Prep for success! To kick off projects and collaboration effectively, getting a clear understanding of the challenges and goals at hand is crucial. At Mischief Makers, we’re taking a bespoke approach - taking time to get a good feeling and insights into the context and people we’re working with. Like this, we can make sure to tailor our services and approach to what’s actually needed and support projects & teams in the best way possible.

 the key elements of your workshop, meeting, or event. It captures your workshop or session's intention, desired outcomes, and logistical details.

By filling out each section, you can ensure clear goals, effective planning, and a base for successful collaboration.

Get trained in preparing, designing & hosting sessions and events like a pro! Check out our renowned 

resource designed to empower teams in today's dynamic workplace,

 from fostering human connection to developing essential skills and shaping organizational culture, you’ve come to the right corner of the internet.

Imagine this: a vibrant gathering of 100 

 professionals, all coming together to shape the future of work. Hosted by Miro, Mischief Makers, Butter, and nlmtd, this hybrid event was filled to the brim with inspiring brainstorming sessions, lively discussions, and creative exchanges.

We’ve curated the highlights from the insights emerged from this collective effort into one resource - “The Future of Work Guide”.

Future of work guide

Whether leading a team, organizing events, or navigating workplace dynamics, these 

 will help you foster an environment where every voice is celebrated.

Let's explore how to proactively nurture inclusivity, making it a constant stride to create equality and flourishing spaces.

5 tips for creating inclusive spaces

Adaptability and continuous learning mark the current world of work unlike ever before. New set-ups, approaches, tools, and innovations that extend beyond what we are familiar with, are urging us to push the boundaries of what we are comfortable with. Discover the power of the stretch zone- a concept that can help guide individuals and teams through transitions and change. Uncover its potential to foster a culture of learning and growth, and explore how you can harness this concept for your personal as well as team development.

Neurodiverse leadership - ADHD cheat sheet

Love Rain is an uplifting and heart-warming activity that fosters a positive and supportive atmosphere among participants. It's a perfect exercise to boost morale and spread appreciation in any workshop, event, or meeting.

Love Rain

Learn how to facilitate and hone deeper team connection throughout your world of work, with our 

hybrid facilitation course 'Leading Groups'.

For further insights and support, connect with us at 

In the ever-evolving landscape of working, learning and development, the role of team offsites stands out with its potential. What if we told you there's a key to not just organizing memorable offsites but transforming them into impactful experiences that surpass the investment made?

The Ultimate Offsite Checklist - miro template

Shift and Share is an effective tool for building connections and fostering a deeper understanding among participants. It encourages active participation, active listening, and the sharing of personal experiences. Use this to create a space for meaningful conversations and a sense of camaraderie within the group.

Shift and Share

Shift and Share is an effective tool for building connections and fostering a deeper understanding among participants. 

It encourages active participation, active listening, and the sharing of personal experiences. Use this to create a space for meaningful conversations and a sense of camaraderie within the group.

As your Shift and Share conversations continue to resonate, envision an ongoing dialogue at work that transforms into impactful actions. Our coaching and facilitative leadership services are designed to support this journey—nurturing meaningful conversations and guiding your team toward enjoyable collaboration.

Use this tool to create a space for meaningful conversations and a sense of camaraderie within a group.

Shift and share

Prep for success! To kick-off projects and collaboration effectively, getting a clear understanding of the challenges and goals at hand is crucial. At Mischief Makers, we’re taking a bespoke approach - taking time to get a good feeling and insights into the context and people we’re working with. Like this we can make sure to tailor our services and approach to what’s actually needed and support projects & teams in the best way possible. 

The **‘I-DO’ template** provides a structure for **scoping** the key elements of your workshop, meeting or event. It captures your workshop or session's intention, desired outcomes, and logistical details. 

By filling out each section, you can ensure clear goals, effective planning, and a base for successful collaboration.

I-DO Template

Prep for success! To kick-off projects and collaboration effectively, getting a clear understanding of the challenges and goals at hand is crucial. At Mischief Makers, we’re taking a bespoke approach - taking time to get a good feeling and insights into the context and people we’re working with. Like this we can make sure to tailor our services and approach to what’s actually needed and support projects & teams in the best way possible.

 the key elements of your workshop, meeting or event. It captures your workshop or session's intention, desired outcomes, and logistical details.

Have you ever wished for a workplace where teams click like clockwork and teamwork becomes second nature? We're right there with you. #TheFutureofWork.

as they delve into the transformative power of facilitation that addresses these aspirations.

Have you ever wished for a workplace where teams click like clockwork and teamwork becomes second nature? We're right there with you. #TheFutureofWork. Join 

 as they delve into the transformative power of facilitation that addresses these aspirations.

