Portfolios Archive

Hackathon Canvas

What is a Hackathon Canvas?

A Hackathon Canvas is a visual and strategic planning tool designed to help organise a successful hackathon event.

Hackathons are a popular way for people to network, learn new skills, and collaborate on innovative projects. They have been used to create new products, solve real-world problems, and even launch new companies.

They require careful planning to ensure that the event runs smoothly and achieves its goals.

Why Use a Hackathon Canvas?

A Hackathon Canvas can help take the effort out of organising a hackathon by helping to –

Break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable ones.
Provide a visual representation of the key components.
Provide a common language that can be used by all stakeholders.
Define the goals and objectives of the hackathon and ensure that everyone is working towards a common goal.
Identify the resources required to run the hackathon.

Who Needs a Hackathon Canvas?

Hackathon Event organizers
Innovation Managers
Start Up Consultants
Accelerators and Incubators
Internal think tanks
Judges, Sponsors and Mentors

Related templates

Tips for effective hackathon planning

Start by defining the goals of the hackathon.
Engage a diverse group to help plan the hackathon. This will offer a range of skills and perspectives.
Use technology to involve critical people in different locations rather than miss their contribution.
Minimize groupthink by brainstorming ideas individually then combining issues to get the overall picture.
Provide adequate time in the session to discuss and clarify ideas.
Ensure all actions are assigned to someone with an agreed deadline.
Communicate outcomes to stakeholders and regularly update progress on actions.

References

How to Use a Hackathon Canvas

Ensure all stakeholders involved in the planning process have access to the Canvas. Using an online collaborative tool such as GroupMap allows those stakeholders to engage both in person and remotely. It can also allow for the group to share their input either synchronously or asynchronously depending on their availability.

It is best to start by defining the Hackathon Goals then moving to the section the group agrees to be the next most important.

Once all ideas are captured, actions can be defined that shape the agreed steps to the delivery of the hackathon itself.

Brainstorm

Action

Share

Brainstorm

Action

Share

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

Startup Canvas

What is a Startup Canvas?

A Startup Canvas is a one-page strategic planning tool used to help entrepreneurs define, realize and communicate their business model on a single page.

This is a variation of the Business Model Canvas by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur. The Start Up Canvas was created by Maurya Ash, a notable start up adviser who varied the original model to be more focused on a new business.

Since then, more variations have been created. The one shown here includes a broad set of aspects for a start up including value, user acquisition and channels to market.

Why use a Startup Canvas?

Defines your business model. You can see how the elements fit together and how one affects the other.
Improves focus and priorities. By honing in on the areas a start-up business needs most, you can be smarter with time and money.
Can identify gaps and opportunities. Working through each element challenges assumptions and can also spark new ideas.
It acts as a communication tool. A ‘one pager’ helps you communicate the vision to the team and investors.
Allows for easy iteration and refinement. You can easily change or update your canvas as you learn more or gain clarity.

Who Should Use Startup Canvas?

Start up teams
Entrepreneurs and start up founders
Business Consultants
Start up coaches and advisors
Investors
Educations in entrepreneurship and design thinking

Related templates

Tips for the Startup Canvas

Focus on the problem first. Having a clear definition of the problem goes a long way to making sure the solution in mind fits. Hit the nail with the hammer, not the other way round.
Ensure that the solution is unique, but also has value. It’s great to be one of a kind, as long as it also solves the problem.
Iteration is key. It would be a miracle if the first cut of the start up canvas stays the same. As lessons are learned, and assumptions are validated, the canvas should evolve and change as needed.
Work with the team and invite others. It will help give new perspectives, critical thinking and opportunity for feedback.

Startup Canvas template

How to Use a Startup Canvas

It all starts with your new business idea. You can start with a proposed name.

The criticl thing to define is the customer’s problem. From there, you can refine any solution/s you have in mind.

Identifying competitors helps develop an understanding of the current market landscape. Then list all the ways your solution brings value to solving the problem. Capture what you know to date and how you will create a minimum viable product.

