3 Steps to a Powerful Workshop

At HWHN, we've hosted workshops, conferences and retreats for over 10 years. If you're interested in building the capacity of your business or non-profit to serve more people, then hosting live (or online) events is an excellent method.

However, many of us have attended boring or poorly run programs. Hosting a successful workshop or training is a worthwhile way to build your team, develop new skills and effectively impact your community. Here are our top 3 tips for a powerful experience when your group comes together.

1. Start with the End in Mind

Seems like a DUH, right? However, too many of us miss this step. It is crucial to work with your team to envision the end of your program right at the beginning. Work with your team to answer the following questions:

• What are our goals of the workshop? How many people do we want to serve?
• How long of a session will it take to accomplish these goals?
• Who will this workshop benefit?  How will we get our participants to trust our session over a similar one? 
•  Are these the skills, tools and information that’s most important to our participants?
• What is our budget for the workshop?

Once you have the answers to these key questions and your vision is clear, it’s time to solidify the details for a strong foundation.

2. Build an audience

In our live events trainings we share that we are all in the business of the 3Ms. Marketing. Marketing. Marketing. To ensure motivated and engaged participants in your target audience it’s important to provide them with the benefits of working with your team before they ever enter the room. 

The number of attendees should have been determined in step one. So during your marketing and promotions time frame, educate your audience on the benefits of the program. What will they learn, why your staff is capable of educating them on these skills and what other top of mind problems would your session solve. Now, using many mediums to reach your audience is key. Flyers aren’t enough. Social media isn’t enough. Use it all! Email marketing, social media, gorilla marketing, calls, speaking engagements and the whole nine yards. 

3. Create the Experience

Now that your logistics are together and you’ve prepared your participants by allowing them to self-select, it’s time to ensure your time together is a memorable experience. Participants use all their senses to experience an event. Consider this as you plan and execute your workshop session. Consider this: 

 Ask your participants:  survey your participants to see what they want most to prioritize learning, and keep your finger on the pulse of their needs 

Build in breaks: Try not to go over 90 minutes without a break of some kind. Free time, breaks, and socializing help your participants bond and to keep them focused when in the learning environment.  

Also, take into account the space in the room for activities and hands on learning, the materials offered to support the different learning styles and last but not least what signature moment can you organically create to support making the experience memorable for your participants.

Our most important step is to have a great time! Remember to breathe, and spend time getting to know the people who are present in the room – they’re who you’re serving! 

18 Ways To Follow Up After A Networking Event

We say it at each networking event, what’s the diamond in networking.  Follow up, Follow up, Follow up! Check out these amazing tips in this yummy article from Lisa Rangel, Managing Director at Chameleon Resumes with 18 ways to follow up after a networking event.

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18 Ways To Follow Up After A Networking Event

By Lisa Rangel

 According to the latest study from CareerXRoads, more than 27% of external hires in America are from referrals. In fact, it’s the top external source of hires today.

According to the New York Times, 65% of new business comes from referrals. A Nielsen Study cited clients are four times more likely to buy when being referred from someone they know and trust.

So we know why we network, but what do you do to follow up after a networking event? After all, It’s what you do after the event that matters, as that is where the real work begins!  Here are some suggestions of what to do:

1)     Google their name – You’d be amazed at what you can find by Googling a person. You can find additional information to help you with reasons to connect—or not to do so. This info can help with all steps on this list.

2)     Make notes on what happened at the event, record your thoughts and create a list of actions to implement.

3)     Write an email indicating that you enjoyed meeting them and why it makes sense to keep chatting.

4)     Start a dialogue to stay in touch, if no need to meet—ask them what they thought of the event via email.

5)     Connect with a LinkedIn invitation including a note that you enjoyed meeting at the event where you met.

6)     Via email, suggest a 15-minute phone call, be clear on the purpose and how it can benefit you both to do so.

7)     Here’s a novel idea:  just call the person…indicate that you enjoyed meeting them and would like to keep the conversation going. Ask if they prefer to schedule a phone chat or coffee meeting as a follow-up.

8)     Propose a face-to-face meeting over coffee right out of the gate with contacts that have the most potential, who interest you most, or simply where it makes sense.  Show interest in what they do and who they are.

9)     Follow the person on Twitter. This can provide real time data to improve the content of your communication.

10)   If you see a personal connection outside of work and/or it makes sense, connect on Facebook.

11)   Do not automatically add them to any email list you may have! Instead, send an email asking if they would like to join your email list since you thought, based on your conversation, the content may be of interest. Don’t spam!

12)   Enter the information into your contact management system. A contact made today, may not bring you  business today, but that person may be the resource you needed (or needed you) for a situation in the future.

13)   Look to influence. See how you can introduce two people who can help each other and ask to make that introduction…it’s good karma, as you are always remembered as the person who made the introduction.

14)   Thank the host of the event—a great way to start a connection that you did not have before.

15)   Ideally make contact within 48 hours, but don’t fail to reach out if it is later than that timeframe. I have reached out 6 months after the initial meeting and have it turn out well—but this is not recommended at all!!

16)   Look for people who can influence your business or job search—not just give you business or hire you. Influencers are more impactful than direct clients or hiring managers, since they introduce many opportunities.

17)   Search for collaborators and joint venture partners. The best way to grow is by collaborating with others.

18)   Send an article or book reference in an email or snail mail. This will show that you listened to the conversation.

Networking can take time and energy if you let it, or it can be integrated into your daily activities with a simple change in mindset to be more effortless. A small, consistent investment of time each week can pay off huge dividends in the future for you and your network.  Take some of the actions above and see the good that happens….Good luck!