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FacilitationBeginner

Remote Sail Boat

Use the sailboat metaphor to help teams identify what drives them forward and what holds them back. Participants visualize their organization's challenges and strengths, leading to constructive discussions about improvements.

Duration
20m–30m
Group size
5–10 people
CCBY-SA 4.0

How to run it

  1. 1

    Ask participants to reflect on what is pushing the team forward and what is holding it back.

  2. 2

    Draw a sailboat on a visible surface, labeling it with the product, service, or goal.

  3. 3

    Discuss and list examples of positives (what's moving us forward) around the boat.

  4. 4

    Discuss and list negatives (what's holding us back) and note these as anchors.

  5. 5

    Encourage dialogue to explore how to address the negatives.

Tips

  • Create a comfortable environment to encourage honest sharing.

  • Keep the discussion balanced between positives and negatives.

  • Be prepared to facilitate deeper conversations on identified issues.

Variations

Adapt the metaphor by using other visual representations or themes relevant to the team’s context.

Where it fits

team alignment sessionproject retrospectivestrategic planning meeting

Related methods

Frequently asked questions

When should I use Remote Sail Boat?â–ľ

Use Remote Sail Boat when you want to: team alignment session; project retrospective; strategic planning meeting.

How long does Remote Sail Boat take?â–ľ

Remote Sail Boat typically takes 20–30 minutes.

How many participants does Remote Sail Boat work for?â–ľ

Remote Sail Boat works best for groups of 5–10 participants.

What materials do I need for Remote Sail Boat?â–ľ

Remote Sail Boat requires no special materials — just participants and a space.

How difficult is Remote Sail Boat to facilitate?â–ľ

Remote Sail Boat is rated beginner — straightforward to facilitate even without prior experience.

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Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from SessionLab. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Remote Sail Boat — Facilitation Method | Workshop Weaver