The Benefits of Workshops for Boards and Councils
- Lauren Driver
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
We regularly work with a variety of different boards and councils. The top-performing councils that we work with have one thing in common – they participate in regular board and council trainings and workshops.
When a board or council is newly formed or elected, it can be hard to create a team, and it can be challenging to get to know each other as individuals. Workshops and training can help form team bonds and can help teams perform at a higher level.
One of the most common workshops that we offer and facilitate is the strategic planning workshop. During strategic planning, council and senior administration come together to decide what the focus should be over the next four years. Once strategies and priorities are identified, we ensure that they are prioritized so administration knows where to put the bulk of their energy.
We typically see three main outcomes for a strategic planning workshop.
The first outcome that we see is team bonding. It is common for people to be able to bond and speak freely in small groups during the workshops. This allows a more welcoming space for members who may be quieter or unsure of their thoughts. We also see team members bonding during coffee and lunch breaks and getting to know each other as people.
The second thing that we see is a clearer vision for both council and administration. We always say that council is steering the boat and administration is rowing it. However, it can be hard for administration to be able to row properly if council does not understand where they want to steer the boat. The key to ensuring success is to make sure everyone on the team is pulling in the same direction.
The third outcome that we typically see is that administration has a better understanding of what they are supposed to be working towards. If council doesn’t know what they want as outcomes, it can be hard for administration to allocate resources appropriately. Once council decides on what they would like to see done, administration has a clearer direction on how to make that happen.
Flowing out of strategic planning, we also offer corporate planning worshops. Although this doesn’t involve boards or councils, it is equally as important.
During a corporate planning workshop, we work with administration to figure out how to prioritize the tasks that will lead to completion of the strategic plan. For example, is council wants a new ice arena built, we work with administration to figure out how to secure funds, project management steps, etc. Through the corporate plan, administration can reach the overarching goals quicker and easier. We also see administration bond and come together as a team, while gaining a clearer understanding of each other’s roles.
The value of board and council workshops mainly comes in the form of team bonding, increased communication and a better understanding of each other as people. The finished product is just a result of everyone pulling together in the same direction.
Do you have any thoughts on board and council workshops? Drop me a line at lauren@strategicsteps.ca