So, you ran a workshop. Now what? How do you know if it actually worked? Spoiler: it’s not just about those “Loved the snacks!” comments on your feedback forms.

The only way to know if your workshop was a hit is to look at the outcomes. Did you actually achieve what you set out to do? That’s your north star.

Here’s the deal: Before you even book the room or set up the Zoom, you need to know exactly why you’re running a workshop to begin with. What’s the client’s endgame? What does success look like for the project, the people, and you?

Before designing the session, you need to clearly define the goals, the outputs, and the gaps you’re trying to fill. These should drive every decision you make, from the agenda to the activities to the “Let’s stick this on a sticky note and see what happens” moments.

A successful workshop is one that actually produces what you need. Think: hard data, killer ideas, or just the right info to move your project forward. If you’ve ever tried to get this out of an endless email chain, you know how magical a well-run workshop can be. When you design it right, everyone leaves with something valuable, and you don’t waste anyone’s time.

Now, once it’s over, don’t just dump the outputs into a folder and call it a day. Take the time to package up the results in a way that makes sense for your audience. Execs want the highlights; practitioners might need the all the details. And don’t forget to keep the raw stuff handy because you never know when you’ll need to pull a quote or revisit an idea.

As always, beware of “UX Theatre.” That’s when you run a workshop just to tick a box, without real data or actual users involved. It looks good, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. Real success comes when you back up your workshops with research before and after, so you’re not just playing pretend.

Bottom line: A workshop is only as good as the outcomes it delivers. Did you fill the knowledge gap? Did you get what you needed to take the next step? If yes, congrats, you nailed it! If not, it’s time to tweak your approach for the next one.