UXYZ Podcast: Facilitative Leadership

In an ever-evolving landscape of work where the boundaries between physical and virtual spaces blur...

to navigate this hybrid terrain seamlessly? Discover three tried-and-tested approaches for your hybrid team’s ways of working.

3 best practices for hybrid teams

Comfort vs. stretch zone

We hosted a live panel discussing 'Offsites, can you afford not to?' with experts in the field.

, provide skill development opportunities, and create memorable experiences that 

Offsite Expert Panel: Three Quick Insights

We love the Integrated Model of Group Development, aka. the 5-stages of group development by Susan Wheelan. It combines various theories, offers a comprehensive overview, and is always the first stop on our tour into group dynamics and group development.

Susan Wheelan: IMGD Model

This is a versatile creative challenge that can be used in different contexts: from drawing reflections on individual / group processes or collaboration.

Paper Cranes

This is a versatile creative challenge that can be used in different contexts: from drawing reflections on individual / group processes or collaboration, to building a uniting, rewarding and magical experience with large or small groups.

For their team connect at a deeper level, 

 had the idea of creating this exercise at a 

You can tweak and facilitate this exercise with different crafts materials.

Add a reflection moment to dig deeper into their individual and group experiences; landing on aspects like team work, leadership, giving good instructions and/or clear communication.

👀 Looking for a memorable team experience? Our mischievous experience designers can help you design and host your next team offsite or workshop. 

Reflect on an individual and group level while collaborating in a groups to tackle the challenge of folding Paper Cranes.

This visually engaging and interactive experience encourages connection and conversation within any group. The Portrait Exercise is an awesome catalyst for creativity and expression as well as deeper understanding and appreciation of each other's unique qualities.

Portrait Exercise

This visually engaging and interactive experience encourages connection and conversation within any group. The Portrait Exercise is an awesome catalyst for creativity and expression as well as deeper understanding and appreciation of each other's unique qualities. 

👀 Looking for a memorable team experience? 

Our network of mischievous facilitators can help you design and host your next team offsite or workshop. 

The Portrait Exercise is an awesome catalyst for creativity and expression as well as deeper understanding and appreciation of each other's unique qualities.

The High-Five-Me Tool is for whenever someone new joins your team, or you want to connect with each other on a deeper level.

High Five Me

In this exercise members of a team or group describe themselves based on 5 areas. This is a tool that can serve you on many levels: use for new team members to introduce themselves as well as get acquainted with the rest of the team’s habits and preferences. Build empathy & stronger bonds, and foster more efficient collaboration.

You can facilitate this exercise in both, offline and online spaces. 

 A3 paper, sticky notes, markers - participants draw their hands on a large piece of paper and add their behaviours and preferences with post-it notes or directly onto the paper.

to guide your team through the exercise: example hands are already mapped out, so your team can easily fill in their personal notes.

Build empathy & stronger bonds, and foster more efficient collaboration.

Team onboarding: high five me - miro template

The Facilitator Passport is a tool for individuals and teams to self-assess and their facilitation knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA). All three parts shape who you are and how you show up as a facilitator in practice.

Facilitator Passport

We believe in owning your own learning journey. This is why we developed this tool to provide a comprehensive yet accessible way of being on top of your development.

 to make this easy for you and your team. 

👀 Looking to skill up in Facilitation? 

Our renowned Facilitation Course will take you there. 

A creative and mischievous way to surprise participants with small messages of inspiration, encouragement, fun or facts - get inventive!

Post it Prophecies

The video from which the visual above was created, showing how to make the Post it prophecies step by step: 

https://www.origamispirit.com/2013/05/how-to-make-a-fortune-pouch-that-your-guests-will-love/

This one is a great tool for getting large scale groups into an 

 with each other through the power of sound.

People can be seated or stood up, making this a very accessible and flexible exercise to bring into a range of settings.

 It doesn’t require any equipment, other than maybe a mega- or microphone for the facilitator to orchestrate the instructions.

This one is a great tool for getting large scale groups into an active and involved state of mind- connecting with each other through the power of sound. 

Weather Orchestra

Workshop Cards

Workshop cards

A focus exercise, have the team count to 10 (or as high as they can go) without interrupting each other.

As the facilitator, role model calm, allow laughter but bring them back to silence and counting by kicking off each new turn by pausing and or saying ‘one’ after any mistakes.

Counting Game

A quick lively exercise - have people race to find an object in their house and share it back on screen.

