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about rational sparks
what’s rational sparks?
we are a strategic consultancy that specialises in combining creativity, data and emotion to transform organisations from the inside out, enhancing individual knowledge and ways of being to collaborate with the team.
where is rational sparks headquartered?
in barcelona, but this is not a problem if you are in another city. for the development of our projects we can combine physical relocation with on-line and/or hybrid work dynamics.
what makes rational sparks different from other consultancies?
- we integrate emotions and data, combining traditional tools and artificial intelligence. we know how to analyse and enhance the relationship between facts, perceptions and feelings, which is key for the team to go deeper into their real needs and search for results +
- we train teams to be self-sufficient. we have many years of experience working on strategic projects involving people, processes and technology, so we know how to apply and transfer our knowledge so that the team progresses with high performance and also acquires this capacity +
- we adapt effortlessly to the needs of any company, large or small, traditional or start-up. our s.p.a.r.k.s. methodology is designed to involve any team, from management committees to more operational work teams, in the company’s challenges +
- we don’t just deliver a report and walk away, we ensure that the change is sustainable and fits the team, its goals and culture, while challenging its capabilities.
how can I be sure that this is the type of consultancy that I am looking for?
well… we’d better talk! in any case, we’ll let you know that this is how we are and how we work, because these are our values and our purpose in creating rational sparks. if it suits you, then there’s a good chance that we’ll create a nice collaboration 🙂
who is the overall rational sparks proposal aimed at?
- our way of working adapts to any sector, level and size of company. as we are used to accompanying in the development and implementation of both complete strategic projects (global strategic plans, with the involvement of the entire organisation), and operational projects (accompanying in project management and the alignment and transformation of teams and ways of working and relating)… we adapt our s.p.a.r.k.s. methodology to the specific needs.
- so we talk/work with CEOs, stering committees, departmental and team leaders, always tailoring our proposal to the internal philosophy of human resources/people development.
the s.p.a.r.k.s. methodology®
s.p.a.r.k.s…. what does it mean?
six steps that we group into three levels or phases when approaching a project, ensuring both the analysis of the initial information and the impact of this information on the team, to progress in the search for the solution and to distil and apply the learning and actions that best suit the organisation. you can find out more in the ‘how we work‘ section!
in what kind of projects is s.p.a.r.k.s. used?
we see every project as a challenge to be met. small or big, more or less complex, if we follow the s.p.a.r.k.s. steps, we will make it a reality. you can find some examples in the ‘how we help‘ section, and also in our presentation, where you can see how we approach concrete challenges and/or challenges not yet clearly defined, and which tools we combine.
how does s.p.a.r.k.s. help projects?
facilitates the analysis, implementation and sustainability of organisational change by providing methodological and emotional support to enable the team to become self-sufficient.
is it a methodology that always uses the same tools?
- for projects that need to be defined, we recommend starting with FIND THE SPARKS, a 4-5 hour workshop (depending on the challenge and the size/availability of the team) where we start with the big challenge and end with a concrete action plan. it’s not complicated! we know how to mobilise… see here for a concrete example with managers from different companies.
- from there, we tailor the next two phases of development (MOLD) and implementation (EMBRACE) to the specific needs identified in the workshop. the tools can be varied, from proposing the use of project management methodologies (agile, lean…), to accompanying them, if necessary, with personalised cases/stories with data and real/identifiable ‘characters’, exercises with film scenes, basic tools of design thinking and/or futures thinking, knowledge of the team through the bridge method or 360 leadership circle… to successfully deepen the transformation of the whole team of the organisation directly and/or indirectly linked to the project.
ah! and always combine it with new artificial intelligence tools, in every phase of the s.p.a.r.k.s., because we consider it essential to introduce its possibilities so that the team adapts to its use as soon as possible, whether or not it is the main purpose of the chosen challenge.
what tools are used in s.p.a.r.k.s?
- we are very creative here! so we combine specific tools from existing methodologies (which we are certified in) and/or we adapt them and/or we create specific activities according to the needs identified by the team.
