ChatGPT als neue Arbeitskolleg*in? In diesem Erfahrungsbericht schildere ich, wie ich begonnen habe, gemeinsam mit ChatGPT die neue Workshop-Methode “Marble Run Game” zu entwickeln. Es geht also zum einen darum, wie ich als Facilitator ChatGPT für meine Arbeit nutzen kann und zum anderen gibt es mit dem Run Game und vielen weiteren Methoden-Ansätzen Vorlagen für Workshop-Spiele, die in kleinen und größeren Gruppen Komplexität auf spielerische Art und Weise erfahrbar machen.
Weil die Arbeit mit ChatGPT so neu ist, bin ich vor allem eines: irre gespannt, wie ihr das so nutzt. Lasst uns also gerne in den Austausch gehen. Nun aber erst mal ein kurzer Inhaltsüberblick:

Zum Start eine Partie kreatives Kurzpingpong

Unlängst machten Dirk und ich uns spontan ein paar Gedanken zu einem neuen Kundenprojekt. Ein Ziel des Workshops: verschiedene Dienstleister eines Kunden auf eine gute Zusammenarbeit untereinander einzustimmen. Eher nicht ergebnisorientiert, sondern gerne spielerisch und auf der Meta-Ebene das Thema Prozesse, Schnittstellen und gemeinsame Abläufe einbringend.

Im kreativen Pingpong waren wir schnell bei einem Workshop-Spiel, das wir vor ein paar Jahren schon mal fast umgesetzt hätten. Weil damals nicht ausreichend Vorbereitungszeit war, landeten wir bei einer anderen Methode. Im Hinterstübchen schlummert sie seither und meldet sich immer mal wieder mit der Frage, ob ich sie vergessen habe.

Habe ich offensichtlich nicht. Wir tauschten uns also ein paar Minuten aus: Cool wäre es doch, wenn die Teilnehmer*innen in gemixten Teams Murmelbahnen aus Karton, etwas Krepp und Papier bauen müssten. Ggf. müssten die Teams klären, wie sie die Schnittstellen gestalten. Ggf. könnten wir ein paar Komplexitätshürden einbauen.

Wir sprachen nur 10, 15 Minuten. Und endeten an einer Stelle, die immer wieder eine zeitliche Hürde ist. Irgendwer müsste jetzt am besten Mal den ersten Aufschlag für eine konkrete Umsetzung machen. Mit möglichen Routen, Zeiten und, und, und.

Hallo ChatGPT. Ein Teil meiner Aufmerksamkeit liegt in dieser Zeit immer bei den Fragen: Wie verändert sich Thema oder Aufgabe oder Situation “ XY” eigentlich im Zusammenhang mit ChatGPT, Midjourney und ihren Brüdern und Schwestern? Wie könnten sie an dieser Stelle helfen?

Also los. Meine Erwartung war nicht super hoch, aber es waren auch meine ersten Prompts im neuen ChatGPT 4.0. – ich gebe hier komplette Chatverläufe wieder.

Version 1: ChatGPT, ich und das Workshop-Spiel „Marble Run Game“

Ich:
I’m planning a new workshop method. The method is for groups from 40 to 100 participants. Participants will have the task to build a run for balls, pretty much like a marble run. The given material will be cardboard, tape, maybe some thread, and paper. I would like to chat with you, and brainstorm some ideas on how this team activity might be set up.

ChatGPT:
I’d be happy to help you brainstorm ideas for your workshop! Here are some suggestions on how to structure and facilitate the team activity:

Introduction:
Begin with a short introduction explaining the purpose and goals of the workshop, as well as the rules and guidelines for the activity. Make sure participants understand the materials they’ll be working with and the end goal: to build a functioning ball run using the provided materials.

Group Formation:
Divide participants into smaller teams of 4-6 people. This will encourage collaboration and make the task more manageable. You can either assign teams randomly or ask participants to form their own groups.

Warm-up Activity:
Before starting the main task, conduct a short warm-up activity to get participants comfortable with the materials and each other. For example, ask them to create a simple ball run using only a few pieces of cardboard and tape within a short time frame (e.g., 5 minutes).

Design Phase:
Provide each team with a set of materials and encourage them to brainstorm and sketch out their ball run designs. Set a time limit for this phase (e.g., 15-20 minutes) to keep the activity on track.

