Plan, communicate and run great workshops
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Plan, communicate and run great workshops

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Facilitate

Run a great session by getting the small details right.

Set the Vibe

Welcome them! Use visual cues like physical signage or projection.
Set the vibe: use music to create a friendly environment.
Inspire them from the start: tee up why we’re here through mixed media + stories of what it looks like to accomplish the thing we’re here to do, and what it can feel like on the other side.

Adult Learners

Adult learners want to know where they’re at in the flow: tell them where you’re going, update them on where you’re at as you make progress. Embed this into your content.
Orient them: give a lay of the land on the space and restrooms, the facilitators and coaches, slack channels for the day, ground support, start/end times.
Build credibility from the start: outline the team’s credentials. It feels a bit awkward at first, but people are inherently curious about the faces at the front of the room, and you have to spend a few minutes telling them about yourself and some of the victories you/the team have had in this space to be credible.
English as a second language: some attendees may not be native English speakers. Consider the pace at which you speak and the complexity of your phrasing.

Time

Arrive 60 mins early: this provides you time to find the space and assemble the supplies.
Less is more: plan short bursts of content / breakouts. This leads to more engaged audiences in sessions.
Provide frequent breaks: plan for one 10 min break every 60 mins, or one 15 min break every 75 mins.
End on time: at all costs, do not run over time. This ensures you preserve trust and allows you time to clean up before evening activities.

Share the high level, not the details: convey what you’ll cover in the AM and PM, but don’t share the time stamps. This allows you flexibility to modify your agenda on the fly based on real-world interactions.

Have Fun!

Relax and know that workshops are messy, unpredictable and will never go to plan. Stay open and confident in your plan. If you’ve made it this far and thought through the details, it means you’ve done some strong planning and you’ll be able to adapt to unexpected hurdles that arise.

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