The Team Crest

The team crest is a cohesion workshop derived from adult education pedagogy. Participants build a visual representation of their team in the form of a crest, divided into quadrants: for example, values, strengths, what the team brings to others, and its challenge. Each person starts with individual reflection, then the group converges towards a common crest, prioritising drawing over writing. The exercise is particularly useful at the launch of a team, during a merger, or when new members join.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Frame the intention and set the context

   5 to 10 min

   The facilitator presents the objective: "We are going to create the team crest, a common image of what brings us together and what we want to embody." They clarify that the exercise is not seeking an aesthetic work, but a meaningful, understandable, and shared representation. They announce the expected elements: four quadrants, a motto in a banner, and a central symbol. Participants ask their questions, then the facilitator reminds them that drawing is intentionally preferred over long texts to bring forth images and associations.

   Tip — Immediately diffuse any fear of poor drawing: say that pictograms, simple shapes, arrows, colours, and visual metaphors are perfectly suitable.

2. 2

   Present the structure of the crest

   5 min

   The facilitator shows the blank template and clearly explains each area of the crest. The four quadrants can be: "our values", "our strengths", "what we bring to others", and "our challenge". The banner will host a short motto, like a phrase that could represent the team. The central symbol will serve as a visual synthesis: it should evoke the common identity rather than an isolated detail.

   Tip — Keep the titles visible throughout the workshop, on a flipchart or shared board, to prevent the group from constantly re-discussing the instructions.

3. 3

   Individual reflection

   10 to 15 min

   Each participant reflects alone before any collective discussion. The facilitator gives the instruction: "For each quadrant, note or sketch what comes to mind; if you wish, you can create a mini-individual crest. Look for images, not just words." Participants work in silence to limit the influence of early speakers. This step allows everyone, including the more reserved or new members, to have personal material to contribute.

   Tip — Time the individual silence accurately: if it is too short, the quickest ideas will dominate the collective construction.

4. 4

   Share ideas and identify convergences

   10 to 20 min

   The facilitator invites everyone to share their main elements, quadrant by quadrant, without immediate debate. They might say: "We will first listen to all proposals, then we will look for what recurs, what complements, and what deserves to be represented." Participants briefly present their images, keywords, or mini-crests. The facilitator helps the group identify convergences, strong formulations, and useful tensions, particularly around the common challenge.

   Tip — Have individuals speak in turn rather than allowing the discussion to open too early; this protects the diversity of contributions.

5. 5

   Construct the common crest

   15 to 25 min

   The group creates the common crest on a large support or digital board. The facilitator reminds them: "We will draw rather than write lists; choose simple symbols that speak to everyone." Participants decide together what goes into each quadrant: values, strengths, contributions to others, and challenges, then formulate a motto in the banner and choose a central symbol. The facilitator ensures that the result is legible, shared, and representative, without seeking a bland consensus.

   Tip — If the group debates a word for too long, ask: "What image would represent that?" Transitioning to drawing often unlocks abstract discussions.

6. 6

   Present the crest

   5 to 10 min

   One or more people present the crest as if explaining it to a newcomer or another team. They comment on the four quadrants, the motto, and the central symbol. The facilitator invites others to add only if an important element is missing or if the meaning is unclear. This presentation transforms the drawing into a shared narrative and checks that the team has a common interpretation.

   Tip — Ask someone who hasn’t spoken much to contribute to the presentation: it’s a good way to check for ownership beyond dominant voices.

7. 7

   Anchor and display in the team space

   5 min

   The facilitator concludes by asking the group where the crest will be displayed or stored: team wall, project space, collaborative tool, or shared channel. They remind: "This crest is not a decorative deliverable; it should serve as a reference in moments of decision, welcome, or tension." Participants agree on a concrete use, such as presenting it to new members or revisiting it during a future team session. Displaying it gives the work continuity after the workshop.

   Tip — Photograph or export the crest immediately at the end of the session; waiting a few days significantly increases the risk that it remains unseen.

Variants

• Individual crest followed by common crest: each participant first creates their own complete crest, then the team looks for recurring themes to build the collective version.
• Team merger version: each subgroup first prepares what they wish to preserve and what they want to build with the other, then the common crest serves as a third shared identity.
• New members version: existing members create the crest with new arrivals, then each indicates the element they most identify with and the one they wish to help strengthen.
• Remote version: use a collaborative whiteboard with a shared crest template. Participants first prepare their ideas in silence in individual areas, then move or redraw elements in the common crest.