One of my favorite consultant workshop participant activities is to work with everyone individually and together to draft a “Staff-Time” Specialty Library. What is a “Staff-Time” Specialty Library? Well in my innovationist mind, the “Staff-Time” Specialty Library is a log of one-page outlines/descriptions of unique learnings of staff that have the potential for personal/professional progressive sharing.

Think about it.

A quality “Staff-Time” Specialty Library could consist of skill sharing in areas of:

• Artwork or painting
• Creative Writing
• Mathematics/Accounting
• Mechanics
• Technology Usage
• Woodworking
• Business Development
• Community Activities
• Music
• And On & On

And then the question: Why a “Staff-Time” Specialty Library?  Well the rationale for going through this activity is to first show everyone who people are outside their organization/business jobs.  In a safe fun way, the activity tends to build a sense of family within the group that is always a good return on investment. Finally, the “Staff-Time” Specialty Library may also uncover excellent, unknown personnel skill-sets that could be applied to regular work functions.

As the facilitator of the workshop it is also great for me to see the recognition by staff that training workshops don’t’ have to be completely only about the business/organization.  Finding and sharing everyone’s single bit of SPECIAL is HIGH VALUE… everyday… EVERYDAY!