My Journey with Merapar’s Innovative Training Programs

Over the past year, I had the unique opportunity to help develop and facilitate two new trainings with the Agile Centre of Excellence team (ACE): the Merapar Agile Foundations course and the Merapar Meeting Facilitation Course. This journey has not only been rewarding but has also underscored for me the importance of creating tailored, interactive learning experiences to transform the way teams work and collaborate. I am very pleased and excited to share my experience with all of you.

About the author Ladan Sheik

Ladan plays an important role at Merapar in driving learning and development initiatives. With a strong background in agile methodologies and a passion for fostering collaboration, Ladan has been instrumental in developing and facilitating innovative training programs. Her work focuses on empowering teams to adopt effective practices, enhance productivity, and create more inclusive work environments. 

Building the foundations: Creating an Interactive and collaborative Learning Experience at Merapar

The Merapar Agile Foundations Course (MAF) was conceived in response to feedback from our colleagues and clients who were encountering challenges with implementing agile practices effectively. There was a clear need for a foundational course that could address these challenges and provide a solid grounding in agile principles and ways of working. We heard colleagues who had some knowledge of agility and have worked in agile environments but were still keen to have a refresher without the lengthier time commitment of other agile training in the market. Our goal was to create a course that was both comprehensive and accessible, catering to individuals at various levels of familiarity with agile concepts, from complete novices to those looking to refresh their knowledge.

From the outset, we wanted to make the MAF course as interactive as possible. With a global team at Merapar, from Chile to Poland, we wanted to deliver training as if we were in the room together. Having sat through many dry ‘death by PowerPoint’ training in the past, we knew we had to find tools to help our participants learn in a more collaborative way. 

Whilst developing the course, each of us in the ACE team developed our own version of the MAF course, and we provided feedback to each other on the pace, content and style of our individual courseware. Then, once we decided which two trainers were to facilitate the courses, we collaborated on creating a course we were both confident in, using the best content of each of our courses. Using a virtual format, we leveraged tools like Miro and break-out rooms to create an engaging and collaborative learning environment where participants could role-play responses to common challenges in agile teams. This approach ensured that participants from different geographical locations could actively participate and benefit from the course.

Mastering Meeting Facilitation: Enhancing Productivity Through Targeted Training

Building on the success of the MAF course, we identified another critical area for development through feedback: effective meeting facilitation. Many colleagues expressed difficulties in conducting meetings that were both productive and inclusive, highlighting a need for structured guidance in this area. We had conversations with a number of colleagues that expressed challenges in facilitating meetings that were engaging and able to deliver their desired outcomes.

The Meeting Facilitation Course was designed to equip participants with essential skills for planning, conducting, and following up on meetings. We covered various facilitation formats, the role of a facilitator and participants, and strategies to ensure that meetings are inclusive, focused, and outcome-oriented. To make the learning experience more practical, we incorporated role-playing exercises and real-world scenarios. Participants had the opportunity to practise their facilitation skills in a safe and supportive environment, receiving constructive feedback from peers and myself as the facilitator.

Emphasising the importance of the feedback loop, there was a week between the first and second classes, participant feedback from the first class was really helpful for me in improving the course for the second batch of learners. 

My Personal Reflections and Key Takeaways

Developing and facilitating these courses has been an incredibly fulfilling experience as a trainer and facilitator. It has reinforced my belief in the power of continuous learning and the transformative impact of well-designed training programs. Here are a few key takeaways from this journey for me:

1. Collaboration is Key: The success of both courses was largely due to the collaborative efforts of our agile coaches, practitioners, and participants. Creating a space where everyone feels valued and heard is crucial.
   
   
2. Practical Application Enhances Learning: Blending theory with hands-on exercises and real-world examples helps participants understand and retain concepts better.
   
   
3. Flexibility and Adaptability: Tailoring the courses to meet the diverse needs of participants from different backgrounds and geographical locations was essential in making the learning experience inclusive and effective.
   
   
4. Continuous Improvement: Just as in agile practices, iterating and improving the courses based on feedback and changing needs is vital for maintaining their relevance and effectiveness.

As we continue to refine and expand our learning and development offerings at Merapar, I am excited about the future. The positive feedback we have received so far reflects the value of these courses. We are currently looking at ways in which we can use data to measure the tangible impact these courses have on teams and the products they develop.

I am proud to have played a part in this journey and look forward to further contributing to the growth and success of our colleagues at Merapar and our clients through these engaging and impactful learning experiences. Together, we are not just adapting to change; we are driving it.