Building Phase:
Once the design phase is complete, allow teams to start building their ball runs. Set a time limit for this phase as well (e.g., 45-60 minutes). Encourage teams to test their runs as they build and iterate on their designs if necessary.

Integration:
To add a layer of complexity and encourage collaboration between teams, require each team’s ball run to connect with at least one other team’s run. This way, participants will need to communicate and work together to create a larger, interconnected system.

Show and Tell:
Once the building phase is complete, have each team present their ball run to the entire group, explaining their design choices and challenges they faced. Encourage other participants to ask questions and provide feedback.

Final Test:
Run balls through the entire interconnected system to test its functionality. Celebrate the success of the completed ball runs and discuss any improvements or modifications that could be made.

Debrief and Reflection:
Conclude the workshop with a debriefing session where participants can share their experiences, discuss what they learned, and reflect on the value of teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.

Awards and Recognition (optional):
Consider giving out fun awards for categories like the most creative design, the longest run, the most complex run, or the best teamwork. This adds an element of friendly competition and acknowledges participants‘ efforts.

Remember to take photos and videos throughout the activity to document the progress and the final result. You can share these with participants afterward as a memento of the event.

Version 2: Marble Run Game – eine gemeinsame Bahn

Ich:
That’s great! As an alternative, the task could be that all ball runs have to build one large ball run. Any thoughts on this variant?

ChatGPT:
Certainly! Having all the teams work together to build one large ball run can foster collaboration and communication on a bigger scale. Here’s how you might adapt the activity for this variant:

Introduction:
Explain the purpose and goals of the workshop as before, but emphasize that the end goal is to create one large, interconnected ball run with everyone’s combined efforts.

Group Formation:
Divide participants into smaller teams of 4-6 people, as previously suggested. Assign each team a specific section or component of the ball run to work on. This can be done randomly or based on skill sets and preferences.

Warm-up Activity:
Conduct the warm-up activity as before, but with a focus on discussing ideas for sections or components of the larger ball run.

Design Phase:
Instead of having each team design their own individual ball run, ask them to brainstorm and sketch out their assigned section or component of the larger ball run. Encourage teams to consider how their section will connect with others.

Collaboration Meetings:
Periodically pause the design and building phases for collaboration meetings, where representatives from each team come together to share their progress and discuss how the different sections will fit together. This will ensure a smoother integration process later on.

Building Phase:
As teams work on their sections, encourage them to periodically check in with neighboring teams to ensure their sections will connect properly. Set a time limit for the building phase, just as before.

Integration and Testing:
Once all teams have completed their sections, bring everyone together to assemble the large ball run. Test the connections and functionality of each section as they are integrated. Encourage teams to troubleshoot any issues that arise during the assembly process.

Final Test:
Conduct a final test by running balls through the entire system to ensure it works as intended. Celebrate the success of the completed ball run and discuss any potential improvements or modifications.

Debrief and Reflection:
Hold a debriefing session for participants to share their experiences, lessons learned, and reflections on teamwork, communication, and problem-solving in the context of building a large, collaborative project.

Awards and Recognition (optional):
As before, you can give out awards for various categories, such as the most innovative section, the best-executed connection, or the most effective collaboration.

By having all participants work together to create one large ball run, you’ll be fostering a sense of unity and shared accomplishment. Remember to document the process with photos and videos, which can be shared with the group after the event.

Mehr Komplexität für das „Marble Run Game“

Ich:
That’s a pretty good alternative! I’m thinking about introducing more complexity. Two options come to mind: 

Option 1: in the first planning phase, teams don’t know the ball. They are shown five very different balls – one table tennis ball, one soccer ball, one billiard ball, one baseball, and a golf ball. After the planning, there will be a ball lottery to decide which ball the ball run will be for. 

Option 2: we could limit communication. E.g., teams are not allowed to use spoken or written words when talking to other teams. They can only use gestures, sounds, or sketches without words.

ChatGPT:
Both options introduce unique challenges and can enhance the team-building aspect of the workshop. Here’s a brief outline of how you can incorporate these complexities into the activity:

Version 3: “Marble Run Game” mit unbekannten Bällen

Introduction:
During the introduction, explain that the teams will be designing their ball run sections without knowing which ball will be used.

Ball Showcase:
Present the five different balls and encourage teams to consider the unique challenges each one might present. Remind them that the final ball type will be determined by a lottery.

Design Phase:
Ask teams to come up with versatile designs that can accommodate different ball types, or to create multiple design plans for different ball scenarios.

