Cover Story
Cover Story is a visionary exercise where participants imagine their organization achieving such extraordinary success that it lands on the cover of a major magazine. This method encourages expansive thinking and helps teams articulate a compelling future state.
How to run it
- 1
Prepare large templates with sections for 'Cover', 'Headlines', 'Sidebars', 'Quotes', 'Brainstorm', and 'Images'.
- 2
Divide participants into groups of four to six and provide each group with a template and markers.
- 3
Instruct participants to envision their organization's best-case scenario as if it has already happened, and spend a few minutes individually imagining this story.
- 4
Allow groups 30–45 minutes to collaboratively develop their cover story, filling in the template with creative content.
- 5
Have each group present their cover story to the entire team, allowing 5–10 minutes per presentation.
- 6
Discuss common themes and insights that emerge from the presentations.
Tips
Encourage participants to think in the past tense to foster a sense of realized success and to avoid analytical thinking.
Keep the atmosphere light and imaginative to maximize creative potential.
Note recurring themes as they can indicate shared aspirations.
Variations
For a digital twist, use online collaborative tools to create and share cover stories virtually, allowing real-time interaction and idea sharing.
Where it fits
Frequently asked questions
When should I use Cover Story?â–¾
Use Cover Story when you want to: Strategic visioning workshops; Innovation sessions; Team alignment meetings.
How long does Cover Story take?â–¾
Cover Story typically takes 60–90 minutes.
How many participants does Cover Story work for?â–¾
Cover Story works best for groups of 4 or more.
What materials do I need for Cover Story?â–¾
To run Cover Story you will need: large templates, markers.
How difficult is Cover Story to facilitate?â–¾
Cover Story is rated intermediate — some facilitation experience is helpful.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Gamestorming.