Everything is experience

I was at an event last week and heard Matt Church say “everything you do is experience.” And it’s been on my mind since.

In 20 plus years leading and facilitating teams, it was something that I know, but sometimes you need a bit of a reminder.

And it’s a timely one as I design a set of workshops for a Council framework co-design project.

Experience. What do people see, hear, do, and feel, from the moment they walk in, to when they're deep in the work?

Because that’s part of what shapes creativity.

It reminded me of something from my years leading teams: people don’t become more creative because you ask them to.

They become more creative because the environment signals that it’s safe to contribute, experiment, and be seen.

Experience does that. Not instruction.

And that’s when people bring their whole selves - skills, knowledge, ideas, and insights - to collective problem-solving.

But people don’t arrive creative by default. Experience is more than just a bit player in getting them there.

It influences whether they feel open, inspired, or shut down - and it’s how we create the conditions for creativity - theirs and mine.

And look, it's also part of having a good time and enjoying what we do.

We need that creativity: Research shows it's key to finding new ways of doing things.

It's also a key factor in staff satisfaction, innovation and team work - and ultimately, agile organisations.

When people experience work as engaging, purposeful, and safe, they offer new ideas.

And in this case, it's how we'll co-design a new framework for the Council built from the insight of the people who’ll use it.

Photo: Etienne Giradet, Unsplash