Returning to face to face

Both Emily and Ava had the opportunity to attend client workshops face-to-face over the past few weeks. Here they share their experiences of meeting participants for the first time, beyond Teams and Google Meet.

Amsterdam - Ava:

This month I travelled to Amsterdam with Nicki and Cathy to support two Review workshops for 22 participants who were graduating from a six-month, five (just two face-to-face) workshop Personal Development Programme. It was exciting for me, as I have been involved in the coordination of the programme since I joined Juniper in the spring. It was amazing to see first-hand the progress everyone has made, to share in their accomplishments, and to see how much they have grown in confidence, as they presented their development journeys to their performance managers and peers.

During Covid, the Juniper team had to adapt quickly to the pandemic and move our programmes from face-to-face to virtual. Nicki and the team were determined to ensure no one lost out on their learning and development because of the pandemic. Being virtual has its benefits - we can learn from anywhere, we have unlimited tools at our disposal, and we can record sessions, but there is something so special about being together in the same room. Whether it be impromptu conversations during coffee breaks or shared laughter at a funny anecdote, it’s so good to be part of the personal connection that takes place when we are physically together.

Although not a participant in a Juniper programme, I too am on a development journey. Sharing our experiences with one another face-to-face and bonding over our enthusiasm to learn was a truly heart-warming experience for me.

Rome – Emily:

Having worked on an account managers’ development programme for a key client since I joined the Juniper team back in March, I am responsible for managing the project and collaborating with our core client team. Meeting the team for the first time face-to-face, and the participants in Rome for the final module of this 10-month, three-module programme was such a great experience.

After three days of an intense simulation involving a fictitious client, culminating in the participants pitching in small groups for work to a panel of actors, we left as a network of like-minded people who had shared an in-person experience in a world still recovering from the impact of Covid-19.

We successfully conducted the previous two modules virtually. However, the lively face-to-face third module enhanced their learning journey and stretched participants further by providing valuable engagement without the distractions that often come when communicating virtually. For me, I witnessed a group of people who were able to go beyond surface recognition and form deeper relationships through a shared experience that was both challenging and great fun (especially the after-work karaoke)! It bound them together in the moment and hopefully beyond in their professional, and personal lives too.