Crafting the Workshop
Set the Stage – Begin by understanding your workshop's focus, audience, and their likely questions. Consider what material fits this specific client or environment.
Define the Content Goal – Establish the main purpose: Is it informative, educational, a seminar, or working session? Share a goal statement with attendees so they understand the direction and feel excited about what's ahead.
Give Away Free Stuff/Swag – Engage your audience with giveaways at the beginning and end of the workshop. Provide items pertinent to attendees, such as books or work-related materials.
Prepare Must-Have Material and Non-essentials – Create a happy-path slide deck as your core content, but also prepare additional talking points for deeper explanations on topics that may arise from audience questions.
Games and More Games! – Interactive games solidify key points while keeping audiences engaged. For a 6-hour workshop, aim for approximately 4 games. Reference TastyCupcakes.org for agile game resources.
Prepare for the Unknown – Know your material thoroughly. When faced with difficult questions, remain professional and defer to offline discussions if necessary, keeping the workshop on track.
Talk about Experience (But keep it brief) – Share relevant personal experiences that relate to specific issues, breaking from presenter mode to connect personally with participants.
Review each Topic before Moving to the Next – Use transition slides to remind audiences of what was covered, where you're headed, and how topics connect together.
Ask Pointed Questions – Engage participants by asking specific, probing questions. Address people by name and avoid open-ended questions that may result in silence.
Close with Actionable Items – End workshops memorably with key takeaways. Provide actionable items participants can implement, reviewing multiple times before closing.
Crafting the Experience
Location – Select an inviting space where you'd want to be a participant. Avoid dim, rarely-used rooms with poor facilities.
Layout – Determine your spatial needs: large tables, small tables, breakout areas, or open space for games.
Materials – Double and triple-check all supplies including paper, pens, erasers, scissors, stickers, and sticky notes. Bring your own projector and cables as backup.
Workshop Backlog – Create a designated board area for participant questions written on sticky notes. This encourages engagement while maintaining workshop flow, allowing you to address questions at section breaks rather than interrupting the presentation.
Breaks – Schedule breaks, but give specific end times ("We'll meet back at 10:35 AM sharp") rather than vague timeframes.
Providing Food – This is optional and depends on workshop length and context. Early morning sessions may benefit from bagels, but food can sometimes become a distraction.