Next, define your ideal customers and how you attract them to your business. This step is crucial in knowing how you might market and position your product.

Finally, decide on who you need in your team to accomplish the goals you have for your company and create the vision for your startup.

Brainstorm

Group

Vote

Results

Action Plan

Brainstorm

Group

Vote

Results

Action Plan

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

4P Marketing Mix

What is the 4P Marketing Mix?

The 4P Marketing Mix is a popular framework used by marketers to define and develop marketing strategies. The 4P’s stand for Product, Price, Place, and Promotion, which are the four key elements that make up a successful marketing mix.

If offers an order that is simple to follow.

The first step is to define the product or service that you want to market. Next, determine the pricing strategy for the product. Then plan the promotion strategy for the product. Finally, identify the best channels for distributing and selling the product.

Why Use the 4P Marketing Mix?

It offers a comprehensive approach to planning as businesses can create a complete plan by considering all four elements.
By considering the needs and wants of customers, businesses can design a product or service that fits their demands and is priced, promoted, and distributed in an easy and accessible way.
Businesses can change the template to meet their needs and goals.
Tracking the effectiveness of the strategy lets businesses make data-driven decisions and tweak their approach.

Who Needs the 4P Marketing Mix?

Any business or organization that wants to develop and implement an effective marketing strategy would benefit from this approach. Small enterprises, large corporations, start-ups, and non-profit organizations are some examples of those that could benefit from using the 4P Marketing Mix.

Related templates

Tips in using the 4P Marketing Mix effectively

Conduct market research before using this template to identify the needs and preferences of your target audience.
Remember that the four elements of the 4P Marketing Mix are interdependent.
Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing strategy, using metrics such as sales, customer feedback, and market share.
Keep the needs and preferences of your target audience at the forefront of your marketing strategy.
Ensure that your marketing activities are aligned with your business goals and are designed to support your business growth.
Customize the elements of the framework to suit the needs of your specific business, industry, and target audience.

Tips in using the 4P Marketing Mix effectively

4P Marketing Mix Template

How to Run a 4P Marketing Mix

Start by defining the product or service you will be marketing.

Then collaborate to determine the pricing model that will best meet the needs of the business and its target audience, Then discuss the most effective promotion channels and strategies.

After that, collaborate to find the most effective strategy to get the product into the hands of the target demographic. Lastly, put the marketing strategy into action and use metrics to measure how well it worked.

Brainstorm

Vote

Results

Brainstorm

Vote

Results

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

Corrective Action Plan

What is a Corrective Action Plan?

A Corrective Action Plan is a systematic approach to addressing problems or issues that have been identified in a process, system, or project.

Why Use a Corrective Action Plan?

A Corrective Action Plan can be used when there is a need to address and improve an issue in the workplace. It could be the quality of a product or service, customer satisfaction, or the overall efficiency and effectiveness of a process or system.

It helps your organizations identify and address problems early on, before they become larger issues that can negatively impact the organization’s reputation, financial performance, and overall success.

Who Should Run One?

Anyone who is involved in a process or system can benefit from a corrective action plan. This includes

Individuals and teams responsible for quality control, risk management, and Six Sigma.
Project managers
Change agents and leaders
Team leaders and agile scrum masters

Related templates

DMAIC Analysis
5 Whys – key topic
RAID Log

Tips for effective corrective action plans

Be inclusive. Involve the whole team or group.
Use technology to involve people in different locations rather than miss their contribution.
Minimize Groupthink by brainstorming ideas individually.
Be specific rather than broad when defining ideas.
Keep things positive. Remind people they are helping to build solutions and avoid the ‘blame game’.
Provide adequate time in the session for people to share their ideas.
Monitor outcomes, if improvements aren’t observed revisit the process.

References

Corrective Action Plan template

How to Use the Corrective Action Plan Template

The Corrective Action Plan is a map designed to facilitate a collaborative approach to identifying and addressing issues in the workplace.

