“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin.
These words by Benjamin Franklin have echoed through my journey, evolving from a high school teacher to an instructional coach and trainer and ultimately into an international speaker.
As professional speakers, many of you might resonate with the significant shift I experienced - moving from one delivery structure to something unfamiliar.
My transition was the leap from delivering structured, content-rich lessons to adolescents to designing and orchestrating comprehensive, multi-day workshops for adult learners. This shift, ripe with opportunities, also brought forth a unique set of challenges.
Picture a classroom, a space where concise lessons and well-honed teaching methods engage young minds. Now, transition this scene to a conference room brimming with adult professionals, each with distinct experiences and expectations. This was the new landscape I found myself in, a significant departure from the classrooms I knew so well.
The early stages of my workshop facilitation were a mix of confidence in my expertise and a palpable uncertainty in adapting my approach. The familiar 1-3 hour teaching slots expanded, unfolding into extensive workshops spanning several days. Catering to an audience of discerning adults didn’t just necessitate a shift in content but a complete overhaul in the way I delivered it.
Perhaps, like me, you, too, have faced these moments of transition, feeling the pressure of new expectations weighing heavily on you.
I remember the initial workshops I conducted — they felt rushed, lacking the personal touch, and overly reliant on content delivery. Crucial elements such as reflection time, collaborative dialogue opportunities, and practical, hands-on experiences were missing. I had inadvertently fallen into the 'sit and get' model, which proved inadequate in fostering an environment conducive to meaningful engagement and personal growth among adult learners.
However, as I navigated these challenges, I discovered key themes that transformed my approach:
Dynamic Interaction: In my journey to enhance workshop engagement, I revamped my content delivery to emphasize dynamic interaction. This evolution blended traditional lectures and direct instruction with interactive simulations, role-playing, and real-world case studies. The aim was to create an immersive learning environment where participants are active contributors, not just passive recipients. By adopting a 'less is more' philosophy, I focused on delivering quality content that was both informative and experientially enriching, making each session engaging and impactful.
Objective-Driven: Understanding the crucial role of relevance and applicability in workshops, I crafted sessions around practical, objective-driven exercises. For example, in a workshop focusing on restful practices for teachers, participants engaged in collaborative activities to develop "A Thrive Plan," outlining restful practices to integrate into their teaching routines. This hands-on approach linked theory with real-world application and empowered participants to translate learning into their professional contexts, fostering deeper understanding and lasting impact.
Personalized Learning: Addressing the diverse learning preferences of adult learners, I incorporated personal storytelling and hands-on activities in my workshops. Rather than a generic approach, each session was crafted to resonate on a personal level. In a workshop on equitable assessment practices for students, I shared my own challenges with standardized testing and facilitated a segment where participants could share and reflect on their experiences. This was followed by brainstorming sessions on diverse assessment methods, ensuring the workshop was not just informative but also deeply relatable and tailored to individual growth.
Empathetic Facilitation: My facilitation style is rooted in empathy, harmonizing collaboration with community building. In my workshops, participants found a space for collaborative learning through guided activities and discussions, enabling them to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and forge meaningful connections. Beyond the workshop, I committed to sustaining engagement with ongoing support and a nurturing community environment. This continuous engagement strategy ensured that the learning journey extended beyond the confines of the workshop, providing a holistic, supportive experience that underscored the significance of immediate collaboration and sustained community connections.
Through these experiences, I crafted "The DOPE Workshop Experience," a framework that encapsulates my learnings.
These approaches were designed to transform the way professional speakers like you engage with and impact audiences. It's not just about changing the format; it's about adapting our approach to meet the diverse needs of adult learners in workshops.
If you're a professional speaker looking to transform your keynote into an engaging, dynamic workshop, I invite you to explore "The DOPE Workshop Experience." This guide is designed to empower you with the tools and strategies that have been pivotal in my success.