Autonomy in Group Settings: Self-Management vs. Instructional Dependence

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This chapter delves into the concept of adults depending heavily on instructions in group environments, contrary to the potential for self-management. Through personal anecdotes, the speaker highlights the benefits of allowing participants more autonomy during retreats, leading to a more meaningful and organic experience compared to structured team-building activities.

Planning a corporate workshop or off-site often feels like making a burrito. So many options—and so many opinions on what should go in it. A presentation rodeo on the next quarter’s objectives? Absolutely. Time for a key initiative to get the spotlight in front of the C-suite? Yes, please. Extra scoops of mandatory team-building to strengthen your culture? Why not. Everyone likes fun, right?

But when it’s time to actually chow down, it quickly becomes clear you’re dealing with an overstuffed, leaky, $20,000 mess. And everything the workshop was supposed to accomplish? Yeah, that didn’t happen—so you’re back at square one come Monday.

In this episode, Rodney Evans and Sam Spurlin explore why our workshop eyes are often bigger than our workshop stomachs; standard off-site practices we need to offload; and how to design new experiences that are actually meaningful and productive.

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