Workshops are used people who want to improve their skills or gain knowledge discussing topics and participating in activities with others who have similar goals. Workshops are a common learning tool in schools. Writing workshops, for example, allow students to share and critique their work in order to improve as writers, readers, and editors. Participants in a management workshop, for example, might form groups and brainstorm new ideas about how to lead effectively, as well as participate in activities that allow them to observe different managerial practices firsthand. Discussions among participants, activities that encourage people to work together, and contests or games that can be exciting for participants while also allowing facilitators to assess the participants’ performances are some of the most common workshop activities.
An organization’s managers may attend management or leadership workshops. Group discussions in which participants discuss what makes a good leader are some of the most common workshop activities in this context. When done well, this activity can provide people with new perspectives on leadership success. It may also provide them with insight into their own preconceptions. At the same time, this type of activity acts as an icebreaker, allowing people to speak more freely.
Presentations are also a common part of workshop activities. Presentations are not given a facilitator or instructor, as they are in traditional classrooms. Instead, each participant or group of participants could give a presentation on a specific topic. This is a fantastic way to spice up a workshop. These types of workshop activities also assist people in learning how to work together, particularly when they are forced to work with people they have never met before and with whom they may not share much in common.
Workshops are often successful only when all of the participants feel free to express themselves and participate in activities and discussions. As a result, facilitators frequently ask participants to participate in trust exercises. These are workshop activities in which participants learn to rely on one another. Facilitators may also ask participants to share personal stories or surprising facts about themselves in order to help people overcome prejudices.
Some workshop activities may be specific to a particular field or industry. In self-help workshops, for example, participants may take turns sharing how they have improved their own lives. A painting workshop, on the other hand, might dedicate a portion of each session to learning a new technique. Participants in acting workshops may be required to act out scenes at each meeting.