Empathy Map workshop
- Nicole Mc Neilly
You have identified and prioritised your stakeholders. Now it’s time to get to know more about the people you want to have impact for by using the Empathy Map.
About the workshop
Who is involved? Team work
Time: 1.5 hours. Time for preparation and write-up afterwards is also needed.
Preparation: Digital workshop: digital white board, meeting link, instructions on how to use the digital white-board. Physical workshop: print outs (A3 or A2) of the Empathy Map; post-it notes, pens; book a room and prepare it before the meeting.
Learning goals:
More in-depth understanding of the stakeholders who benefit most directly from your activity
Understand where the gaps in your knowledge are about your stakeholders
Results: Empathy Maps for your prioritised stakeholders
Download and print the Empathy Map canvas.
Step 1. introduction and setting the scene (0 - 15 minutes)
Welcome everyone
Short ice-breaker or round of introductions if not everyone knows each other
Share the progress so far - the list of prioritised stakeholders
Introduce the objectives of the meeting and anticipated results, alongside an overview of how the workshop will work and the timings
Introduce the exercise and organise everyone into small breakout groups. Each group could take a different one of the prioritised stakeholders or a few groups could take the same stakeholder to compare and contrast what they have learned
Step 2. Empathise - see/hear-do (15 - 35 minutes)
Brainstorm on what this person would typically see/hear/do every day. This will help you 'empathize' with them. Stay high level though so that this does not become one very specific person but stays representative for a group of stakeholders.
Questions to ask:
What behaviours do they have in common?
What influences them?
What kind of environment do they operate in?
Next steps
With a list of prioritised stakeholders and completed empathy maps, you’re ready to begin your Step 2. Build your Change Pathway