We are huge advocates of workshops at Six & Flow, and we run them before any new client comes onboard. As a result, we're continually asked, "what do I actually get from a workshop?" In this blog, we explore the topic in detail.
WHY DO WE WORKSHOP?
People's default positioning is to see things from their perspective, it's completely natural. If you're a marketer, you tend to market for marketers. If you're in sales, you'll tend to approach things from a sales perspective, simply assuming that everyone else does or should do things your way.
Unfortunately, this isn't how things actually work, and this is a core reason for misalignment across companies. Workshops represent a fundamental solution to this problem.
Think back to the last time you planned a family movie night. Everyone had a different idea of what food they want and where to find it. One sister won't eat pizza, the other sister starts challenging her decision, your dad starts trying to dominate the conversation and your mum just switches off completely. The outcome? Instead of having a great night together, you all end up sulking and watching TV in different rooms.
In a business context, the same pattern can be seen; marketing, sales and ops rarely communicate or agree. Internal politics and information silos create a mediocre solution that lacks direction and no-one is truly happy with. When is the last time you had all the key stakeholders from sales, marketing and delivery in the same room? When did you last discuss how internal processes all align to reach your revenue targets?
When companies grow, goals and targets change and new projects start. Teams widen and communication shifts. Whilst it is understandable, this changing landscape can lead to misalignment of goals, causing issues further down the line. If your focus is on growth, rather than having everyone singing from the same hymn sheet, your business could suffer in the long run.
By running workshops, we start with a basis of alignment. Workshops facilitate honest communication between the decision-makers, it gets buy-in from those involved, and it generates a sense of excitement and possibility for the result and subsequent campaign.
WHAT DO YOU GET FROM OUR WORKSHOPS?
The most common answer is "a new perspective" or "greater collaboration." Whilst both are positive things, they are intangible to measure, and not something your budget holder wants to hear.
Six & Flow approach this a little differently. Yes, you may get a "different perspective" and the workshop will "aid collaboration," but the real benefit is a fully outlined document which gives you strategic freedom.
These documents give you a bespoke strategy based on the information gathered and external data collection. We don't just explain what we think you should do. Instead, we explain why it makes sense for you to do it and the theory behind it, as well as how you can practically implement it for yourself.
Once we have completed a workshop, we deliver a fully fleshed-out strategy document within 2-3 weeks. This breaks down a fully integrated strategy, which may include some of all of the following elements:
We provide you with a breakdown of tools you could use for tasks, making each of the sections "Platform Agnostic" so you can tailor them to your needs. We also give you templates to align your current activity with the new plan, and help you to cost out any proposals.
Next, we provide you with a 12-month implementation plan, a 90-day plan to create a quick impact across key areas, and a breakdown of quick wins which can be completed in the first 30 days.
Finally, we give you the opportunity to take the strategy document and have it implemented by whoever you want. We want to provide genuine value to clients, not lock them into impossible tasks or complicated contracts. Once you have the strategy document, you can put it into action with us internally or another party. It's your property and your prerogative.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A WORKSHOP?
Within most modern businesses, work is collaborative and complex, requiring ongoing problem-solving and deep engagement. The saying goes that every person in your organisation, whether that's a small team or a large corporation, contains a slice of genius.
With our workshops, we collect this information through discovery-driven learning, help your team make decisions in a collaborative way, and give you a fully fleshed-out strategy which will help you to move forward as a business. In essence, the real benefit of a workshop is strategic insight and strategic freedom for you and your team.