Overview
The European Cultural Foundation (ECF) supports cultural change-makers across Europe and fosters initiatives that strengthen democracy through culture. ECF invited MakeTeamWork to design and facilitate a team-building session for its Programme Team — a diverse group of professionals, many of whom had recently joined the organisation. The session aimed to strengthen team cohesion, build psychological safety, and create shared understanding in a post-turnover context.
Challenge
With several new members and varying degrees of familiarity among colleagues, the Programme Team was navigating a period of change. Siloed work habits and limited cross-functional collaboration were leading to missed opportunities for peer support and knowledge sharing. ECF’s leadership wanted a session that would create space for team bonding and self-awareness, while also exploring how they could work more effectively together.
Approach
We designed an in-person session focused on two key areas: trust-building and collaborative improvement. The journey began with a series of warm-ups and a storytelling exercise where each team member shared a personal or professional experience that shaped who they are. This set the tone for deeper connection and psychological safety.
Using Big Five personality assessment insights (completed as pre-work), the team then reflected on how their traits influence communication and collaboration — sharing what others should know to work well with them.
In the second half, we facilitated a retrospective on current team dynamics. Participants identified what’s working and what isn’t, clustered common themes, and translated key tensions into “How Might We” questions. Using ideation tools like Crazy 8s and Round Robin, the team generated ideas and developed concept posters to address shared challenges.
Outcome
The session brought a noticeable shift in openness, mutual curiosity, and team energy. Participants left with a stronger sense of who their colleagues are — beyond roles — and greater awareness of how to support one another. They also walked away with clear, co-created ideas to enhance team rituals, knowledge sharing, and inclusive decision-making. Follow-up feedback highlighted the value of combining personal reflection with tangible outcomes in a safe, creative space.
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