As a new facilitator, I was unsurprisingly nervous about my first workshop, yet still excited for it. Reading articles and youtube videos only go so far to help prepare you for the real thing, actual experience is a whole other animal!

Workshop facilitation is no doubt a skill that takes practice to master, and I wanted to share some of the key lessons I took from facilitating my first workshop, and give 5 practical tips on making them easier!

#1 Be Prepared

I have to put this at the top of the list for priorities, as the importance of being well-prepared cannot be more valuable.

This means having a clear agenda, engaging activities, and all materials ready ahead of time. Being prepared will help you stay on track and most importantly, keep you free from any last-minute stress and panic!

#2 Ask for Help

Nobody does it perfectly the first time, but that doesn’t stop us from trying. Whilst we might not have the codes to succeed on day 1, I found that we can use some cheat codes to take ourselves a step ahead — Ask those who’ve done it before for help & tips!

Even if it’s something simple as running through concerns for 5 minutes, or taking a look at the structure of the workshop, your team will be happy to help!

#3 Use the Right Tools!

I cannot stress enough how much keeping the right equipment, programs, journey maps or whatever it is you need for the workshop creates a smooth and engaging experience!

I personally use Mirofor most workshop sessions, as its whiteboard feature and templates available just stands above the competition — Instead of spending hours building the whiteboard, I get 1000s of free templates at my request.

#4 Set a Comfortable Environment

I found that another crucial part of great workshop facilitation is creating a comfortable and inclusive environment.

This means that we make sure that everyone feels welcome and valued to participate, as every member of the workshop brings in their own valuable experience & insights to the table. Encouraging free participation is the key here, ensure that everybody feels happy to give their insights!

#5 Take Feedback

Feedback is valuable to give back to your group, but what is helping me level up my facilitation is welcoming feedback from the group at large — This helps me to identify any flaws in the process, or spots that I can improve to make sure each session goes better than the last!

Genuinely adopting constructive criticism is a super power, in all walks of life.

In Summary

Facilitating workshops are incredibly rewarding experiences, not just for UX Maturity and development of organisation goals, but also for our personal development as designers, allowing us to build skill sets that let us better serve our users!

Facilitation is a skill people spend years on mastering, so we can’t expect to be perfect the first time. What we can do though, is learn from our mistakes and take on those new challenges, eventually levelling up our skill set!

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