Final Preparations for the Start-Up Workshop
Final Preparations for the Start-up Workshop
You are standing on the threshold of the most impactful day of the 100-Day Challenge. This final prep phase is about ensuring the environment, the tools, and the people are all aligned so that you can focus entirely on the team’s energy during the workshop.
Deep Dive Video
Final Preparations
The Visuals: Flip-charts & Templates
In a 100-Day Challenge, the walls are your primary workspace. Prepare these templates on flip-charts ahead of time so the team can “own” the space as soon as they walk in:
- 100-Day Goal Templates: Select the SMURF templates relevant to your specific challenge. Write them out clearly, leaving bold gaps where the team will add their own ambitious numbers and details.
- The Attendance Register: Ensure you have a formal register ready for signing. You can download our standard template to keep it professional and easy.
- Work Planning “Swim Lanes”: Use flip-chart paper to create a large 100-day timeline with horizontal lanes. This allows sub-groups to map out their thematic plans simultaneously. See the video below on how to create the template.
The Digital Kit: Technology as an Enabler
Don’t let technical “stumbles” break the momentum of your workshop. Prepare your digital toolkit today:
- Customised Slide Pack: Download the master slide pack (and your facilitation notes) and edit it with your specific examples. Because the training videos are embedded, the file is large—ensure it opens and runs smoothly on your laptop.
- Offline Video Backup: Wi-Fi can be unpredictable. Download Video 1 (Introduction), Video 2 (Events), and Video 3 (The Story of Jeha) directly to your computer so they play perfectly regardless of the connection.
- The Mentimeter Pulse Check: Set up your digital workshop review survey. Having this link ready to share via a QR code or short URL ensures you get honest, real-time feedback before everyone leaves.
The Logistics Audit: Environment Over Everything
A “business-as-usual” room creates a “business-as-usual” mindset. Double-check these essentials:
- Room Layout: Abandon the classroom or boardroom style. Set up small tables that allow the team to sit together in huddles, making it easy for them to move, debate, and brainstorm.
- The “Stationery Store”: Ensure every table is stocked with fresh markers and plenty of Post-it notes. You want the team to be able to capture every spark of an idea instantly.
- AV Check: Verify that the venue’s projector is bright and the sound system is loud enough for everyone to hear the videos clearly.
- No Handouts Rule: Resist the urge to print the slides. We want the team looking at each other and the flip-charts, not reading a packet. Print only the Agenda, Attendance Register, and the Feedback Survey instructions.
The Human Connection: Final Check-ins
Your last task is to ensure the leadership is ready to support the team’s “unreasonable” goals.
- Brief the Strategist: Meet with the Challenge Strategist (and any other attending leaders) to walk through the agenda one last time.
- Role Coaching: Help them understand the rationale behind the Opening Session and the Feedback Session. Remind them that their role is to provide the “Blessing” and clear the path, rather than to direct the team’s specific actions.
Coach's Pro-Tip
Once your templates are up and your tech is tested, take a moment for yourself. Tomorrow is about energy and facilitation. By handling these logistics today, you’ve cleared the track for a high-speed start!