Start by making sure all stakeholders impacted by issues have access to the map. Using an online collaborative tool such as GroupMap allows those stakeholders to engage both in person and remotely. It can also allow for the group to share their input either synchronously or asynchronously depending on their availability.

As one section of the map leads to the next, it is best to work through it one column at a time. First have the group decide upon the top three issues it will discuss. Then have them settle on the corrective actions they will use to address them. Finally, have the group identify the various metrics that will be used to track success in the ‘Measurement’ column.

Brainstorm

Like/Dislike

Share

Brainstorm

Like/Dislike

Share

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

Plus Delta Retrospective

What is a Plus Delta Retrospective?

The Plus Delta retrospective is a simple way to collect feedback from team members to support the continuous improvement of a certain process, activity, project, or event.

It gives team members a chance to express what they thought of the last sprint in very simple terms. This easy retrospective helps them focus on the positives, so the team can gain a sense of accomplishment, build confidence, learn from the things that went well, and change what didn’t.

Why Run One?

The Plus Delta template helps to:

Assess the effectiveness of a new process or system
Evaluate the results of a project
Review the performance of a team
Highlight areas of success
Increase self-awareness
Encourage feedback
Foster teamwork
Build trust
Identify and prioritize action items

Who Should Use the Plus Delta Retrospective?

The Plus Delta retrospective is a great tool to use with a newly formed agile team. It is a template that could be used by Scrum Masters and their agile software development teams.

It could also be used by any group looking to reflect on a process or project and improve.

Related templates

Tips for an effective Plus Delta retrospective

Create a safe and respectful environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.
Stick to the Plus Delta template and keep the conversation focused on the specific project, event, or team performance that you are reviewing.
Encourage quiet team members to speak up, and avoid letting any one person dominate the conversation.

References

Plus Delta Retrospective Template

How to Run a Plus Delta Retrospective

The Plus Delta retrospective can help create a culture of continuous improvement within a team.

For teams that are working remotely or are located in different geographical locations, using an online collaborative tool like GroupMap can be an effective way to facilitate the process. It can create a shared space where team members can collaborate and contribute their ideas.

Start by sharing the Plus Delta template with the team members. Allow all team members to brainstorm ideas. They can contribute in real time or synchronously.

Once all team members have added their ideas to the Plus and Delta board, facilitate a discussion where the team can group the topics, discuss the items that have been added and identify areas for improvement. Prioritize the items in the delta column, and assign actions to team members to address them.

Use GroupMap to track progress, assign responsibilities, and set deadlines. Follow-up with team members to ensure that actions are being completed, and review progress in future meetings to assess the effectiveness of the changes made.

Brainstorm

Group

Vote

Action Plan

Share

Brainstorm

Group

Vote

Action Plan

Share

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

Scrum Values in Action

What is Scrum Values in Action?

Scrum Values in Action is a fun and easy icebreaker that can help your team get to know each other better and help them start to think about how the Scrum values apply to them.

The five Scrum Values are essential for creating an effective and productive team. It will help them work together better to achieve their goals. The values are:

Openness
Commitment
Courage
Focus
Respect

Why use Scrum Values in Action?

Scrum Values in Action can help deliver all of the benefits of an icebreaker with a focus on Scrum. It encourages participation, helps to build relationships, and creates a positive atmosphere for the meeting. It can help to reduce any tension that may be in the room as well as increase engagement and energy levels.

This icebreaker is an excellent way of revisiting the Scrum Values and can act as a gentle reminder of the values themselves.

Importantly, discussing the Scrum Values is a helpful way to build a solid and cohesive team culture.

This helps a team stay focused on project goals and encourages continuous improvement.

Related templates

Tips for running Scrum Values in Action

Maintain a mood that's lighthearted and friendly.
Give examples for each value to illustrate.
If you are delivering a remote session, make sure everyone can access the collaboration tools.
Give adequate time for people to respond.
If no one is responding, use a transparent process to decide who goes next. e.g. alphabetical order, or order of people on screen.
Positively reinforce responses. Thank people for contributing.

