How to Facilitate

a Workshop

Tip to Create Engaging Discussion

at Your Event

Why do people attend workshops?● Creative, diverse perspectives● Collaborative analysis ● Sharing Ideas and Experiences● Networking● Discovering industry trends

Why a workshop and not a lecture?Lectures

● Specific information from specific people

● Emphasis on thought leaders and influencers

● Far less emphasis on networking opportunities

Workshops● Crowdsourced information from fellow professionals

● Emphasis on sharing experiences and advice

● Smaller groups are great opportunities to meet people

Common Worries for New Workshop Facilitators● No-one will talk● The same few voices will dominate the discussion● Arguments between participants● Workshop topics will be too easy/difficult for

attendees● Workshop will turn into a lecture● Workshop content won’t match attendee

expectations

Getting a range of viewpoints●Don’t get hung up on how many people are talking - focus on

quality and range of topics.

●Ask different sorts of questions, both open and closed. Take votes, small engagement turns into offering comments

●Create a schedule and stick to it, don’t just stay on one subject. If one topic is popular, you can return to it at the end.

●Offer contrasting views as talking points, event if you don’t wholly agree with them.

Making the Most of Workshop Networking● Don’t default to split off into pairs. Groups of three

or four spread the work of making conversation● Give break-out groups specific questions to answer● Rotate through groups to make sure people stay on

task and are talking● Remind people that they can continue the

discussion outside the workshop

Icebreakers●Be specific - ‘Give us one interesting fact about yourself’ will have

your attendees drawing a blank about their whole personality.

●Aim of an icebreaker is to get people comfortable with speaking, not to get to know each other.

●Examples○ Who would play you in a movie?

○ Which celebrities, alive or dead, would be at your dream dinner party and why?

○ What famous person would you never want to meet?

○ Where was the best place you ever visited?

Diffusing Tense DiscussionsSet basic rules at the start of your workshop about civility and tolerance

Explain that if people find a discussion uncomfortable, they can ask that the subject be changed.

If a discussion goes beyond what is acceptable, take control and change the subject. Be clear, calm and state that the conversation is finished and the group is moving on.

Don’t get personal. Disagreements are inevitable, personal insults are not.

Meeting Attendee’s Workshop ExpectationsGive a clear, point by point agenda to the event organizer of what you plan to discuss so they can reflect it in marketing materials.

Make goals and expectations for the event and workshop part of the introductions.

Look around your group. What is their expertise level? What other events have they enjoyed?

Get feedback forms afterwards!

Improving Your WorkshopCreate a short, specific feedback form. Ask for feedback on specific topics rather than a vague ‘Did you enjoy the workshop?’Catch up with people later on to ask what they thoughtAsk someone with more facilitating experience to attend your workshop to give pointers