Ball Lottery:
Once the planning phase is complete, conduct the ball lottery and reveal the chosen ball. Give teams a short period to adjust their designs based on the lottery result.

Proceed with the rest of the workshop as previously described, with teams now building their sections specifically for the chosen ball.

Version 4: “Marble Run Game” mit limitierter Kommunikation

Introduction:
Explain that for this workshop, teams will have limited means of communication with other teams. They can only use gestures, sounds, or sketches without words.

Icebreaker:
To help participants get comfortable with non-verbal communication, start with a short icebreaker game, such as charades or a drawing-based game like Pictionary.

Collaboration Meetings:
During collaboration meetings, participants must stick to the communication restrictions. This will challenge their creativity in conveying ideas and problem-solving.

Integration and Testing:
The limited communication rules also apply during the integration and testing phase, emphasizing the importance of non-verbal communication and teamwork.

Proceed with the rest of the workshop as previously described, keeping the communication restrictions in place throughout the activity. You can choose to implement one of these options or even combine them for an extra challenge. For instance, participants could face both the unknown ball type and limited communication restrictions, making the activity even more engaging and demanding of their problem-solving and teamwork skills.

ChatGPT mit Mechaniken für mehr Komplexität in Workshop-Spielen

Ich:
Thanks! Can you think of more options, restrictions, variants to spice up this team exercise? Especially if the exercise should show the VUCA world, and teamwork within this world, playfully.

ChatGPT:
Certainly! The VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) concept is an excellent theme to incorporate into your team exercise. Here are some additional ideas to represent the VUCA world in your ball run workshop:

Time Pressure:
Introduce sudden changes to the time limits during the design and building phases, emphasizing the volatility of real-world environments. You can either shorten or extend deadlines to keep teams on their toes and encourage quick adaptation.

Unexpected Changes:
Introduce unexpected challenges or changes during the activity to simulate uncertainty. For example, you could change the materials provided, remove a critical material, or introduce new constraints. Teams will have to adapt their plans and strategies accordingly.

Diverse Roles:
Assign participants different roles within their teams, such as designers, builders, or testers, to showcase the complexity of modern teamwork. You can also introduce additional roles, such as „communicators,“ who are the only team members allowed to interact with other teams.

Ambiguous Instructions:
Provide teams with ambiguous or incomplete instructions for the ball run, forcing them to make assumptions and decisions with limited information. This simulates the ambiguity often faced in real-world projects.

Changing Objectives:
Midway through the workshop, introduce new objectives or goals for the ball run, such as incorporating specific features or meeting a particular performance target. Teams will have to adapt and revise their designs to meet the new requirements.

Resource Constraints:
Give each team a limited budget of „points“ to spend on materials, tools, or additional resources. This constraint will force them to prioritize and make strategic decisions about how to allocate their resources.

Expert Consultations:
Invite a few „experts“ (e.g., experienced colleagues or external professionals) to join the workshop. Teams can „consult“ with these experts for advice, but they have limited time or a limited number of questions they can ask.

Obstacle Course:
Incorporate physical obstacles (e.g., barriers, slopes, or gaps) into the workshop space, forcing teams to design their ball runs around these challenges. This adds complexity and encourages creative problem-solving.

Competitive Elements:
Introduce a competitive aspect to the workshop, such as having teams earn points based on the performance of their ball run sections. This can encourage friendly competition and motivate participants to strive for excellence.

Reflection Sessions:
Pause the activity at various points for brief reflection sessions, where participants can discuss the challenges they’ve faced and the strategies they’ve used to overcome them. This can help them draw parallels between the exercise and real-world VUCA situations.

Feel free to mix and match these options, restrictions, and variants to create a dynamic and engaging team exercise that showcases the challenges and opportunities of working within the VUCA world.

Fazit: Mit ChatGPT Workshop-Methoden entwickeln

„What?!“. Ja, mein allererstes Feedback war ein gemurmeltes „what?!“. Weil es sich nach allen ersten Spielversuchen mit ChatGPT zum ersten Mal so anfühlte, als hätte ich tatsächlich ein*e neue Kooperationspartner*in im Team. Eine, mit der ich einfach mal so auf der Couch ein paar Gedanken hin und her werfen kann. Und eine, die wahnsinnig schnell und strukturiert Ideen zu einem ersten Wurf formuliert. 

