Workplace culture by design: It’s not just about work—it’s about how we work together and align with our mission
Our Workplace Culture wrap-up (literally!). Sharing our highlights from the day in a special cloth that connects.
“Having space and time to reflect intentionally on workplace culture instead of just doing it.”
“Communication through games.”
“Practical ideas I can implement now, as well as ideas for the future.”
“Tools we can take on to our charitable trust development.”
These were just a few reflections shared by participants in our recent Workplace Culture workshop, delivered on 17 July in Nelson. From community trusts to small businesses, the room was buzzing with people ready to bring more intention, fun, and alignment to their teams.
Co-designed and co-facilitated by Birte Becker-Steel and myself, Zola Aroha Rose, this half-day session brought together over 50 years of collective experience in facilitation, team development, communication, and culture change. It was engaging, practical—and most importantly—real. Every activity, every conversation, was grounded in the day-to-day reality of leading and working in modern organisations.
And while it was only three hours long, all participants agreed: “A full-day workshop would give us more space to go deeper with the tools, practices and ideas.”
Let’s take a moment to zoom out...
Why Workplace Culture Matters—Now More Than Ever
Workplace culture isn’t just a feel-good add-on. It’s the invisible architecture that shapes how people show up, work together, make decisions, handle conflict, and stay motivated.
In today’s fast-changing work environments, leaders and teams are grappling with:
Misalignment with values and purpose
Communication breakdowns
Disengaged or burned-out staff
Cultural “drift” after restructuring or rapid growth
A desire for more collaboration—but no roadmap to get there
The good news?
You don’t need to overhaul your whole organisation to start seeing positive change.
Culture work, done well, starts with small, strategic steps. It’s about intention, experimentation, and connection. And yes—it can also be playful and energising.
What We Did in the Workshop
We introduced the six building blocks of authentic workplace culture—a framework that helps teams identify where they are, and where they’d like to go.
Participants:
✔ Mapped their current cultural landscape
✔ Identified priority areas for change
✔ Learned easy-to-implement tools they can use immediately
✔ Engaged in reflective and interactive activities
✔ Shared best practices with peers across industries
“It went very fast, wasn’t boring, a good mix of sitting, listening, and doing.”
“The relaxed learning environment helped everything land.”
“Always so good to do your workshops. I find something new—or a reminder to embed into my work practice.”
“More understanding came through the physical activity.”
“The building of space, connection and fun.”
We also featured a Show & Tell table full of simple, effective tools and cooperative games that enhance wellbeing, trust, and communication—reminding everyone that culture lives in the small stuff as much as the big strategies.
Show and Tell table of workplace cooperative games, wellbeing tools, creative activities to improve culture
Want This For Your Team, Organisation, or Business?
The Nelson workshop was a taste of what we offer. Birte and I work with organisations, teams, and leaders to create culture change that’s real, grounded, and energising.
Whether you need a fresh start or a fine tune, we can support you through:
Workplace Culture Assessments & Roadmaps for Change
In-house Workshops on Communication, Collaboration & Leadership
Coaching & Mentoring for Culture Leaders and Change-Makers
Facilitation of Team Retreats, Offsite Teambuilding Days, Nature-Based Learning
Creative Conflict Transformation & How to Feel Ok with Difficult Conversations
Team Resilience Building
Theatre & Drama Methods for Social Understanding and Connection
We help leaders create culture change and teambuilding that is feel doable, meaningful, and definitely fun.
Let Us Bring This Work to You
If you’re curious about how to strengthen your team’s culture, build alignment, or equip your leaders with tools to guide transformation, we’d love to talk.
Contact us to book a workshop, design a team session, or explore how we can support your organisation.
Let’s build something great—from the inside out.