This document outlines best practices for planning and facilitating workshops. It discusses preparing for workshops by practicing presentations, knowing the environment and available tools, and creating detailed agendas. It also covers facilitating workshops by establishing ground rules, handling questions, keeping activities on track and time, and providing guidance to groups. The goal is to create collaborative environments and measure the success of workshops.
7. Today’s Agenda
• Create a Team Name
• Behind the Scenes of Workshops
• During the Workshop
• Workshop Activities
• Post-Workshop
• Wrap Up
Let’s Get Started!
10. Sound Familiar?
Let’s whiteboard
this out...
I’ll schedule a
quick brainstorm...
We’ll plan a
working session...
Can we sketch
out some ideas
together?
18. Every Workshop Deserves an Agenda
They are no longer optional
"I've often found, though, that
deserving and happening don't
always necessarily go together."
-Tasslehoff Burrfoot
26. Orchestration is Key
• What, When, Where, Etc.
Prepare the workshop-specific details
• Follow-Up
Collecting & distributing outcomes
• Structure & Timing
Planning the Activity / Activities
• Organize the Attendees
Getting the right people, place, time
28. - Russ Unger
- Scott Berkun
How to Prepare
• UX-Type methods; rapid prototyping
• Rough outline & slides; practice
• Iterate at challenge areas
• Repeat until no changes needed
- Christina Wodtke
• Get your content out quickly
• Fix the things that are vague
• Remove needless content
• Tighten up; get the story right
• Get ideas out without a filter
• Assess; add where necessary
• Cut without mercy
• Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
29. Elements of a Workshop
• People
• Timeline
• Agenda
• Environment
• Materials
• Supplies
• Presentation (if needed)
• Goals
• Outcomes
• Samples
30. So What?
How does this all relate to the larger picture?
• What do we accomplish?
• What do we gain/save?
• Why did we spend this time together?
- Dr. Arthur P. Doederlein
39. Preparing is
• UX-Type methods; rapid prototyping
• Rough outline & slides; practice
• Iterate at challenge areas
• Repeat until no changes needed
- Scott Berkun
- Christina Wodtke
• Get your content out quickly
• Fix the things that are vague
• Remove needless content
• Tighten up; get the story right
• Get ideas out without a filter
• Assess; add where necessary
• Cut without mercy
• Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.- Russ Unger
Practicing
47. When to ask “Why?”
60 percent of the time, it works every time...
• New Idea Gets Introduced
At some point a new idea needs to be vetted out.
• Unexpected Surprises
Get the rationale behind the unexpected
• Past Roadblocks
Discover the heart of the issue
66. Do Do Do!
• Establish Q&A Rules Upfront
• Know Your Topic
• Repeat the Question
• Incentivize
• Be Aware of the Time
• Continue the Conversation Later
Do Not Not Not!
• Fear Not Knowing an Answer
• Relinquish Control
• Answer Everything RIGHT NOW
• Fight, Argue, Battle, Rage
• Feel Forced to Do Q&A
• Fear Owning a Mistake
68. Facilitators Do These Things:
• Define the Teams
• Define the Goal(s)
• Define the Task(s)
• Keep the Task on Track
• Keep the Task on Time
• Provide Guidance
• Provide Focus
• Avoid Contributing Unless
Required; Guides Through
Group
• Provides a Framework
• Follows Agenda