Howard Gray
Seeking the groove.
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Learning Innovation

Always do a run-through. No exceptions.

24 hours before our big workshop, we spotted a problem that could've killed the room. One case study had to go. Here's why the final check saved us from disaster.
Howard Gray

by Howard Gray

We had a big live workshop lined up this week. 120 people. Four great case studies, solid tools, one of our favourite immersive scenarios for everyone to play.

We built everything out weeks ago. Made final updates to the game elements last week. Felt confident.

Then we did our final run-through 24 hours before.

Almost at the same time, we noticed it. Case Study 1. Given some recent events and this specific audience - we couldn't use it. I mean, we could, but we shouldn't. We maybe pondered it for 3 seconds. No. No way.

The optics were wrong. The feeling would be off.

Luckily, I work with Fer Franco and he’s a magician. Within an hour he’d conjured up another case study using the same framework and tools. Story, slides, aciton steps, images. And arguably this case study is better than the original.

The point: review your stuff. Consider the audience, the moment, the context.

We nearly messed up. The run-through saved us.

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