WorkUp! Include & involve everyone when you work with groups

WorkUp is for people working on social and environmental change, who want to develop their skills to engage, inspire and involve people, connect with other changemakers – and have some fun together (despite all the bad stuff in world right now).

In this session our focus will be on skills and techniques to include and involve everyone when you're working with groups – so every participant at your meetings, events and programmes feels welcome and able to contribute fully. 

Skills Workshop meets Professional Networking

WorkUp is a participative 90 minute session where you learn new skills, share experiences and connect with others on similar journeys to you.

Working for change is hard. Whether you’re working on climate action or social justice, nature restoration or anti-racism, it can be difficult to engage, inspire and involve people – and you need to do that to find allies, maximise participation and work together successfully with others. 

I believe we can each achieve so much more – and feel so much better – when we not only learn effective techniques and practical skills, but also support each other tackle the live challenges we face in our work, showing up as our authentic selves.

But you’re probably already over committed and you might struggle to take a couple of days out for a full workshop. That’s why I’m offering something different. Something shorter, something that’s practical and energising, deeply serious and purposefully playful.

Whether you’re leading a team meeting with five colleagues or organising a consultation event for fifty community representatives, how you plan, open and hold these spaces makes all the difference to the event itself, the immediate outcomes, and to future relationships.

You’ll experience relevant techniques and practice your skills to engage, inspire and involve people in your work. You will also leave with access to clear guidance to help you. 

Optionally, you’re welcome to stay on in the Summerhall Cafe to get a coffee, hangout and continue conversations and/or open up your laptop and get some work done in company.

I’ve been working in sustainability for 30 years. When I started studying and performing improvisational theatre several years ago I was blown away by how closely the principles of improv aligned with the skills and approaches needed for sustainability leadership. Building trust, deep listening, working with what's in front of you right now, working with uncertainty, and much more. 

The big difference is that improv is playful and joyful, while sustainability is often, understandably, weighed down by its importance and seriousness.

I believe that applying improv techniques, and some of this joy and playfulness, can make us more effective as sustainability leaders and change makers.

While ramped access is available to Summerhall, the room we are using is, unfortunately, accessed via a single flight of stairs.

The WorkUp session itself involves a mixture of sitting, standing and some gentle movement. We can adapt the activities to accommodate you if any of this might be a barrier.

If you need help with the stairs, or have any mobility issues that might affect your participation please let us know when registering - or contact us in advance if you have questions.