Using Transform to reflect about well-being with Focus Inside

A project for Focus Inside

Mycelium developed a Transform experience for the team of Focus Inside in their annual meeting with the aim of reflecting about how they can become healthier consultants.

Transform is an original concept by Mycelium that aims to evolve into a multi-format experiences that prompts reflection through interaction with food.

Key advantages of using the contact with food as a vehicle for reflection and brainstorming:

Creates safe and intimate spaces.
Breaks away from familiar dynamics to encourage new ideas.
Connects with sensory memories, promoting cognitive flexibility and creativity.
Facilitates a horizontal space for diverse stakeholders to co-create.
Enables individuals less accustomed to workshops, sticky notes, and gadgets to engage in the dialogue without feeling intimidated.

The Challenge

**How can we design a team-building activity that encourages reflection on well-being and identifies practical steps Focus can do as an organization to foster the well-being of its consultants?**

How we tackled it

Collective brainstorming on well-being and healthy consultant:

This brainstorming session occurred while participants prepared ginger pickles to take home. The process placed a strong emphasis on mindfulness, encouraging everyone to be fully present and emotionally connected. Participants began by individually reflecting for 10 minutes while making the ginger pickles. Afterward, they shared their ideas and reflections for an additional 10 minutes before proceeding to prepare and cook the two dishes.

Unleashing creativity and converging ideas:

Participants prepared two dishes that symbolized I. what well-being doesn't signify for them and II. what well-being means to them. Throughout the cooking process, mindfulness was underscored. They were asked to pay close attention to the aromas, textures, and flavours of the ingredients.

Tasting and sharing:

Teams swapped dishes, allowing for a reflection on the various interpretations of the well-being concept.

Final collective reflection and key takeaways: Consultants engaged in a discussion about what the company can do differently, considering both individual and collective actions to improve well-being. They then inscribed their main takeaways from the session on the ginger pickle jars.

Some of the questions that arise during the experience:

What does health mean to us? What does well-being mean to us? What does it mean to be a healthy consultant? How does my current well-being connect with my future self? What daily actions should I modify to achieve well-being? What specific actions would I like to include in my daily routine? What specific actions would I like to remove from my daily routine? What key concepts do I want to reflect on my dish (e.g., balance/minimalism/simplicity)?
How does this dish represent what "well-being" and "non-well-being" mean to us?
What specific actions can we take as a group to improve our well-being as consultants?