Treasure Hunt

We’ve said it many times, and we’re saying it again: 

It offers individuals a chance to grow both personally and professionally. It increases self-awareness and decreases any blind spots you might have, minimising the chance of assumptions, misunderstandings and crossed wires getting in the way of team communication. 🙌🚀 #awesomeness

The value and importance of feedback is not new news. Each company and team have their preferred way of giving feedback, and honour and practice getting this right. This one if amongst our favourites as it’s straightforward and works just as good online as it does offline. Plus, we have tweaked by adding a “love shower”. Read more below.

-Offline: flipchart paper, tape (to hang up flipcharts), sticky notes (4 different colours), markers 

We’ve said it many times, and we’re saying it again: Feedback is a gift!

Feedback: stop, start, continue, love shower

A lovely tool to create a shared history and sense belonging for a group. You visually map out the project or team's past, and physically walk through it to make sure everyone in the group can now share the story and find their place within it.

History Mapping and Future Shaping

In 2020, fully in person dinner parties and get-togethers haven’t always been possible. With this in mind here are some top tips on how to gather together for smooth and enjoyable gatherings, in small groups, connected virtually. 

, which is jam packed with detailed advice on how to set up and facilitate Hybrid meetings. Before going further give this a little read.

Alright, now that you're wised up on everything from tech-choreography to room blueprint planning let’s map out a dinner party scenario! 

👨🏽‍💻 A laptop, phone or tablet with a webcam, for each group. 

🎶 A speaker if possible, if it’s a big group. 

🎥 Zoom, MS Teams, Skype, FaceTime or your preferred video call platform 

💡 Good lighting and a spot where your webcam shows a full view of the room 

✨ Your fave virtual game (check out “

🙋🏽‍♀️ Nominate a host both online and in person

In 2020, fully in person dinner parties and get-togethers haven’t always been possible. With this in mind here are some top tips on how to gather together for smooth and enjoyable gatherings, in small groups, connected virtually.

Hosting a hybrid dinner party

With people working and meeting online as well as onsite (i.e. at the office), we find more and more in sessions where one part

of the participants are joining remotely, and another part as a group in one location. 

Hybrid meetings

At Mischief each quarter we choose a different mantra portraying our company focus and mindset for that specific time frame.

Mischief Mantra: Don't hate...

As a Facilitator, it is important to factor in the need for both modes of thinking, within all of your exercises. This could mean building in both quick fire rounds and blocks of individual working time to unlock the most potential within every team member.

Personality Types

Inspiration can hide in the strangest of places - and in some obvious and brilliant places too.

Podcast Collection

 recently when we delivered an online meeting training of five 2-hour modules for an international consulting firm. 

Mischievous online experiments

Describing what facilitation actually is, is almost an art of its own. 

About facilitation

Facilitating group activities unlocks the potential of groups. As soon as we break through the carapace of professionalism we choose to surround ourselves with, productive work and a sense of belonging soon follow.

faSILLYtation

This model of course makes a great case for less sending and more doing. You can use this as a defense and reminder against an one way keynote in favour of an interactive session.

Experience based learning

Series Collection

Christmas time is the time for games of all kinds. Whether you’re gathering online or in person, this game by 

is one is for all of you Mischief Makers who are in for some drawing and pretending that you know it all- while you’re completely clueless. 👩‍🎨 🎨 #fakeittillyoumakeit 

team meeting, friends or family gathering and let your creativity flow!

Whether you’re gathering online or in person, this game is one is for all of you Mischief Makers who are in for some drawing and pretending that you know it all- while you’re completely clueless.

Mischief game: Fake artist in New York

Plan the use of these features in your session design and test them beforehand to handle seamlessly.

As Zoom has been one of our best friends over the past few months we’ve been exploring and uncovering more and more features within the software over time. Here’s an overview of our 

that have been very helpful within our workshop deliveries.

Hidden Zoom Features

It's not the end of the world to be mistaken for working in “facilities management” but it could take you to some unexpected places.

It's not the end of the world to be mistaken for working in “facilities management”  but it could take you to some unexpected places.

Being a Facilitator

This is a tool to give people feedback based on 

 (what you could do more of). The goal is to give everyone 

 and get an insight into your own practice. Note that this tool has other applications as well. We have used it in client workshops to gather feedback on new ideas, business models or our own workshops. 

This is a tool to give people feedback based on Rose (what you did well), Thorn (what you could do differently), Bud (what you could do more of).

Feedback: Rose, Thorn, Bud

A short and democratic strategic planning tool, that helps groups and individuals to take action toward a desired change.

three action steps

One of the simplest most impactful exercises in a facilitators belt. Checking-in or checking-out is an easy yet effective way for a team to open or close a session symbolically and in a collaborative way. Checking-in/out invites each member in a group to be present, seen and heard, giving an opportunity to express a reflection or a feeling.

