The 3 best methods for a successful workshop

Workshops are a powerful tool in any team's toolbox to promote innovation, develop solutions and increase engagement. But not every workshop is successful. Choosing the right workshop methods can make the difference between the success or failure of such an event. In this article, we show you which workshop method is best suited to making the event not only productive but also inspiring.

Before you dive into the planning, make sure that the goal of the workshop is clearly defined. Is it idea generation, decision making or team building? With a firm goal in mind, you can plan the agenda and ensure that every activity is aligned with this goal.

Brainstorming: the classic for finding creative ideas

One of the most popular and time-tested workshop methods is brainstorming. This technique is widely used because it is simple, flexible and suitable for almost any group size. The aim of brainstorming is to generate a large number of ideas in a short space of time and get the team's creative juices flowing.

The brainstorming process

The process typically begins with the presentation of a question or problem to be solved. The participants are then asked to generate as many ideas as possible without evaluating or criticizing them. There are no "bad" ideas in this phase - quantity over quality.

Rules for effective brainstorming

For brainstorming to be effective, a few basic rules should be established:

• No criticism: Every idea is welcome, criticism is not allowed at this stage.
• Encourage free thinking: Participants should be encouraged to contribute unconventional or crazy ideas.
• Building on the ideas of others: Participants can build on the ideas of others to develop new proposals.
• Hear all voices: Every participant should have the opportunity to be heard.
• No longer than 20 minutes: The ability to concentrate drops sharply after this time and with it the quality and motivation of the workshop participants.

Techniques to increase creativity

Various techniques can be used within brainstorming to increase creativity:

• Mind mapping: Visualize ideas in a diagram to see connections between different thoughts.
• Brainwriting: Participants write down their ideas to avoid groupthink and involve quieter participants. This works best with post-its.
• Round Robin: A method in which each participant contributes an idea in turn

Using digital tools

In times of digitalization and remote working, tools such as Miro or Google Jamboard can support brainstorming. These tools enable teams to work together in real time and visually collect and organize their thoughts.

After the brainstorming session: Evaluate ideas

Once a large number of ideas have been collected, the evaluation phase follows. Here, the ideas are viewed, grouped and evaluated for their potential. It is important that this process takes place in a structured manner and with respect for all participants and their contributions.

Brainstorming as a starting point for innovation

Brainstorming is not only a means of generating lots of ideas, but also a precursor to more advanced methods such as prototyping or design thinking. It lays the creative foundation on which innovative solutions can be built.

World Café: In-depth dialog in an inspiring atmosphere

The World Café is a transformative workshop method designed to encourage open conversations and harness collective intelligence. Unlike brainstorming, which is about generating ideas quickly, the World Café aims to generate thoughtful insights through in-depth dialog.

The essence of the World Café

In a World Café, participants are divided into several small groups that sit at different "café tables", each with their own topic or specific question. Each table has a host who leads the discussion and notes down the key points. After a set time, participants rotate to a new table while the host stays to ensure continuity and introduce the next group to the previous discussions.

Organization of a World Café workshop

To organize a successful World Café, you should consider the following aspects:

• Ambience: Create an inviting café atmosphere with tables, flowers and perhaps even music in the background.
• Questioning: Develop powerful questions that are thought-provoking and relevant to the goal of your workshop.
• Documentation: Provide visual records of the discussions, for example by means of graphic protocols or mind maps.
• Encourage exchange: Encourage participants to share their thoughts openly and build on the ideas of others.

The added value of rotation and diversity

A key element of the World Café is rotation. With each rotation, participants bring new perspectives to the discussions, resulting in a richer and more diverse landscape of ideas. This mixing promotes understanding and recognition of diverse perspectives.

Use of digital tools

Similar to brainstorming, digital tools can also be used in the World Café to record the results and facilitate exchange across physical boundaries. Digital platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams can be used to create virtual "tables" at which participants can discuss.

Conclusion and reflection

At the end of the World Café, a collective reflection is conducted where participants come together to share the key learnings from the various table discussions. This step is crucial to develop a collective view and understand how the different ideas are connected.

Long-term effect

The World Café is not just a method for the moment. It can have lasting effects by strengthening relationships, improving mutual understanding and providing a framework for future actions and decisions.

Design thinking: innovative problem solving through user-centricity

Design thinking is a structured method that aims to solve complex problems in an innovative way. It is particularly effective in workshops as it encourages teams to put themselves in the users' shoes, question assumptions and develop creative solutions.

Basic principles of design thinking

Design thinking is based on empathy for the user, iterative learning and the development of prototypes. It is not linear, but an explorative process that goes through various phases:

1. Empathy: Understand the needs and challenges of your users through observation and interaction.
2. Definition: Clarify the problem by analyzing and synthesizing the information gained from the empathy phase.
3. Ideation: Generate a variety of ideas. Brainstorming and other creative techniques can be used here.
4. Prototyping: Develop simple models of the best ideas at an early stage to test concepts quickly and cost-effectively.
5. Testing: Test your prototypes with real users, collect feedback and learn from the reactions.

Using the dynamics of workshops

Design thinking workshops bring people from different disciplines together to benefit from their different perspectives. Teams work in a collaborative environment to understand the user's point of view and develop creative solutions.

Design interactive sessions

In a design thinking workshop, a lot of emphasis is placed on interaction. Team-building activities and ice-breaker games at the beginning can help to create an open and collaborative atmosphere.

Integrate visual elements

Visual elements play a key role in design thinking. Storyboards, user journeys (user journey maps) or impact maps help to visually represent the user's perspective and guide the discussion.

Using digital possibilities

Digital tools also offer added value here. They make it possible to conduct workshops virtually and record results digitally. Tools such as Figma or InVision make it easier to work together on prototypes, even if the team is not in the same room.

Iteration as the key to success

Iteration is a key aspect of design thinking. The process does not end with the first prototype or test. Rather, it is a cycle of developing, testing, learning and improving. Each iteration refines the understanding of the user and the solution.

Conclusion: Design thinking as a trailblazer

Design thinking is more than just a workshop method; it is a way of thinking that helps companies to work in an innovative and user-centered way. By applying design thinking in workshops, teams can learn to systematically tackle complex challenges and develop solutions that create real added value.

Digital tools for workshops

Digital tools such as Miro or Trello can help to organize workshops and facilitate collaboration. They offer digital whiteboards and make it possible to record and share tasks and ideas. AI-supported text generators such as MAIA or ChatGPT are suitable for the efficient creation of agendas and content

Conclusion

Choosing the right workshop methods can be crucial to achieving your goals. A well-planned and facilitated workshop can work wonders in unleashing the full potential of your team.

The best workshops are those that provide added value for all participants and actively involve them.