How to Get and Stay “in the Zone”: The Link Between Team Flow and Creative Output in Design Thinking Workshops

During Design Thinking (DT) processes, team flow is a vital indicator and driving force behind feeling and performing at peak. In a quasi-experimental, segmented time series study, we examined team flow levels over time using high-resolution, real-time measurements during two multi-day DT workshops with flow-inducing exercises (in short: flow inducers). Two key insights emerged: (1) a second wind effect, where teams naturally increased flow after the initial engagement phase; and (2) a preservation capacity, where teams with greater creative outputs maintained higher flow levels despite interruptions (in short: flow reducers). The careful management of flow-inducing exercises and workshop duration should give teams the flexibility needed to dynamically adjust and stay in the zone. These findings inform the development of a framework for sustaining team flow in multi-day workshops, the core contribution of this study. The framework offers practical recommendations to manage team flow in stages, emphasizing key points of intervention and optimal timing of flow inducers. It is adaptable for various co-creative settings, guiding facilitators in maximizing creative persistence and output.