How to Do a Workshop

Some helpful tips and instructions on what exactly is needed to design and lead a workshop.

Things You'll Need

• Pens
• Paper
• Ideas
• And People to Try Them On

Instructions

1. Sit down and figure out what the topic of your workshop is.

   This could range from:
   - Time Management
   - Recruitment
   - Teamwork
   - Public Speaking
   - Organization
   etc.

2. After you pick your topic begin brainstorming an outline for your workshop. Keep in mind that you may or may not have a time limit that you have to stick to.

3. Outlines typically contain these elements:

   1. Ice Breaker
   (Get to know you games to make everyone comfortable)

   2. Introduction of Topic
   (Tell everyone what you're going to go over)

   3. Brief Discussion on Topic
   (Get your audience involved and see what their thoughts are)

   4. Activity
   (This should directly correlate with your topic)

   5. Follow-up
   (Revisit the purpose of your workshop)

4. At the end, leave the group with something to think about or something memorable they can pass on.

   (The ending can be done during the activity, if that helps to leave the lasting impression. Or, the group can be brought back together after the activity to reflect.)

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the audience engaged at ALL times.

• Remember in a workshop you tell them what you're going to tell them and then tell them what you told them.

• Keep your workshop flexible just in case your group wants to take discussions farther than you've planned.

• Encourage unenthusiastic or shy audience members to participate.

• Make posters, have a powerpoint, music, and/or anything that can keep the mood upbeat and the audience engaged.

• DO NOT leave large gaps between your transitions.

• DO NOT lose energy because your audience is only 30% as excited as you are.