5-hour. We guarantee it will be time well spent!
Great customisation opportunities
The Dialogue Mat is ready for use. However, if you wish to make it uniquely yours, both its content and design can be tailored to your preferences. Plus, we offer a selection of straightforward supplementary tools for those looking to enrich and extend the dialogue process in terms of duration and depth:
#1: “Pulse check”:
Kickstart your workshop preparations with an invigorating digital exercise. This tool is designed to rally and ready your employees. Responses are gathered anonymously and serve as valuable aids for orchestrating and executing the workshop. Expected engagement time is around 10 minutes.
#2 “Personal reflection guide”:
This printable handout (PDF) aids individuals in pondering their journey throughout the pandemic. By diving into their work patterns and needs, it primes them for richer group discussions during the workshop. Estimated engagement time is 20-25 minutes.
#3: “Navigating leadership in transition”:
Using the findings from group dialogues via the Dialogue Mat, we pave the way for essential leadership reflections. This step assists leaders in crafting strategies and adopting behaviors tailored for emerging contexts. Estimated engagement time is 1 to 1.5 hours.
#4: “Embracing novel practices“:
An individual assessment of how the Dialogue Mat’s conclusions and suggested behaviours are integrated into daily tasks, offering a means to track growth over time. We offer customized content through ready-to-use templates in Diggle for evaluation. Estimated engagement time is about 15 minutes.
#5: “My role in fostering team growth”:
A personalized reflection tool that connects back to initial preparations, while also reinforcing the Dialogue Mat’s themes. This serves as a preparation step for subsequent discussions between employees and their managers.
