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Essential Tips for Workshop Facilitation

Mar 9, 2025

Workshop Facilitation Tips and Tricks

Introduction

  • Importance of soft skills and communication techniques in facilitation
  • D's background: full-time workshop facilitator, trained thousands

Pre-Workshop Preparation

  • Welcome Email:

    • Send at least a week before to remind participants.
    • Introduce yourself and your role.
    • Include a video introduction using tools like Loom.
    • Outline the workshop schedule and any pre-work or homework.
  • Remote Workshops:

    • Provide links to tutorial videos for tools used.
    • Include a quick pre-activity (e.g., introduction Post-its on Miro board) to familiarize participants.
  • Benefits:

    • Increases engagement (up to 90% participation).
    • Allows for follow-up reminders if needed.

Facilitating the Workshop

  • Start with Warm-Up Activities:

    • Use simple intro exercises to engage participants and familiarize them with tools.
  • Clear Instructions Formula:

    • What: Name of the exercise.
    • Why: Purpose and expected outcomes.
    • How: Step-by-step explanation, including visual demonstrations.
  • Single Clear Method:

    • Avoid giving multiple options for exercises to reduce confusion.
    • Provide clear examples to guide participants.
  • Demonstration Videos:

    • Create and share short videos demonstrating exercises for clarity.

Maintaining Energy and Engagement

  • Energizer Activities:

    • Use quick activities after breaks to raise energy levels.
  • Balance Active and Passive Parts:

    • Alternate between listening (passive) and engaging in activities (active).
    • Plan the flow in advance to avoid fatigue and monotony.
  • Facilitator's Role:

    • Explain facilitator responsibilities at the beginning.
    • Set expectations about cutting off discussions when needed to stay on track.

Managing Discussions

  • Control Conversations:

    • Use phrases to guide discussions (e.g., "What else?" to encourage sharing, "I donโ€™t think there needs to be anything else" to close discussions).
  • Dealing with Disruptive Participants:

    • Acknowledge their input to make them feel seen.
    • Use a "parking lot" method to save off-topic discussions for later.
    • Encourage the participant to take ownership of the topic to reduce disruption.

Conclusion

  • Recap: Importance of preparation, clear communication, energy management, and handling difficult participants.
  • Call to action: Encourage sharing of additional tips and mention free training on the 516 method to become a top facilitator.