Activities

Summary: Develop understanding and identify what our University values look like within a specific school, department, service or team. Collectively determine actionable ways to reinforce and promote the values. 

How and when might I use this activity:

• As part of a team away day or team meeting
• To support the formation of a new team or new project team

Recommended Group Size: 4+
Time: 60-90 minutes

Summary: Engage members of your Team, School, Department or Service in meaningful discussion about the university’s values to deepen understanding and identify ways to embody them through your work.

How and when might I use this activity:

• As part of a team meeting, select 1 or 2 questions that are relevant to your team.
• As part of regular one to ones to support development conversations.

Recommended group size: 2+
Time: 10+ minutes

Summary: This activity can be done as an individual or group and helps to connect our values and behaviours with our leadership and management principles to identify opportunities for growth and change.

How and when might I use this activity:

• As part of a self-reflection exercise to support my own development.
• As part of induction for leaders and managers.
• At a leadership or management meeting or away day.
• With a group of aspiring leaders to support training and development.

In small groups ask people to reflect on the leadership and management principles and how they see them exhibited through their work.

1. Ask each group/or individual to share 3-4 principles that they think are exhibited regularly.
2. Ask each group/or individual to share 3-4 principles that they think could be enhanced.
3. What benefits could be gained?

Agree what actions the team/individual will take to ensure that these benefits are attained.

How and when might I use this activity:

This activity works well for any team including project teams or groups of people that are coming together for a limited time. Identifying and agreeing on what behaviours you need to focus on as a group to deliver a task, project or piece of work and how you’ll put these into action can be a powerful way to connect people.

Some questions to help you identify this:

• What behaviours will help you to be successful and deliver on the work you are doing?
• What ways of working will you adopt to ensure that everyone in the team has a voice and feels able to contribute to the success of the project?
• How will you harness collective strengths, skills, knowledge and experience of the team to deliver the benefits?
• What will you do to ensure good communication?
• How will you challenge one another respectfully and provide helpful feedback?
• What will you do to celebrate the wins, big or small to ensure everyone feels recognised and valued for their contribution?

Recommended group size: 2+
Time: At the start of a project or as part of a team meeting or away day.

Summary: Create intentional opportunities for team members and people you work with to share stories of when they have observed or experienced our values in action. Encourage everyone to recognise and thank others for modelling the values. Use stories to start team meetings, or share in team communication channels, such as Teams or on bulletin boards.

You may even want to consider nominating a colleague for the 'Living the Values' Award at the annual VC Awards. This award recognises individuals who have demonstrated our values and made a significant impact. It's a great way to acknowledge and celebrate their contributions. Find out more about the Award here.

If you’d like to share your values story with us please get in touch

Recommended group size: 2+
Time: 5+ minutes