I'll admit my surprise that fun strategic planning activities are generating so much interest among Brainzooming readers right now. You would think everyone would be finished with strategic planning - or they decided not to pursue it for this year.
4 Fun Strategic Planning Activities to Always Have Ready
Suppose you have responsibility for strategic planning - no matter what time of year it is. What, beyond carting in a bunch of toys and pre-planned activities, can you always have ready to introduce to create fun strategic planning activities?
Here are four ideas we use:
1. Have jokes suitable and germane for work environments ready-to-go
I'm not a big joke teller. It’s advisable, though, to have a few clean jokes you can go to when things are tense, boring, or mind numbing - or all of the above. Pick jokes that fit your personality, whether you are better as a storyteller, punster, or one-liner person. I love puns you can relate to typical words that surface during strategic planning activities.
2. Create ad libs for typical situations during strategic planning activities
There's a line in a Rod Stewart song about ad lib lines being well-rehearsed. Even if you aren't a strong ad libber, you can develop impromptu lines fitting typical situations and issues in planning workshops. Some ideas? A projector not working, nobody wanting to answer questions, somebody keeps going back for more food, etc. All of these (and more) are ripe for laughs.
3. Introduce physical humor to add surprise
Physical humor generates laughs. For me, when an audience won't participate, I've been known to crumple to the floor and stay there for a few moments until people get into it. When things are going well, I may get up on a chair and do some shtick from there. Anything physical to generate a little attention and interest is fair game!
4. Learn to doodle
Being able to suddenly doodle something funny is a quick go-to for humor. Think you can't draw? If you can write the alphabet, you can draw things. Or better yet, go check out Diane Bleck, the Doodle Girl, for tips on doodling more effectively.
Need More Ideas for Fun Strategic Planning Activities?
If you have time for pre-planning and want more ideas at the ready, download our eBook on 11 Fun Strategic Planning Activities. Follow those ideas and you’ll never bore anyone during strategic planning again. - Mike Brown