References

Who Should Use Scrum Values in Action?

Scrum Values in Action is a great tool to kick off an agile retrospective. They are useful for Scrum Masters and their agile software development teams.

It can also be used by any group looking to start a conversation around team culture and values.

Scrum Values in Action Template

How to Run Scrum Values in Action

Start with a positive mindset. Welcome input and thank people for their response. Remind people that there are no wrong answers and that they should be able to share freely and without fear.
Explain what each of the values means. Then invite the group to think about behaviors that could reflect those values.

Using an online Icebreakers tool means that people can collaborate, see ideas in real-time, and can add comments.

Brainstorm

Share

Brainstorm

Share

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

Character Alignment Chart

groupmap-template-Character Alignment-with ideas-img

The Character Alignment Chart

This icebreaker activity lets you create different actions for any given situation and classify them as lawful, chaotic, good, evil or somewhere in between.

This is an imaginative way to encourage people to think about their values, how they approach decision-making, and the roles they play when working together.

This is a fun way to explore how people’s values play out in different situations.

Why Use One?

This activity encourages self-reflection by revealing how each person may respond to a situation. The benefits of this include:

It encourages creativity and solving problems from a different perspective.
It promotes team building by understanding how different people respond to the same situation.
People can explain their decision-making process in a non-threatening way.

Who Should Use One?

This activity is well suited for group facilitators, trainers, team leaders, or people leading groups to solve common issues that have multiple solutions.

Its game-based theme works well with retreats, creative problem-solving, and other collaborative settings.

Related templates

Tips for the Character Alignment Chart

Have a scenario ready to go, such as onboarding a new vendor or having to speed up production.
Use technology and online collaboration tools to allow people to add their ideas in real time.
There is room for all roles, including Evil, Unlawful and Chaos. Tell people to reserve judgment as the reasons for this behaviour might reveal a different, yet important perspective.
Having all actions in a single category may have implications. Have the team discuss what it could mean for the group.

References

Character Alignment Chart Template

Lawful Good

Upholds the law and is driven by duty and justice. Follows a moral code and respects authority.

Lawful Neutral

Seeks to maintain the law, but is not bound by good or evil. Is motivated by duty or tradition.

Lawful Evil

Uses the law to gain power or control. Is motivated by selfish desires.

Neutral Good

Seeks to do good, but is not bound by rules or laws. Is driven by empathy and compassion to help others.

Neutral Good

Remains balanced between following the law and their beliefs. Seeks to maintain balance and self-interest.

Neutral Good

Primarily motivated by their own self interests, rather than the law. May use others to further personal goals.

Chaotic Good

Prioritizes doing good over following the law or social norms. Is driven by freedom and individuality.

Chaotic Neutral

Prioritizes freedom and individuality over law or moral codes. Is unpredictable and difficult to control.

Chaotic Evil

Prioritizes own desires and goals above all else. Enjoys causing harm and destruction, and is difficult to control.

How to Run a Character Alignment Activity.

Firstly, create a few scenarios that you can pose to the group. For example:

You are the head of a new innovation hub for the company and have been charged with coming up with new ideas to improve the product and service offerings of the team. What kind of actions would you take?
You are running a community consultation workshop to get policy feedback on greening the neighbourhood, targeting the younger generation. What kind of actions would you take?
You can make the scenario as detailed or as simple as you like. Explain each of the different character types above to the group.

Brainstorm

Categorise

Share

Brainstorm

Categorise

Share

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

Mood Wall Ice Breaker

Mood Wall GroupMap with names as an icebreaker

What is a Mood Wall?

A Mood Wall is a simple tool that allows people to share their current emotional state or mood by placing their name on a board that displays a range of emoticons.

This is a powerful way to build empathy and get a sense of the energy and mindset of the people in the room.

Using a Mood Wall requires minimal setup. You can choose a range of emotions and simply have people add their names on the Wall. You can go the extra step by having them comment on why they feel that way.

