Context.

Within Unilever’s Home Care category – responsible for €13 billion in global revenue – a global marketing team of around 35 professionals focuses on the fabric softener market.
When Ruud worked at Unilever, he was tasked with designing and facilitating a practical and inspiring workshop for this team at the company’s Port Sunlight site in the United Kingdom.

Insight.

The leadership team of the marketing department wanted to make their teams more effective and efficient—without launching a large-scale transformation program.
They were grappling with inefficient processes, occasional friction in collaboration, and a reactive mindset among team members.

Recognizing that it’s easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than to think your way into a new way of acting, we designed an interactive workshop to foster collaboration, self-organization, and continuous improvement.

Activation.

To reinforce the learning objectives in a fun, dynamic, and interactive way, we used the Ball Point Game. This game, developed by Boris Gloger, is used worldwide to help teams understand how applying certain principles can have a significant impact on efficiency and effectiveness.

During the workshop, the group was divided into smaller teams of about six people to ensure everyone could actively participate. The challenge was to move as many balls as possible through “the system” over several iterations. The game includes a set of specific rules. Before each round, teams predicted their expected score, and after each round, they reviewed how many points they actually achieved. Time was then set aside for teams to reflect, discuss improvements, and adjust their approach.

After five rounds, the winning team was announced, and we held a plenary discussion to reflect on the key takeaways. Each participant wrote down concrete action points to apply immediately in their daily work.

Impact.

The Ball Point Game had a lasting impact on the entire team. Both leaders and team members were enthusiastic about the engaging and insightful afternoon.
Participants discovered how small process improvements could immediately lead to better collaboration, increased trust, and greater efficiency. The game gave them valuable insights into the power of clear communication, planning, and continuous improvement to help the team perform at its best.

The principles from the workshop remained relevant long after the session and were actively applied in day-to-day practice.

Marina Risi, Global Brand Vice President Home Care Fabric Enhancers & Fragrance reflects: “The effects of the workshop, the insights and a-ha moments it triggered are long-lasting energy in my team”.