Use Cases
Why, when, and how our workshops can make a difference.
1— Remote Resilience
Finding our way back to each other in a remote work environment.
THE PROBLEM
We used to see each other in the halls, over coffee, in the in-betweens. Now we only see each other on purpose, for a purpose. Employees who used to feel a sense of connection and belonging when we were in-person, now feel disconnected from their work and their colleagues. Morale is struggling.
EMOTIONS SWIRLING
I feel like I don’t belong; nobody sees what I’m going through; I need a change.
HOW WE HELP
Activities that spark joy, build empathy and trust, give staff a welcome shot of connection outside of work meetings.
“Now that we’re working remotely, there’s no water cooler talk anymore. Work is just work. You get off a zoom call and go back to your life. If there is tension, there’s no way to break it anymore. Make Believe Time builds a culture of vulnerability by encouraging people to share parts of themselves informally so that they develop more human relationships. It builds trust and confidence so that employees feel more comfortable sharing their ideas during a brainstorm.”
- Co-Head of Design and User Research, Juxtapose
“Make Believe Time impacted my sense of belonging at work. It made me connect with my colleagues and realize that I had a place there. I wasn’t a designer but in those sessions we were all equal. I believed in myself and made other people see me as a creative person. Make Believe Time breaks down silos. It changed how we saw people - It brought out our true selves.”
- Service Designer, Comte Bureau
2— In-Person Inspiration
A reason to return to the office.
THE PROBLEM
After a prolonged period of remote work where employees enjoyed relative safety from the pandemic, as well as additional time saved from not commuting, employees are reluctant to return to the office.
EMOTIONS SWIRLING
I’m wasting my time commuting; I’m worried about my safety; I’d be happier somewhere else.
HOW WE HELP
Activities that spark joy, build empathy and trust, and create artifacts that can brighten the office and connect staff through time creating, laughing, and sharing together.
“It takes you out of your comfort zone, which I think is valuable across industries. It makes you think about things in a different way. It’s also a community moment. With the pandemic these are the types of interactions that I really yearn for. I want to have in-person interactions where we are experiencing something together and we are developing our relationship together. That’s something we’ve been missing for a hot minute.”
- Senior Designer, Gensler
“Make Believe Time gives you a different way to engage with each other as people. There are no dynamics at play because that one hour has new rules. It’s a space where anything is possible. It opens up a whole new way of being together. It inspires you to see what others bring to the table.”
- Design Lead, IDEO.org
3— Inspiration Infusion
A creative boost to strengthen resilience and cultivate adaptability.
THE PROBLEM
Change is hard. But it’s a reality of business. As organizations reinvent themselves, their products, and their business models, leaders need to unlock creativity and build agency in their staff to generate new and innovative ways of doing business. When old answers don’t solve new questions, you need people who feel invited and inspired to think in unexpected ways.
EMOTIONS SWIRLING
I’m scared to take risks and disrupt the status quo; I feel uninspired, overwhelmed, and uncomfortable with ambiguity; they don’t want to hear from me anyway.
HOW WE HELP
Activities that create an inviting and inspiring arena to explore problem solving in non-traditional ways, connect in meaningful ways, and build the trust to take the risks worth taking.
“Creativity is a viable business skill. Creativity will help people do their job better. It also fosters a culture that makes people want to be at work. The business world has caught up to this idea, but hasn’t figured out how to grab it for themselves. Make Believe Time can help these businesses foster that culture of creativity. ”
- Senior Marketing Lead, IDEO
“Make Believe Time is a good way to dispel imposter syndrome and build creative confidence in multi-disciplinary teams. Through these workshops, I’ve seen shifts in my team members. It’s great for companies looking to build agency in their employees, it builds the confidence to test out new ideas and propose innovations.”
- Senior Design Lead, IDEO.org
4— Navigating New Waters
Accepting and embodying big changes.
THE PROBLEM
When companies adopt new strategies and business models it can mean significant changes in leadership, staffing, and operations. Unfortunately, this often leaves staff feeling unseen, unheard, and unrecognized, not to mention fearful of future changes such as restructuring and layoffs. Morale and engagement plummet.
EMOTIONS SWIRLING
I’m not important here; I don’t identify with this new direction; I’m afraid of losing my job so I’d better start looking.
HOW WE HELP
Activities that refocus on the people rather than the positions; that remind your people that they are valued and valuable; that help them connect with each other so that together they can move forward into this new chapter with confidence and community.
“I think a successful business is composed of three elements: The capabilities of your staff and what they can deliver, the business coming in, and the culture. Without a good culture, you don’t have a good business. Make Believe Time is going to help you build the cultural part of that trilogy.”
- Chief Design Officer, Wirelane and Former Partner, IDEO
“I think Make Believe Time is good, low-stakes practice in the bravery that it takes to collaborate across boundaries and hierarchies. Doing things together, collaborating creatively, stating opinions freely and expressing yourself during Make Believe Time feels safe and low stakes. These are the cultural conditions that allow such unique outcomes in our work.”
- Managing Director, IDEO.org