Why workshops are like parties
How do you react when you hear the word ‘party’?
With unbridled joy, if you’re like me. I picture what I’m going to wear, what fabulous new people I’ll meet, which old friends I’ll see and who’s doing the playlist.
My heart leaps. I’m inspired.
Maybe you’re the opposite, like my friend, Stella. Her heart sinks when she’s invited to a party. She starts to look for convincing excuses to avoid it. If she can’t get out of it, the date looms menacingly on her calendar.
Her heart is in her mouth when she arrives. She’s intimidated.
All party hosts hope that everyone will be inspired. A thoughtful party hosts knows that everyone is different and will turn up with mixed emotions.
A good host plans for all reactions to the word ‘party’. Inspired, intimidated and anything in between.
The point is, whether we’re hosting a party or an intimate dinner, a workshop or a small meeting, we’ve got to plan for the people coming. That means our emotions, expectations, personalities, egos, moods, hang-ups and insecurities. It’s not just people who turn up. We bring our:
😟 Lack of confidence and feelings of uncertainty
😟 Perception that we don’t belong (and someone is bound to find out!)
😧 Fear that we’ll look, and sound, stupid
🙄 Belief that we know all the answers
😨 Dread of conflict
Add diverse backgrounds, interests and styles and it’s crowded in there, regardless of the actual numbers.
Eons ago, I used to worry if a workshop was too much fun, especially if it was with academics. Workshops are about serious topic, I reasoned. We need to be serious and plan for serious stuff.
I wish someone had told me then that this is not the only way to think about workshops. Yes, nail purpose, align process — but plan for people.
I was delighted to discover that Professor Steven G. Rogelberg, author of The Surprising Science of Meetings, encourages us to have an ‘event’ mindset when planning a meeting.
I’ll take this down a notch. I reckon adopting a ‘party’ mindset makes this idea a little more relatable.
We want people to enjoy a party, make friends and leave with lasting memories. I want to go to workshops that are enjoyable, where I connect with people and that are memorable — for the ideas and solutions offered. How about you?