Beim zweiten Blick: ja, das ist nicht alles perfekt. Es ist zum Beispiel eine ziemlich schlechte Idee, einzelne Team-Ergebnisse von jedem Team mit 4-6 Personen zurück präsentieren zu lassen, wenn 100 Leute teilnehmen. Das wäre ein kompletter Stimmungskiller. Aber egal: in maximal 15 Minuten Chat hat mein neuer Kollege hier Dinge auf den Punkt gebracht, die genau durch diese erste Ausführungspräzision viel leichter beurteilt und weiterentwickelt werden können. Zum ersten Mal hatte ich hier nicht mehr den Eindruck herumzuspielen, sondern wirklich eine neue Arbeitsroutine am Wickel zu haben.

Irgendwie kam im gezeigten Beispiel ein großer Teil der kreativen Leistung aus meinen Prompts – und auch so eine Art Murmelbahnspiel ist nicht komplett neu. Und vieles von den Dingen, die nicht im Prompt steckten, hatten Dirk und ich auch schon in unserem Pingpong angerissen. Der Sprung auf ChatGPT 4 ist dabei deutlich zu spüren – und mir wird schon etwas mulmig, wenn ich mir vorstelle, dass die kommenden Generationssprünge ähnlich groß sein werden. Aber um die Gefahren soll es hier nicht gehen, sondern darum, wie wir ChatGPT als Facilitator*innen für unsere Arbeit einsetzen können. In diesem Falle für die Arbeit an einer neuen Workshop-Idee. 

In einem anderem Versuch wollte ich sehen, was bei weniger kreativen Leitplanken so geht.

The Complexity Maze – eine Workshop-Methode von ChatGPT (?)

In diesem Falle habe ich ChatGPT viel weniger Vorgaben gemacht. Zunächst fragte ich:

I would like to scribble some ideas for a workshop with a client. I facilitate this workshop, and all the participants work in leadership positions in this company. The main theme of the workshop will be the VUCA world, and how these ambiguous times will affect leadership roles. What do you think about this?

Die Antwort war mir zu wenig spezifisch. Ich fragte erneut nach:

I love to facilitate using lots of action methods. I want to bring people out of left brain thinking, and into feeling this VUCA world, using highly engaging and interactive action methods. Methods like play, role play, and embodiment exercices. Do you have any ideas on how to bring this approach together with VUCA and complexity for leaders?

Noch immer waren mir die Antworten zu generell. Ich hakte noch mal nach:

Let’s get more specific. Please outline a 2-hour workshop session using a metaphorical way to experience complexity. The outline should include specific timings, facilitation instructions, warm-up, and debrief questions.

Mit diesem Prompt lieferte ChatGPT dann konkreter ab:

ChatGPT:

Title: Navigating the Complexity Maze

Objective: To help participants experience and navigate complexity using a metaphorical maze activity, fostering collaboration, problem-solving, and adaptability. 

Duration: 2 hours

Outline:

Introduction (5 minutes)
Welcome participants and briefly explain the purpose of the workshop. Introduce the metaphor of the complexity maze as a representation of the challenges leaders face in a VUCA world. 

Warm-Up: Human Knot (10 minutes) 
Have participants stand in a circle and instruct them to reach out and grab the hand of two different people across from them, creating a „human knot.“ Explain that the goal is to untangle the knot without letting go of hands, working together as a team. Debrief by discussing how the activity mirrors the interconnected nature of complex issues. 

Main Activity: The Complexity Maze (60 minutes) 

Preparation:
Create a large „maze“ on the floor using masking tape, with a clear start and end point. Designate some areas as „traps“ or „challenges“ (e.g., additional obstacles, time penalties, or decisions to make). Split participants into teams of 4-5 members. 

Explain the rules: 

1. Each team must navigate through the maze from start to finish. 
2. Only one team member can be in the maze at a time, and they must be guided by their teammates. 
3. Participants cannot talk while in the maze, and teammates can only communicate using non-verbal cues (e.g., clapping, stomping, or gestures). 
4. When a participant encounters a trap or challenge, the team must work together to find a solution before they can continue. 
5. Teams should aim to complete the maze as quickly as possible, with a focus on collaboration and adaptability. 

Reflection Break (15 minutes):
Pause the activity and ask participants to reflect on their experiences so far. 

Prompt them with questions such as: 

1. How does the complexity maze mirror real-life leadership challenges? 
2. What strategies have been effective in navigating the maze? 
3. How have you adapted to the unexpected obstacles and challenges? 

