The critical first step to design a meaningful workshop

You have loads of ideas for a workshop and a heap of practices and techniques that you know people will benefit from. But, deciding what to put in and what to leave out is hard.?

In this article, I'll share:

• A common trap we fall into when sitting down to design a workshop;
• Four questions to ask yourself before beginning to consider what goes into a workshop; and
• How you can use those answers to create a brief that focuses your creative energy.

?? The trap

It's always so tempting to start by thinking, What shall I put in the workshop? But this is the wrong starting point.

A better place to start is to have a clear brief.?

A brief is like having a stake in the ground. Without one, you'll find yourself meandering or questioning whether you're in the right place.

That's why it's typically easier to have a real person ask for a workshop rather than an imagined audience you're trying to design for. Even then, client briefs can be vague, and you still need to unpack what's really at the heart of their request.

???? The questions

To help refine a brief or create one for yourself from scratch, start by considering:

1. Who is the workshop for?
2. What kinds of jobs do they have to do in their work (or in their lives)??
3. What are the frustrations they experience in getting their jobs done?
4. What possibilities or positive outcomes do they want to achieve?

Even if we already have an idea of the answers to these questions, it's crucial to speak to a sample of our workshop audience because we need to get the answers from?their?perspective -- not ours.

?? The brief

When you've got a firm idea of what's happening in the lives of the people you want to help, then you can narrow down what you want your workshop to address.?

Typically, you want to address at least one pain point - ideally, the most painful one that you can support them through. Remember, people buy painkillers ?? more readily than vitamins! ??

Your brief does not have to be long or complicated. It simply needs to:?

• Recap whom you are designing for
• Where are you taking them from (main frustration) and to (positive outcome)
• Any logistical constraints (such as timing, whether the session will be face-to-face or online, etc.)

?? Let your creative juices flow

With a clear brief, deciding what to include and not include in your workshop becomes easier. More than that, it sets you up to articulate the workshop's value to your audience or client.

Comment and share your thoughts below: What do you find useful about this approach to designing workshops? What else do you find helpful as a first step to workshop design?

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