How to Run a Great Workshop: The Complete Guide to Designing and Running Brilliant Workshops and Meetings

by Nikki Highmore Sims

You've been asked to run a training session, workshop or meeting. What you need now is a foolproof way of making it both memorable and enjoyable to run -- and to know that what you are doing will achieve the desired outcome and have lasting positive effects on your team. Anyone who has ever endured 'death by powerpoint' or a dry 'chalk and talk' session knows how not to do it, but how do you make sure that you get it right? This interactive guide is designed especially for busy managers - people whose main role is not training -- and will take you through a simple step-by-step process that results in stimulating, fun and effective workshops and presentations. Just some of the many scenarios the book will help you tackle * How to put together training session from scratch when you have 'blank page, blank face' syndrome -- here's the step-by-step solution * You've done some training but you aren't getting the desired results from your sessions -- here's what do to about it * You haven't time to write 80 sexy PowerPoint slides for a session you are running -- here's what to do instead that will be even more effective and take half the time * You're dreading the experience of being 'up the front' -- here's how to shift the onus from you to your participants * How to be remembered for the right reasons! -- Here's how to ensure that happens This is a book that 'walks the talk'- it presents what you need to know in an engaging, interesting, effective and quick way -- exactly how you will be presenting in your meetings and worshops when you have finished reading it.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Reference

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2006

Reviews

[Jos dujardin · Rating 3 out of 5]

good overview, aimed at the very beginner of workshops. Also the more experienced facilitator can review his way of working and take in some good refreshers and pointers. A lot of attention is given to off-the-shelf activities. Seems that people want to be entertained.

[Steven De Landtsheer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not come accross that many books about organising workshops, so I was glad I found this one. To me this is a bit of a surprise, when we look at the nummer of workshops that get organised every day. Therefore, when you write a book about such a creatieve process, you need to take your personal angle.
The author puts the experience of the participant and the resulting outcomes of the workshop as the central approach to designing great workshops. Therefore a lot of attention is placed on how people ‘learn’ and ‘experience’ and how you can guide and steer these experiences based on the type of activities you put into the mix.
I read another book on workshops called ‘Gamestorming’ which was much more about the ‘structural design’ of workshops. I think these books are very complementary and both add incredible value when you are busy trying to create great workshops. Recommended!
Steven

[Steve Whiting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas, and some good advice about structuring workshops, but probably more relevant to a training or facilitating company than to running internal workshops.

Rather sceptical of some of the more "enthusiastic" ideas, which are more likely to lead participants running for cover than rushing to join in.

[Jen Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say, I'm glad I've never encountered the author. I'm sure she's a very nice person, but her ideas epitomise everything I loathe and dread about workshops. Of course, now I have to try to figure out where most people sit on the continuum between me (send the information via email, please) and her (lights! music!! dancing!!! group work!!!! games!!!!!) in time to actually design and run a workshop that does the job.

I think I shall probably read this again, more carefully, skipping the bits that wild horses could not induce me to do, and figure out the really useful bits. I think there's quite a bit in there, just hidden by all the horrifying suggestions that fancy dress is a good idea, and a Twister mat is a must-have piece of equipment.

[Tine Putzeys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive with a lot of practical advice. It'll make you consider a bunch of aspects of your workshops that you may not have actively thought about before.

While I don't necessarily think sending clients on a treasure hunt is professionally appropriate for me, I do think there's a whole spectrum from boring to over the top playfull. I could stand to move a little more towards playfull.

One point of improvement: when using to concepts like "brain gym" and saying they are so important that they deserve their own chapter, she could have at least explained what the brain gym exercises are, rather than referring us to a completely different book .

[(Lectrice Vorace) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful book for people who build group sessions within their career to share skills or information with staff or audiences.