Second Round: Adapting to Change (30 minutes):
Announce that the maze will now be changed to represent the dynamic nature of VUCA environments. Rearrange the maze by adding, removing, or modifying obstacles, traps, or challenges. Instruct teams to navigate the maze again, focusing on how they adapt to the new changes and incorporate their learnings from the first round. Encourage teams to reflect on their performance and iterate on their strategies as needed. 

Debrief (20 minutes):
Bring the group together and facilitate a discussion about their experiences with the complexity maze.

Ask questions such as: 

1. What did you learn about navigating complexity and adapting to change? 
2. How did your team collaborate and communicate to overcome obstacles? 
3. How can you apply these insights to your leadership role in a VUCA world? Encourage participants to share their key takeaways and commit to applying the lessons learned to their work.

Closing (5 minutes): Thank participants for their engagement and effort. Remind them of the importance of embracing complexity, adaptability, and collaboration in their leadership roles. Offer any follow-up resources or support as needed.

Mit ChatGPT Workshop-Methoden entwickeln – ein Fazit

In diesem zweiten Anlauf mit weniger inhaltlichen Leitplanken hat ChatGPT mich auf Methodenideen gebracht, die ich alleine so schnell sonst nicht direkt bekommen hätte. Nach nicht sehr tiefem Googeln ist klar: „The Complexity Maze“ ist zwar nicht schnell zu finden, aber erfunden hat ChatGPT das Spiel nicht. Stark ist, dass der Ablauf gleich noch ein gutes Warm-Up und klare Struktur umfasst, gleichzeitig fehlen aber ein paar wichtige Elemente, um das Spiel sauber umzusetzen. Zum Beispiel Klarheit bei dem mit Tape zu bastelnden Grid – hier nutzen wir nun ein 10×10 Grid aus Schnur oder Straßenkreide. In der  Methodenkombination war der neue Kollege hier also wieder brauchbar, in der Beschreibung tun sich Lücken auf.

Fazit: ChatGPT ist eine Bereicherung für die Methodenentwicklung

Aber: ChatGPT hat in beiden Wegen wirklich brauchbare Ergebnisse geliefert und meine Arbeit an den neuen Workshop-Methoden auf beeindruckende Art bereichert. 

Fazit: Null Referenzierung, null faires Spiel mit ChatGPT

Doppel-Aber: wie aus anderem Kontext bekannt ist, kümmert sich ChatGPT nullkommanull um Referenzierung. Es gibt also keine Verweise auf stellen, von denen der Kollege die Ideen “geklaut” hat. Jetzt weiß ich (steal like an artist), dass auf diesen ganzen Tools keine Rechte liegen, aber gleichzeitig schmerzt es mich, weil wir mit diesem Blog zu Leuten gehören, die ziemlich umfassend und freizügig über unsere Methoden schreiben und es unter Menschen ein schlechter Ton wäre, diese kreativen Impulsorte nicht hier und da auch mal zu referenzieren und ihnen damit Aufmerksamkeit zu schenken. 

Fazit: ChatGPT ist jeden Groschen Wert

Aber dennoch: Die 20 Dollar für den Plus-Account verbuchte ich vor dieser Erfahrung abends auf der Couch als Spielgeld. Jetzt ziehe ich das Fazit, dass ChatGPT jeden Groschen (ChatGPT, das war vor deiner Zeit) wert ist – einzige Voraussetzung: ich muss mich in den passenden Momenten daran erinnern, welchen Beitrag von ChatGPT ich gerade gebrauchen könnte.

Wir sind jedenfalls mit dem Experimentieren definitiv erst am Anfang. Im nächsten Newsletter teilen wir ein paar weitere Ideen, wie wir ChatGPT im Rahmen von Workshops einsetzen (wollen). Hier kannst du dich für den Newsletter anmelden. Und sobald der veröffentlich ist, verlinken wir den auch noch mal hier im Beitrag.

Testen und Ausprobieren lässt sich das aber natürlich noch für zig andere Szenarien in unserer Arbeit. Also, weiter geht’s. “Sag mal, ChatGPT, woran arbeiten wir denn heute Abend auf der Couch?”

Der Beitrag Das “Marble Run Game” – oder: gemeinsam mit ChatGPT eine neue Workshop-Methode entwickeln erschien zuerst auf Komfortzonen.