Checking-in or checking-out is an easy yet effective way for a team to open or close a session symbolically and in a collaborative way.

Check in / Out

An active listening exercise to make sure all relevant insights will be captured.

Selective Hearing

A great way to get to know each other on a more personal level, by enjoying sharing stories.

Fun Facts

 tool is a great way to generate energy at the beginning of a meeting. It provides an opportunity for everyone to speak early. It gets everyone up and moving so blood is flowing. It signals that this will not be a meeting like all others.

This tool is a great way to generate energy at the beginning of a meeting. It provides an opportunity for everyone to speak early. It gets everyone up and moving so blood is flowing. It signals that this will not be a meeting like all others.

Impromptu Networking

If some people don’t / can’t have their camera on, no worries - they can still guess.

I spy

One of our favourite conversation formats to let 

1) it works hybridly so both offline & online

2) it uses the power of group think: participants are building on each other

One of our favourite conversation formats to let large groups discuss various topics.

World Cafe: On / Offline

One of our firm favourite conversation formats is the 

 from the Liberating Structures methodology. This method moves from individual thinking to duos — gradually into a collective conversation. We love this one because:

If you’re working with a large group you might choose to continue doubling the group size by merging two groups — before returning to the full group (e.g: from 4 to 8 or 8 to 16).

This method moves from individual thinking to duos — gradually into a collective conversation.

one, two, four, all

There isn’t one way to facilitate. It’s important to develop a personal, authentic and therefore impactful craft of your own while staying open for experimentation.

Throughout life, you have been given certain roles by yourself or by others. This could have been professional roles such as: manager, consultant or facilitator yet also personal roles such as: entertainer, adventurer, wall flower, or tech newbe.

We see these roles as true and familiar - behaving in a different way might even feel like betrayal. These beliefs can function positively but they can also limit ourselves. Example: a wallflower wouldn’t take the stage that easily and raise his or her voice. It's just not there thing, ok?! But maybe, as they grow, it could be.

It’s a process, don’t get discouraged if it didn’t work out the first time. It’s not a confirmation, it’s your first step forward.

We encourage you to challenge self-limiting beliefs and expand your (facilitative) superpowers.

Self limiting beliefs

growth mindset, creativity and a proactive positive mode

. This moves a group through divergent and convergent thinking, collecting learnings they can use to overcome creative blocks - or apply to any projects where they’re challenged by constraints.

Offline: Flipchart, sticky notes, markers

An excellent warm up exercise to spark growth mindset, creativity and a proactive positive mode. 

Warm up: The Party Exercise

An online version of a classic in person energizer. The group dos actions as they’re called out, if they do the wrong one their OUT!

Keep everyone engaged, by enlisting the people who are ‘out’ as judges. Ask them to help you by spotting if anyone makes a mistake as you continue to play.

Traffic Lights

Behavioural personas describe a target audience grouped by user behaviours rather than general demographic innovation. Closer to the way humans work and naturally gather / create communities and behave. In this sense it represents a group of users with similar ways of thinking and acting in relation to a service rather than a single individual. Behavioural personas also capture the underlying reasoning to engage with the service and what they are looking to get out of it.

Behavioural personas describe a target audience grouped by user behaviours rather than general demographic innovation.

Behavioural Persona

One of our favourite things running this company is that we meet so many impressive and lovely people along the way.

Mischief inside companies

Simply get people off their chair - get them moving out of robot mode into human mode. An easy little reconnection with wider space outside their screen.

Be sure to consider mobility, accessibility and inclusion before choosing this energizer.

Stand up

One of our favourite conversation format is the Fish Bowl, because:

As facilitator/moderator of the fishbowl, make sure that people do not stay in the inner circle for too long. Let the conversation happen as long as constructive and new insights are discussed but step in if room for new people should be made.

One of our favourite conversation format is the Fish Bowl!

Fishbowl Convo: On / Offline

A collage and presentation activity, used to share and highlight different perspectives around the company positioning.

Aren't / Are / Want to be

Define your challenge is an exercise which allows teams to rapidly and collectively articulate - then prioritise key challenges. It’s based on intuitive feeling rather than over-thinking. A quick decision maker! It is a good exercise to use to initiate reflection and dialogue around common challenges.

Skill up yourself

Skill up your team

Facilipedia

Workshop Exercises

Facilitation Resources

Facilitation Techniques

Facilitation Think Bank

Power of reflection: the well of knowledge

Tips on how to build the engagement of your online audience

Team onboarding: high five me - miro template