A Mood Wall can be a fun icebreaker that sets the tone for a collaborative and empathy-focused meeting.

Why use a Mood Wall?

Besides being a really simple way of getting everyone to check in and be present for the meeting, a Mood Wall can:

Encourage self reflection. Having people check in on their own feelings helps them become aware of their own emotional state as they start the meeting.
Encourages communication. People can share a single feeling and reason for their choice; this helps to break down barriers.
Builds empathy and understanding. By being aware of how the team is feeling, this can help people work better together.

When Should I Use a Mood Wall?

A Mood Wall can be used by meeting or workshop facilitators. It can also be used by teachers and lecturers. They are useful for:

Company meetings to encourage openness and collaboration.
Market research sessions for people to add their reactions.
Counselling or design thinking sessions to practice empathy.
Team building events to kick off a big workshop.

Related templates

Tips for your Mood Wall Ice Breaker

Set expectations and boundaries. Explain the Mood Wall and ask for people to be genuine.
Create a safe and supportive environment. Be explicit that all feelings are valid and that it is important to honour all of them.
Give people time to think and consider. You might even want to try a short guided meditation.
Encourage active listening. Have people demonstrate empathy and reflect on what is being said.
Reflect on the activity. After the discussion, ask people to share their thoughts about how they might impact your meeting or workshop.

References

Mood Wall Template

How to Run a Mood Wall

Draw, print or write different emoticons on a large whiteboard or wall and hand out sticky notes to each person who can then add their names to the wall. Then invite each person to add their name to the emoticon that best reflects how they feel.

Alternatively, you can use an online brainstorming tool like GroupMap for both real-time and remote sessions. It can also be set up so that people add their names independently and are therefore not influenced by other people’s responses. You can then reveal the results in total to the whole group. This will reduce bias and anchoring.

Create

Brainstorm

Discuss

Create

Brainstorm

Discuss

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

Icebreakers and Warm-ups

groupmap-easy-and-effective-online-icebreakers-image

Why use an icebreaker?

Icebreakers are a great tool for launching collaborative sessions. They open the channels of communication, and help put people at ease by giving everyone a chance to contribute.

The value of icebreakers doesn’t stop there. They help set the tone for a session. They let the facilitator model collaborative behavior. They can also establish common ground between participants which helps foster spaces in which people are happy to share.

A good icebreaker should be so simple that people can respond almost instantly. They aim to get a response rather than a right answer. Icebreakers should be inclusive. They should apply to everyone in the group so they all get the chance to contribute positively.

Everything that’s said during an icebreaker can help build a connection. That’s why asking people to explain their input is giving them a chance to connect. The best thing about these new connections is that they start a conversational momentum that carries over into the session itself.

In short, icebreakers help focus and engage a group to ensure they get the most out of their collaborative session.

Our icebreaker templates to help build connections

Our team has hand-picked our top four fun icebreaker activities and designed templates to deliver them online.

House Rules

Photo Wall

A colorful, creative collage that lets participants share a friendly fact or two about themselves by way of some conversation starter questions.

Two Truths and One Lie

A fun and creative way to have participants interact with each other while discovering a fact each is happy to share.

Where in the World?

A way for people to share a bit of where they are located or where they are from and perhaps to learn something about the area.

You can find these templates in our library of meeting templates and maps.

Related templates

Tips for running effective icebreakers

Maintain a mood that’s friendly and lighthearted
Provide examples of past responses to show the simplicity of the task and help put participants at ease.
If facilitating a remote or hybrid session, make sure all participants can access and use the collaborative tool.
If no one volunteers to talk, use a simple, transparent process, to determine the order of speakers. Examples include this online spinner, following the order of the attendance list or having the last speaker choose the next.
Reference what was shared in the icebreaker during the collaborative session so participants feel heard and known.
Positively reinforce responses and thank participants for contributing.

