Engineering some new ways

'It was great to be out of my comfort zone and feel challenged but in an interesting and enjoyable way'

We recently had the pleasure of facilitating a day of creative arts inquiry workshops with a group consisting of mostly engineers. They wanted their team building day to be one of challenge and difference and to provide them with opportunities to 'think outside the box' and to step outside of their usual way of working.

Because of the nature of their work I guess Engineers are usually considered to be analytical, procedural, problem solving type personalities, so setting out on a creative arts activity that was emergent, free of interpretation and analysis and non linear may have seemed like a different way to spend a day. To add to this, the participants were given very little information about what they would be doing or what to expect. But the results and the feedback spoke volumes for the value of using the creative arts as an alternative way of considering how you are in your workplace and the way you experience things.
Despite the 'difference' of the day's activities, this group willingly played, built, drew and shared with honesty and respect. It was such a buzz for us to see the engagement of this particular group and their interest in gaining all that they could from the activities.
I think what also really struck me as a facilitator was that they were such a nice bunch of people and it was yet another reminder of how rewarding this working with others is.

Judy