La tua richiesta è stata inviata correttamenteLearning Lab 2024: A day of listening and connection at the Desenzano Lake Village
Hearing or listening: we often engage in the former when we should place more importance on the latter.
On 27th September 2024, the new edition of the DUAL Learning Lab took place in the wonderful setting of the Desenzano Lake Village. An annual DUAL Learning Lab dedicated to listening, empathy and emotional intelligence, in collaboration with Club del Sole, Workin' Glamp and Otherwise.
A welcome in the heart of nature
The day began with a warm welcome to all participants at the reception desk set up by DUAL, complete with personalised gadgets (a straw hat and a tote bag by Club del Sole). After the welcome, we moved to the terrace and listened to the organisers, who introduced the guests to the exclusive spaces offered by the structure, all while enjoying a beautiful view of the lake.
The Desenzano Lake Village won over all participants with its glamorous location, MICE services and privileged position on the Lake Garda. Wi-Fi, an in-house restaurant, ample meeting spaces and a breathtaking view of the lake make it the perfect place for business events, corporate retreats and team building of all kinds, with the added value of direct contact with nature.
The power of listening: workshops and practical activities
The day kicked off with the workshop “Listening: oneself, emotions, others”, led by Giuliano Bottelli (Founder and CEO of DUAL) and Feliziano Crisafulli, (Marketing and Biz Coach at DUAL), in collaboration with Paolo Mazzaglia from Otherwise, who contributed to the excellent success of the event with his expertise in coaching, emotional intelligence and improvisational theatre.
Why hold a workshop specifically on listening?
In order to achieve goals and solve problems, individuals and teams interact and work together. However, in a multicultural environment, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise. To ensure effective communication, it is essential to develop active listening skills and empathy. It is therefore important to learn to listen fully to oneself and to others, to cultivate focus and mutual understanding, for both professional and personal benefit. Clear and empathic communication is essential for successful relationships and projects in any context.
Participants then undertook a number of group exercises, including Plutchik's “Wheel of Emotions”, which is useful for expanding one's emotional vocabulary, and a theatre activity inspired by the play “Waiting for Godot”, in which they experimented and practised emotional expression and recognition in a safe and controlled environment.
How to listen to oneself and empathise with others
After a relaxing lunch break, enjoyed on large tables, perfect for meeting new people and networking in a convivial setting, the workshop resumed, shifting the focus from listening to oneself to listening to others. Some dynamic and practical activities were carried out in this regard, such as walking and standing in synchrony without using one's voice, an exercise related to coming out of oneself and connecting with others. This activity in particular was chosen as it was able to create a sense of unity and connection among the participants and to push people out of their comfort zone, asking them to trust others and let themselves be guided by the group.
Instead, to practise active listening, the participants carried out the “collective story” exercise, designed to emphasise the importance of collaboration and mutual attention: each person took it in turn to add sentences and words in a continuous flow of communication, with the aim of creating a complete story with a beginning and an end. It was imperative that each participant listened carefully to what the others were saying, paying constant and focused attention to every word spoken, in order to contribute effectively to the story.
A finale full of emotion and reflection
The workshop (‘’a taste‘’ of a larger course with much more content and exercises) ended with the participants sharing key words that summarised their experience. This moment of synthesis was important for several reasons: it allowed them to consolidate their learning, to enrich their own experience by listening to the views of others, and to create a sense of unity and cohesion among the participants.
The group then visited the Desenzano Lake Village to discover this place where innovation, nature and glamour come together to perfection. And to end on a high note, an aperitif framed by a magical sunset over the Lake Garda.
What are you waiting for? Contact us now to find out how DUAL training workshops can help your company and to organise corporate retreats and unconventional team building thanks to the services of Workin'Glamp!