References

House Rules icebreaker

Photo Wall icebreaker

Two Truths and One Lie icebreaker

Where in the World icebreaker

House Rules icebreaker

Photo Wall icebreaker

Two Truths and One Lie icebreaker

Where in the World icebreaker

Who should use an icebreaker?

Anyone who wishes to get more out of their collaborative, meeting, workshop or lesson. This could be because there is a new group of people, or there is a new person to the team. It can also be used to encourage at least everyone saying something at a meeting and to help overcome any initial fears.

Icebreakers are a proven way of supporting engagement and focus. As such they should be used by:

Facilitators
Trainers
Teachers
Coaches
Workshop practitioners

In short, anyone overseeing group interaction who is looking to support that group’s effectiveness would benefit from their use.

How to run an icebreaker

An icebreaker helps to set the scene for the session that follows, so it’s important for a facilitator to begin as they wish to go on.

When it comes to online sessions, there are a variety of tools to help. Screen sharing software, video conferencing and online collaboration tools such as GroupMap allow facilitators to deliver inclusive icebreakers.

GroupMap’s icebreaker templates are deliberately simple in design. This is because most of the time spent during the icebreaker should be spent talking and getting to know each other. Besides just a simple poll that means people simply get lost in a stack of numbers, these ice breakers questions are non-threatening and allow each person to share freely without fear. There is no wrong answers.

Online Icebreakers can also be used to make sure participants know how to use the collaboration tool, add comments, images and ideas, check everyone is able to access the software.

Brainstorm

Discuss

Brainstorm

Discuss

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

Meeting Agenda Template

What is a meeting agenda template?

A meeting agenda template is a tool designed to make building an agenda easy. It does this by helping to gather all the elements needed to plan and deliver an effective meeting.

A meeting agenda template offers a customisable framework that can be shared by everyone who is involved in the meeting. This helps to set a collaborative tone even before the meeting begins.

Because everyone can see and contribute to the template, stakeholders have shared ownership of the meeting process. This increases buy-in, which contributes to meeting effectiveness.

GroupMap’s meeting agenda template includes nine elements to get you started:

Meeting details
Meeting Materials
Attendance
Apologies
Previous Business
Reports
New Business
Actions
Parked Items

Why use a meeting agenda template?

A meeting agenda template makes organizing a meeting faster and easier, without sacrificing attention to detail.

While the importance of an agenda is well-known, it’s often given a low priority. Its preparation can be overshadowed by more urgent matters. It can be allocated to a person who has the time rather than the expertise to deliver an agenda. It can be pulled together ‘on the fly and so can lack clarity of process.

A meeting agenda template overcomes all of these obstacles as well as delivers other benefits by –

Presenting an easy-to-follow structure to which everyone can contribute.
Delivering a transparent meeting planning process.
Sharing the agenda building process, thereby reducing the time any one person needs to allocate to its delivery.
Leveraging the expertise of the whole group in support of the planning process.
Including documents as attachments, so they are easy to distribute to the group and document control is effortlessly supported.

The meeting agenda template reduces the time required to document the meeting itself. This is because key information and discussion points have already been recorded.

You can also use it to:

Set clear, organization-wide, meeting standards that deliver consistency between meetings and across teams
Capture key documents for good governance
Track outputs and decision points
Make it easier to rotate the meeting facilitator role
Provide an opportunity for all meeting participants to contribute and feel heard
Deliver all meetings types including online, hybrid, and asynchronous
Build a psychologically safe meeting space

Related templates

House Rules
Photo Wall
Two Truths and One Lie
Exit Ticket 3-2-1

Tips for effective meeting agendas

Map out and circulate a meeting timeframe that includes the preparation of the agenda and all associated deadlines
Allocate times for each section of the agenda
Align each section of the agenda with an action that’s required. Make clear if an item is -
- for noting
- to be discussed
- for approval
- if a decision is required
Regularly review and update your agenda to make sure it delivers value to your meetings.

References

Check out TeamRetro, our solution for distributed agile retrospectives

Who should use a meeting agenda template?