- depending on the type of project, we use design thinking, futures thinking, artefact cards, leadership cercle, ivst, co-pilot, bridge… as well as creating specific creativity activities that we mix with data analysis and research activities.
what results does s.p.a.r.k.s. offer?
- clear identification of the challenge to be addressed, alignment of the team and a strategic action plan that can be implemented the next day.
- In the FIND THE SPARKS phase we narrow down the challenge and turn it into an opportunity to be implemented with and by the team, ending the workshop with a realistic action plan identified in less than one working day.
- we then help with the implementation with the MOLD THE SPARKS and EMBRACE YOUR SPARKS phases, which are adaptable to the culture, needs and resources of the organisation, and in which we create the necessary environment to put the ideas generated into practice on a day-to-day basis.
services and expected results of working with rational sparks
what kind of challenges does rational sparks address?
- specific challenges: narrowed down problems in leadership, communication or organisation/processes). in a first meeting we ask you the key questions to recommend the type of solution to be implemented (individual/team coaching – and which type; professional balance – ivst/co-pilot; preferred future development – futures thinking tools…).
- complex challenges: cultural, digital transformation, strategic projects… here we recommend one or more preliminary interviews to focus the activities to be developed in the FIND THE SPARKS workshop, where we will move from a too global/undefined challenge to the specific problems to be addressed and a first version of an action plan that can be implemented immediately.
how does a project with rational sparks start?
with a preliminary interview to narrow down the need. it is usually so broad that we then work with the whole team in our FIND THE SPARKS workshop to identify specific opportunities and ‘slice and dice’ the initial request, gaining commitment from everyone involved.
how do I know if my challenge is already specific or needs to be further defined?
in our first meeting we will talk about what you are looking for and see if it is more or less defined, and from there, if you feel it is necessary to go deeper, we will have an interview where we can narrow down the challenge even more. here are some examples (also in our presentation):
how long does it take to see the impact of the work?
depends on the project, but with the FIND THE SPARKS workshop you will see your team going from something undefined to an action plan in just 4-5 hours of working together.
what do i get after the first workshop?
you will see in a single deliverable (physical and/or virtual) how the team has moved from the global challenge to defining the concrete action plan for the specific opportunity they have identified, having used a series of tools, both rational and emotional, that ensure the connection to both the deliverable and the team.
do you have a defined catalogue of services?
no and yes. it’s more of a status guide of what we offer. you can consult it (for now, only in spanish, sorry) here. (it will take you to our – exciting – complementary website: “do organizations dream?“). we are in the process of (manually) translating the website. so…. do we need to create a catalog-catalog? it’s possible if you’re wondering. in any case, if you have a specific idea/doubt/thought, contact us!
- we are specialists in asking the key questions in our first meeting in order to propose the best way to work together. you have already seen that we have experience in training, transformation project management, facilitation and accompanying from the design of strategic plans to the operational implementation of any kind of project… so we are sure to understand each other 🙂
can i see an example?
of course! check out our projects section, or access our more complete presentation 🙂
general questions
do you offer consultancy in other languages?
yes, spanish and catalan. we could also adapt the content to french. however, soon and thanks to some artificial intelligence suggestions, this will never be a problem 🙂
can I test the methodology before committing to a long project?
yes, we have designed the s.p.a.r.k.s. methodology in such a way that, after our first meeting and having clarified the idea/need/challenge, before committing to all the phases, it is easy to try out our way of working by specifically buying the FIND THE SPARKS workshop. we are convinced that you will like it!
what if I am not satisfied with the results?
statistically, this can happen. however, we prioritise constant feedback and validation of progress and work dynamics to adjust activities so that the opportunity agreed at the outset is realised in terms of time and effort.
how much does it cost to work with rational sparks?
it depends on the project, we’re sure you were expecting this answer. but don’t worry: we’re fair. remember that our goal is for the team to learn and become self-sufficient, and then to replicate our methodology. let’s talk, identify the nature of the challenge, close the FIND THE SPARKS workshop… and depending on the results, we’ll define the proposal for the next phases. we’ll understand each other, we’re sure of that 🙂
