Learn to create contribution parity

Gamestorm to get everyone on your team talking And see what happens in addition to the work

Hello, Gamestormers! Today's newsletter spotlights three activities Gamestormer Jane Cronin uses in her role as Social Content Marketing Manager. Below is taken from our email conversation. Notice how she customizes play to involve more members of the team. Thanks, Jane!

(dm) What is it you do as a Social Content Marketing Manager?  (JC) I create and implement content marketing strategies for global clients, and I'm also our Content Marketing Trainer.  What work outcomes were you hoping to create while Gamestorming? Content Strategy concepts, including campaigns (across FB, Instagram, website, video), blogs and social posts. And what non-work outcomes has Gamestorming created? I’m finding that Gamestorming is increasing productivity in our ideation sessions - one of the aspects that I really like about it is that it’s a great leveler, making it much easier for people who are quieter, newer to the company or client, or more junior to share their thoughts and ideas.  In addition to parity of contribution (LOVE this phrase): team bonding, emotional investment in strategies and campaigns, efficiency, clearer communication; when client is involved, more likely to get concepts approved upon first review. Which games have you found useful?

HEURISTIC

I renamed this “Pick and Mix Ideation” and I absolutely love it! What I tend to do is have brand or content pillars across the top, then either personas or content formats down the side. Then I give the team, which might include the client, four minutes to write down ideas on sticky notes. We then pause and chat through ideas, sticking them to the grid. It’s funny how often we all have very similar ideas, but instead of being repetitive we find that this gives more facets to our ideas. It’s so much more productive than bog-standard brainstorms. It avoids getting fixed on one or two early ideas and louder people dominating the sessions. It also ensures we don’t miss out personas or pillars. I’ve found that this even works quite well when people are dialling in remotely, as long as it’s just one or two people.

Take me to Heuristic

SWOT

I was facilitating a workshop for a client where some of the group had worked there for 10 years but for others it was their first day at the company! I wanted to get insight and perspective from everyone and foster a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere so adapted a SWOT analysis to look at: History, Values, Opportunities and Threats. Not only was this interesting for the whole group, but we came to a really good understanding of where we need to position our content marketing to make the most of brand opportunities.

Take me to SWOT

EMPATHY MAP

I also used the Empathy Map to bring the personas I had created to life with the team that would be using them in their everyday work. It really encouraged the team to understand the personas, taking the theoretical to the practical and relatable - it was mentioned by several of the attendees as their favourite part of the workshop!

Take me to Empathy Map

Have a story like Jane's?, need facilitation?, looking for training? Get in touch. Got a great exercise or tool to add to our toolkit? Submit a new game. Don't like forms? Reply directly to the email!  Or forward to someone you think would find it useful.  Happy Gamestorming!

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