The Brilliance of Workshop Development

THE BRILLIANCE OF WORKSHOP DEVELOPMENT

© 2005 Linda McDonald & Deb Waterstone. All Rights Reserved



VISION BUILT ON INSPIRATION

You have a vision and are inspired to share it out to the

world. Imagine bringing that vision; that passion into a

workshop learning environment where your customers and

clients are inspired to expand their awareness, knowledge

and skills related to your area of expertise or interest.

With this expansion comes a change in attitude, increased

confidence and ultimately greater competence.



The first stage in the development of your workshop is

identifying your vision otherwise know as THE WHAT. THE

SEVEN ELEMENTS of bringing your workshop vision to reality

include Subject Matter, Target Audience, Desired

Transformation, Learning Experience, Purpose/Goals, Learning

Competencies and Title.



HOW you achieve THE WHAT that you have envisioned is folded

into the design of your workshop. There are many elements to

consider in creating an effective and inspired design. From

the perspective of the facilitator it is important that the

flow of your design marries with your style and experience

as well as with your audience's Level of Mastery in the

Subject Matter. A basic outline serves as a guide toward

developing the content sequence and learning strategies. In

addition, you want to incorporate three distinct LEARNING

FRAMES.



ATTITUDE BUILT ON AWARENESS

Recall a time when you discovered a new understanding of

something you believed to be true. This is a moment when you

become aware that a perception or "knowing" can be changed

simply by seeing it from another viewpoint or through access

to more information or new experiences. Once aware you find

you feel and think differently. This results in a new

attitude. With a new attitude you may have found greater

openness and readiness to learn more about the subject

matter. This LEARNING FRAME is supported in the inspired

(safe, respectful, non-judgmental) learning environment

where the facilitator and learners are clear about the

purpose and desired transformation of the workshop.



CONFIDENCE BUILT ON KNOWLEDGE

As you soak in the knowledge of a particular subject matter

and integrate it into you life and work, you tend to feel a

greater sense of confidence. With confidence you are able to

take on new risks and challenges. You can stretch beyond

your comfort zone. This ability enhances the awareness and

knowledge learning. The facilitator designs the workshop

content to bring in new information that enhances the

learning and allows for the building of competency in the

subject matter.



COMPETENCE BUILT ON SKILL PRACTICE

Awareness and knowledge are the materials used to build the

foundation of attitude and confidence that support learners

to begin to practice new skills. Each practice of the skill

enhances competence which moves you from being in the

"stretch beyond the comfort" zone to a new "in

comfort"

zone.



There are THREE PRIMARY STAGES to creating a successful and

inspiring workshop. We begin with THE WHAT to inform The

HOW. And NOW is the stage of implementation.



Your confidence is high and you can't wait to bring your

learners together. There are logistics to consider but most

important is your role as the facilitator. You are the one

who sets the tone and creates the space for learning to

occur. Here you integrate your desire and inspiration with

process and planning. How will you create an inspired

learning environment where learners feel safe to express

their thoughts and feelings and be open to new awareness?

What would it be like to be part of a learning environment

where confidentiality is respected, the focus is on what is

working and positive, everyone is 100% engaged and listening

fully to each other, where criticism and judgment are left

at the door and everyone takes on a beginner's mind and

where it is easy to give and receive acknowledgement and

support? Imagine creating such a learning space.



It is truly thrilling to inspire a learning environment

through workshops and programs. And one of the greatest

thrills is the gift of unexpected learning you as the

facilitator always receive from your "audience".



"Our desire is to facilitate learning in a way that is

honoring, experiential, under-whelming, fun,

confidence-building, practical and inspiring."



About the Authors: Linda McDonald and Deb Waterstone have

designed in collaboration Learn to Inspire™, a comprehensive

start to finish learning program for the creation, design

and implementation of inspiring classes, workshops and

learning programs. Visit Learn To Inspire at

http://www.LearnToInspire.com or email

learntoinspire@yahoo.com.