Earlier this month we ran our first online EX Design Workshop. Divided into three sessions, we went on a journey with the group over the course of a month. They learnt a lot – and so did we!
We’ve been working with groups for a while, helping them learn practical tools from the world of positive psychology and design thinking, to help re-imagine and then redesign the employee experience. As we deal with the waves of the COVID-19 fallout, the tools and approach seem more relevant than ever.
Employee experience design is about applying design thinking to how we understand people and their experience. And how we develop, test and iterate solutions to meet their expectations (as far as is possible). It’s a flexible, practical, and iterative approach, that helps make sense of the complexities to rapidly find solutions which have an impact.
For our first virtual cohort, the learning was intense. Comments from our last session included: “It’s really good to get some tools I can talk to the SLT about – and really challenge what it is we are trying to achieve.” And: “It’s really helped us think in the context of the new world we’re now working in, what will be different and what we can practically do to look after the experience of our people.”
And they loved the tools. The workshop is a great illustration of how to use collaborative whiteboards in a really creative and impactful way to nurture dialogue, learning and innovation. And, of course there was LEGO.
So what did we learn?
As we move from lockdown to the next phase, and the next, the way we think about, design and facilitate employee experience will make all the difference to organisations’ ability to innovate and learn. If you think EX is all about attraction and retention, think again. Whatever phase your people strategy is in, you need to be thinking about and designing experiences that enable your people to thrive. It’s not a nice to have – it’s about survival.
For anyone working in a people team, there has never been a more critical time to develop flexible and practical EX design skills. Skills that are rooted in design thinking and that will take you way beyond the current crisis and set you up for whatever comes next.
Our virtual EX Design Workshop is for anyone who needs to know how to create an EX that meets the needs of people, the organisation and the work. It’s great for individuals, even better for teams.
Limited number of FREE spaces for those working for the NHS and voluntary organisations – email katie@peoplelab.co.uk for details
