Helping Heuristics
Helping Heuristics is a structured practice exercise where groups of three take turns playing client, coach, and observer across four progressive rounds of interaction. The result is that participants develop a felt sense of how different helping approaches land, and they start to recognise their own default patterns when giving and receiving help.
✓ Created by former KPMG & McKinsey consultants
What You'll Achieve with the Helping Heuristics Workshop
Real outcomes that transform your team
Participants develop a felt sense of how different helping approaches impact outcomes.
Increased self-awareness about personal default patterns in giving and receiving help.
When to Use the Helping Heuristics Workshop
Perfect for these situations and team challenges
When a team has fallen into unhelpful helping patterns and needs to reset their approach to support each other.
How the Helping Heuristics Workshop Works
A step-by-step breakdown of the workshop process
1Setup
Prepare a visual display of the four helping patterns and arrange the space for trios to engage without barriers. Participants also think of a real challenge to share.
2Step 1: Frame the Exercise
Introduce the importance of different helping patterns and clarify the roles of client, coach, and observer while sharing a personal story to set the context.
3Step 2: Form Trios and Assign Roles
Participants self-select into groups of three and assign roles for the exercise, ensuring each participant understands their responsibilities in the rounds.
4Step 3: Run the Four Rounds
Facilitate four distinct rounds of interaction, each focusing on a different helping pattern, allowing participants to experience varying dynamics in their roles.
Key Topics Covered in the Helping Heuristics Workshop
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