You want to run a team workshop that is productive, collaborative, and fun. But how do you start it off on the right note? How do you capture your audience's attention, build rapport, and set the tone for the session? In this article, you'll learn some tips and techniques to create an engaging opening for a team workshop that will motivate and inspire your participants.
Before you design your opening, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your workshop. What are the main goals and objectives? What are the expected outcomes and deliverables? How do you want your participants to feel and think during and after the session? Knowing your purpose will help you craft a relevant and meaningful opening that aligns with your workshop agenda and theme.
A good opening should hook your audience's interest and curiosity from the start. You can use various methods to do this, such as telling a story, asking a question, sharing a statistic, showing a video, or using a prop. The key is to make your hook relevant to your topic, surprising or intriguing, and tailored to your audience's needs and expectations. A good hook should also create a connection between you and your participants, and establish your credibility and authority as a facilitator.
My three tips for creating a hook: 1. Ask questions which gives them an opportunity to reflect inwards. It helps them become more curious about the training content and enhances training transfer. 2. Get them writing around elements which are critical to the training content. For example, I usually ask trainees to write about their perspectives or themselves before I begin training on inclusion. Helping them reflect on their self is critical for diversity training success. 3. Start with a story which contains humour or points to ponder. In case the questions or writing isn't possible, share a story which has humour in it and/or questions that help them ponder about the topic.
One method I use is to start off with a few questions that are very relevant and speak to the audience. Then I address a few problem statements, that way I know my audience is hooked from the start.
After you hook your audience, you need to set the expectations for the workshop. This includes explaining the agenda, the format, the duration, the roles and responsibilities, the ground rules, and the learning outcomes. Setting the expectations will help your participants understand what they will learn, how they will learn, and what they need to do to make the most of the session. It will also help you manage their attention span, engagement level, and feedback.
A good opening should also warm up the group and create a positive and collaborative atmosphere. You can use various activities to do this, such as icebreakers, energizers, quizzes, polls, or games. The key is to make your activities fun, interactive, and relevant to your topic. A good warm-up activity should also help your participants get to know each other, build trust and rapport, and break the ice.
Finally, a good opening should check for understanding and readiness among your participants. You can use various techniques to do this, such as asking for questions, feedback, or opinions, using a pre-assessment, or using a flip chart or sticky notes. The key is to make sure that your participants understand the purpose, the expectations, and the agenda of the workshop, and that they are prepared and motivated to participate.
By following these tips and techniques, you can create an engaging opening for a team workshop that will set the stage for a successful and enjoyable session. Remember, a good opening is not only about delivering information, but also about creating an emotional and intellectual connection with your audience.