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 don’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.