Hi Ferdinand. 

I can share one idea. I do sometimes in my lean workshops about A3 problem solving. I want to get the knowledge across that a good problem description is already half  the problem solution.  Therefore I begin stating that I will make a small magic trick and that the audiences task is to find out what happened. So, I ask for a coin from someone and perform a small magic trick making it disappear. Afterwards on the flip chart i ask the colleagues to describe what has happened. All the information gets on the Flipchart. Usually at the end of this stage the situation has been only poorly described. Then I ask if they are satisfied with this description and start to making the 5W2H questions. When exactly the coin disappeared, how was the position, how many times I made certain movements, where was I standing in which hand was the coin, who was looking from front, who was looking from back, and so it goes... At the end of this extensive questioning and documenting, the solution on how the trick was made already becomes quite clear for many of the participants. For those who still didn't got the secret of the magic trick, I usually repeat the trick one more time. 

Every time I perform this trick and do this problem description together, it is impressive to see how 100% of the audience is focused on what I am doing. The learning is really good, and in the A3 forms created for the subsequent real problems it is interesting to see the level of detail and work put in the description part.

Of course this idea can be adapted to whatever your lean content is.

Hope this helps as a small idea from my side.

Anyone else has some idea?

Best regards.

@tobias

Hi Tobias. Yes, these kind of different activities really activate our brain and memory.

There is a gentleman I once met in Shanghai who gives corporate trainings by using juggling. The results are amazing. His workshops are pure joy and  intensive learnings.

Here the link to his website:

http://www.thefarbergroup.com/

Take a look, it's really great stuff there. Maybe you get some ideas for some of your own workshops.

🙂

I'm not a very talented guy, when it comes to magic.

In my experience people have fun when they feel that their ideas and suggestions are taken seriously - regardless of their "level". I try to socialize a lot and make jokes during Workshops (which Ferdinand can confirm 🙂 ) to have a nice atmosphere. grimness won't get you anywere slowly. 

Hi KAH307 🙂

Good point.

And talking about fun... Men... I will miss you...

Wish you a successful and fun workshop this week. and don't drink too much vodka.

Another point related to leading Lean Workshops is to unleash the joy of achievement. When the participants face a challenge to be solved during the workshop, there is an intrinsic motivator by success. By simply having done something meaningful, which people believe in, the joy and fun is created. At the same time, the commitment to such kind of meaningful topic is very high. And thats the challenge... As a Lean facilitator to often we tend to believe that we need to convince someone about something, when in reality our main task would be to find these meaningful tasks. Then the motivation and fun will come naturally during and after the workshop.