Creative workshops: igniting innovation and building momentum

Many of us have been part of workshops that ran the gamut from inspiring breakthroughs to frustrating standstills. At DCA we have learned one thing about workshops, whether internal or external - success comes from far more than a well-planned agenda.

At DCA, we understand that workshop magic comes from blending psychology, proven research techniques, and an atmosphere that truly nurtures creativity. So we have created our own DCA Workshop Best Practice Guide by drawing on over sixty years of our own experience at the same time as delving deep into the science of creativity and workshop dynamics. The result is a resource rooted in science to unlock the full potential of every session.

This one seems obvious but is often misunderstood. Before planning begins, it’s essential to get to know your participants. This isn’t just about names and titles, it’s about uncovering their goals, communication preferences, and past experiences with similar projects. We understand that you can’t always speak with every participant, however, sending out a simple survey ahead of time allows participants to share their perspectives in a low-pressure environment. The results often lead to valuable insights that might have been missed if the same questions were asked on a group call, or worse, valuable workshop time could be lost due to misalignment.

Research shows when people feel heard, they’re 4.6 times more likely to perform at their best. Skipping this step can lead to participants feeling undervalued, which can have a negative impact on workshop productivity.

Example questions include:

• What do you see as the biggest challenge?
• Which competitors or examples inspire you?
• What’s out of scope for this project?
• What would you consider a successful outcome of this workshop?

You can also use this opportunity to ask about accessibility needs and preferred methods of communication (i.e. some people prefer to write things down, and others prefer to discuss as a group). These differences are essential to understand before planning activities, to ensure you are getting the most out of everyone.

Ever heard the saying ‘your best thoughts often happen in the shower’? Well, it turns out there is science to back up this theory. Great ideas often arise in low-stress, repetitive situations, like in the shower, on a walk, or driving. This is called the ‘Theta’ brain state, essentially suspending the left brain, and releasing the right brain to visualise, imagine, and problem-solve.

Studies show that time pressure hinders idea generation, while relaxed brainstorming (even daydreaming) enhances creativity. By giving participants clear background information and a specific pre-task a week before the workshop (any longer risks participants forgetting information and any later can cause stress), you encourage this Theta state (or mind wandering).

Research also indicates that a sense of control over information-gathering fosters greater belief and emotional commitment in the results. It’s all well and good asking participants to think about the problem before the workshop, but if these thoughts are not captured then they are often forgotten. Online collaboration tools, like Miro, can help capture spontaneous ideas before the workshop, giving participants their own space to brainstorm while viewing, and being inspired by, contributions from others.

One successful approach we have found to further enhance the Theta brain state, is by providing participants key background information through small audio, or video, files rather than lengthy documentation.

Happy participants are more creative and productive. Studies confirm that a good mood enhances both idea generation and quality of ideas. Facilitators should aim to foster this positive state throughout the workshop.

One of the most common ways to start any workshop is through an icebreaker. A good icebreaker should be engaging and project relevant, intended to get participants communicating in an energising and creative way. These activities should not seek out to embarrass anyone or ask anyone to share any personal information, this can put participants into a state of stress.

There are countless studies that relate play and creativity. One study showed that where adults who were asked to play before conducting an activity outperformed adults who did not play before an activity. This experiment, along with other studies, suggest that creating a state of play or a good mood can result in participants generating more ideas and higher quality ideas than those that do not induce this state of mind. The key to success from many of these studies was to break participants into laughter.

One successful icebreaker we often use is the ‘Worst Idea’ brainstorm. Participants are asked to come up with the worst possible ideas to solve the problem you are looking at. This activity is great at enabling participants to share silly ideas without any fear of looking silly. All workshops should share the notion that there should be no fear in sharing any ideas and this activity helps to kick off this way of thinking. You’d be surprised; even the ‘worst’ ideas often contain a spark of creativity worth exploring!

At DCA, we have continuously and successfully started idea generation workshops in silence. Aiming to limit cognitive interference and collect initial individual ideas before sharing and discussing as a group. Research shows that individual brainstorming before group discussion results in more ideas. Listening and waiting for someone else to stop speaking, can easily lead us to forget an idea and prevent us from thinking about the problem. It’s also a fantastic way of allowing more introverted participants to contribute from the outset.

This simple technique enables all participants to enter with an equal voice and can be a powerful way to kick off creative collaboration by ensuring that all participants have an equal say regardless of the hierarchy in the room. As a second step to this technique participants can place sticky notes up onto a wall for the group to see, this can lead to further ‘builds’ on the ideas before discussing each area as a group. You may often find that one idea is interpreted differently by different participants which can be a great source of inspiration.

Workshops can be intense. Focusing on one problem for too long can lead to cognitive fixation. The length of time the average adult can focus on a task without becoming distracted varies depending on the individual, task complexity, and environment. However, research indicates it typically ranges from 20 to 30 minutes for most adults, after which we need variety.

Switching tasks boosts creativity by supporting both divergent and convergent thinking. Studies have shown that participants who continually alternate back and forth between two creative tasks outperform participants who stay on one task and then move to the next. Moving between tasks can refresh participants’ minds and keep energy levels high.

To enhance this further, incorporating breaks that involve changing surroundings enables the participants to recharge cognitive resources, leading to improved productivity and the ability to sustain focus for longer periods. Further to this, studies have shown that individuals who spent time in natural settings outperformed those who stayed indoors on tasks requiring creative thinking. While taking breaks outside can be challenging depending on your location and weather, splitting your working space into zones can have many similar benefits. For example, have a refreshment break area in which participants can leave the working area, provides important separation, and encourages brain state switching.

A final thought, these are just a few, and in no way detailed, tactics and strategies for running effective workshops. At DCA, we are committed to continuously improving our methods and embracing new insights from the psychology of creativity. If you’re looking to plan your next workshop, for a new product, service or strategy, or just want a deeper conversation about our approach, please do get in touch - we would love to hear from you.