Anyone looking to support the delivery of a meeting can use a meeting agenda template. It is a really straightforward brainstorming meeting tool that can super-charge the effectiveness of any type of meeting.

As such, the template could be used by:

Meeting Facilitators
Executive Officers
Company Secretaries
Team Leads and Managers

It is a great tool to reduce the time burden of meetings while improving participation rates and record-keeping accuracy.

Meeting agenda template format

How to create a meeting agenda template

When it comes to remote and distributed meeting participants, this online template is a real game-changer. It means everyone can be actively involved in the planning process and so completely up to speed when the meeting itself starts.

Of course, with the template populated, moving to the next step of delivering the meeting online can be done seamlessly.

Screen sharing software, video conferencing, and online collaboration tools allow facilitators to deliver inclusive meetings. GroupMap’s meeting agenda template has been designed with this in mind. It can be used with any group type (co-located, hybrid or remote). So it’s a cost-effective way of removing geographical barriers to participation.

The time it takes to complete a meeting agenda template depends on the nature of the meeting and the detail required. Sharing the template with plenty of lead time will allow contributors to work it in with their own schedules. This will help deliver a better quality outcome.

How to use a meeting agenda template

Set agenda elements

Invite

Brainstorm

Set agenda elements

Invite

Brainstorm

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

Whether you have your best minds together in the same room, or distributed around the world, GroupMap’s unique technology allows groups of up to 2000 to submit ideas independently at separate times, from different places, in different timezones. Prevent dominant personalities swaying the group, drowning out the opinions of others – GroupMap allows everyone to brainstorm independently then effortlessly combines that information to reveal the full spectrum of ideas. GroupMap templates keep the objective front and center throughout the session, keeping everyone on task. This ensures the activity identifies actionable issues rather than becoming just a discussion on ideas. GroupMap gives you all the group decision making tools you need to prioritize, decide and take action.

Create your first map and invite people in to start sharing their thoughts right NOW. Experience the power of GroupMap with our 14-day, no risk, FREE trial. You don’t even need to provide your credit card details to access to all of our features, including the entire suite of templates, for a full 14 days.

Archives: Portfolios

What is a Hackathon Canvas?

Why Use a Hackathon Canvas?

Who Needs a Hackathon Canvas?

How to Use a Hackathon Canvas

Brainstorm

Action

Share

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

What is a Startup Canvas?

Why use a Startup Canvas?​

Who Should Use Startup Canvas?

Startup Canvas template

How to Use a Startup Canvas

Brainstorm

Group

Vote

Results

Action Plan

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

What is the 4P Marketing Mix?

Why Use the 4P Marketing Mix?

Who Needs the 4P Marketing Mix?

4P Marketing Mix Template

How to Run a 4P Marketing Mix

Brainstorm

Vote

Results

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

What is a Corrective Action Plan?

Why Use a Corrective Action Plan?

Who Should Run One?

Corrective Action Plan template

How to Use the Corrective Action Plan Template

Brainstorm

Like/Dislike

Action

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

What is a Plus Delta Retrospective?

Why Run One?

Who Should Use the Plus Delta Retrospective?

Plus Delta Retrospective Template

How to Run a Plus Delta Retrospective

Brainstorm

Group

Vote

Action

Share

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

What is Scrum Values in Action?

Why use Scrum Values in Action?

Who Should Use Scrum Values in Action?

Scrum Values in Action Template

How to Run Scrum Values in Action

Brainstorm

Share

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

The Character Alignment Chart

Why Use One?

Who Should Use One?

Character Alignment Chart Template

Lawful Good

Lawful Neutral

Lawful Evil

Neutral Good

Neutral Good

Neutral Good

Chaotic Good

Chaotic Neutral

Chaotic Evil

How to Run a Character Alignment Activity.

Brainstorm

Categorise

Share

Save effort, time and money with GroupMap

What is a Mood Wall?

Why use a Mood Wall?

When Should I Use a Mood Wall?

Mood Wall Template

How to Run a Mood Wall

Why use a Startup Canvas?