LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
The world has changed. We have spent the last two years of our lives living through unprecedented times that have altered the way we see ourselves and others. We’ve watched our workspaces go from being communal, to being in isolation, working in silos, and learning to connect with colleagues using technology and not face to face. Social distancing – avoiding other people which is not how we humans are wired.
The fact that technology was in place for all of this new way of working to flourish as well as it has is remarkable. Amazingly, we had all the tools to make it happen, and we found new ways to reach out, to share information, all the while remaining as productive or perhaps even more productively than ever (no cubicle farms at my house, at least).
So if we had all the tools we needed and seemingly had it all together, why do we all feel so exhausted? Why does it feel like things take so much more effort and we are having a hard time adjusting?
In our recent posts, we have been talking about resiliency, defining this to be our ability to “bounce back” from stress or emotional injury or “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.”
Each of us as individuals has demonstrated our resilience, or what I like to call “bounce”, to a greater or lesser extent over the last two years. As we continue to move through this pandemic, we are now at the point where we are returning to some of our old ways of working with the new knowledge of all the things we’ve learned about ourselves during this time. But even the old, somewhat familiar, seems strange and new, causing us stress and anxiety about what should be “normal”.
How do we stay resilient with so much change happening all around us? How do we reconnect with colleagues in this world we all live in now? As leaders, does your current toolbox include the tools you need so you can better support the teams that are looking to you to navigate them through this new reality?
Sharing with each other about what we’ve learned during these pandemic times can be an effective way to help each other build resilience and a better ability to bounce back.
The pandemic is not yet over. Hybrid work environments are now the norm where we must fully engage and make room for. It’s critical that the way we work evolves and reflects our changed reality.
As colleagues and storytellers, we each have a role to play in helping our organization operate such that each team is firing on all cylinders. It’s not about hierarchy – but rather how we use our role that really matters.
As a leader no matter your title, we need to make sure to take time to look within yourself to recharge your own levels of personal resilience. Why is it particularly important for leaders? “Resilient leaders have the ability to sustain their energy level under pressure, to cope with disruptive changes and adapt. They bounce back from setbacks”.
At Spiral by Design Consulting, we are fully aware of the shifts within teams and individuals during the pandemic and want to support you and your people to “bounce back.” Our Lego Serious Play Workshops are geared towards identifying the lay of the land in terms of how your teams and your team leaders are functioning. Who’s playing well together, and who (and what) needs more support and attention? Lego works as a stress-reliever for everyone in the group – play and conversation are a magical combination!
As the saying goes, no man is an island. Working collaboratively allows for exponential growth not only for us individually, but for our organizations as well. I would love to connect with you and see how we can work together. Let’s shine a light on what your version of resilience might look like.
Connecting bricks and people.