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How AI Is Quietly Replacing Working Sessions
Lately, I keep hearing the same line at work: “I put this into AI and it came up with this model / framework / analysis.” A few years ago, those same problems would have triggered a working session: get the…
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When the Room Runs Itself: My Go-To Workshop Technique for Maximum Participation
A simple structure that shifts ownership from facilitator to group and delivers more energy, ideas, and engagement If you’re looking for a workshop technique that keeps energy high while ensuring everyone contributes, I often fall back on an activity I…
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Starting Strong: How Workshop Type Shapes Outcomes
Build focus by defining your workshop’s foundation When planning a workshop, it’s tempting to jump straight into activities like brainstorming, mapping, or voting. But an often-missed step is defining the workshop type. It’s what turns a good idea for a…
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Don’t Wing It: The Power of Workshop Testing
Validate your design, avoid pitfalls, and lead sessions that truly deliver When Was the Last Time You Tested a Workshop, Really? Designing a workshop isn’t just about picking a few activities and hoping for the best. It’s about crafting an…
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The Hidden Risk of Over-designing Workshops
Overthinking the design can leave participants lost and results wasted. The Trap of Complexity The greatest danger in workshop design is the temptation to make things far too complicated. Design exists to make a session productive and outcome-focused, because a…
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Behind the Scenes: The Invisible Effort That Makes Workshops Work
The unseen intentional effort that makes workshops feel effortless Have you ever attended a workshop and thought it felt easy and uncomplicated? Maybe it even felt like anyone could run a workshop? That’s a sign of good workshop design. The…
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Consensus Is Overrated
Why consensus isn’t the goal Collaborative workshops shouldn’t aim for universal agreement. Consensus workshops rarely achieve actual consensus; participants are probably withholding their input, silently compromising their own opinions (or worse: values!) to go along with what appears to be…
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Why Imperfect Ideas Are Your Secret Weapon for Collaborative Workshops
We noticed a formatting error which affected readability for some readers. Here’s a corrected version! ___ In a truly collaborative workshop, nothing is sacred. No design is an untouchable masterpiece; the point of coming together is to poke at it,…
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Ditch the Reaction Shots for Validation Workshops That Actually Work
If you’ve ever left a validation workshop feeling like you just watched a bunch of people nod politely at your slides without providing meaningful feedback, you’re not alone. Too often, these sessions become glorified reaction shots where participants silently view…
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There Is No Template: Why Every Workshop Needs to Be Custom-Built
Let’s get one thing straight: there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all workshop. Sure, templates are tempting; they’re neat, tidy, and convenient. But if you want a workshop that actually works (and doesn’t just fill a calendar slot), you…
