Futurospective

Futurospective is a collaborative workshop where participants envision an ideal future for their team or project. It allows them to step away from a problem-focused mindset by concentrating on possibilities and innovation. The goal is to identify the necessary actions to turn this vision into reality, thereby enhancing the team's commitment and motivation.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction and context

   10 min

   The facilitator explains the purpose of the workshop: 'We will imagine an ideal future for our team or project and identify the actions that will help us achieve it.' They clarify that this exercise aims to encourage positive thinking and stimulate innovation. Participants are invited to relax and let their imagination flow.

   Tip — Use a story or metaphor to help participants project themselves into the exercise.

2. 2

   Projection into the future

   15 min

   Ask participants to close their eyes and imagine waking up in a future where their project has succeeded perfectly. The facilitator poses questions to guide the visualization: 'What do you see? How do you feel? What new practices have been implemented?' Participants then take a few minutes to jot down their impressions.

   Tip — Encourage participants to be as detailed as possible in their visualizations.

3. 3

   Sharing visions

   20 min

   Each participant shares their vision with the group. The facilitator encourages exchanges and discussions to enrich individual visions. 'What similarities and differences do you see in your visions?' This allows for the construction of a collective vision enriched by everyone's perspectives.

   Tip — Take visible notes for everyone to capture the key elements of the shared visions.

4. 4

   Identification of actions

   20 min

   The facilitator asks: 'What actions do we need to take to achieve this ideal future?' In small groups, participants list the concrete actions required. Each group then shares its ideas with the rest of the team. The facilitator ensures that the actions are specific and achievable.

   Tip — Use post-its so that participants can easily organise and prioritise the actions.

5. 5

   Action plan

   15 min

   Participants prioritise the identified actions and develop an action plan. The facilitator guides the group to ensure that actions are assigned and a timeline is established. 'Who does what and when?' is the key question to resolve at this stage.

   Tip — Ensure that each action has an owner and a deadline to guarantee commitment.

6. 6

   Closure and thanks

   5 min

   The facilitator thanks the participants for their involvement and summarises the key points of the workshop. They remind everyone of the importance of the commitments made and encourage participants to regularly review the action plan to maintain momentum.

   Tip — End on a positive and motivating note to reinforce commitment.

Variants

• Use drawings or collages to visually represent future visions.
• Conduct the exercise individually first, then share in small groups before returning to the plenary.
• Project yourself into an even more distant future, 10 years ahead, to broaden the scope of possibilities.