Workshops have been a fantastic way to gather people, share ideas, and work towards a common goal. Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, workshops have been transitioning to virtual, which can create a challenge for any hands-on workshop activities. Workshop events are now able to be held either in person or virtually! 

What Is A Workshop Event?

A workshop event is a hands-on experience for employees on a specific subject matter. When selecting a topic for your workshop, choosing one specific to your company or industry will help your employees learn and grow. The main goal of a workshop is for employees to learn a new skill or idea and then apply that knowledge to their profession or everyday life. When employees receive hands-on knowledge on a subject or topic, they are more likely to remember the workshop and use their newfound skills more effectively. 

Why Is A Workshop Event Valuable?

Employees who attend workshops aim to learn a new skill or even earn a new certification to return to their job and apply to their work. Workshops are typically smaller events with a small audience. However, workshops are also able to be held with a larger audience. If your workshop audience is larger than usual, using breakout rooms will help with hands-on activities. Having employees interact and engage with each other will help them get to know each other better and leaves room for plenty of networking opportunities! According to a survey by EventMB, 76% of event planners believe that interactive sessions are the most effective way to engage attendees at a workshop event. Learning new skills, brainstorming new ideas, or obtaining a new certification will help employees in their professional careers and in their personal lives. 

10 Creative Workshop Event Ideas

We have all experienced sitting in a meeting, listening to the speaker or moderator, and suddenly realizing we have zoned out and missed what was being said. In order to prevent this, having your employees get up and move around the room while interacting with one another will keep their minds focused. Something as simple as changing the room layout or hosting a class will stray away from the everyday, mundane meeting. We have created a list of 10 events for you to adopt for your next workshop.

1. Learn About New Technologies 

Technology is ever-changing, and you may need to adapt to using new technology if your company introduces it. Some employees may be better at using new technology than others. Having a workshop that introduces this new technology and how to use it will be helpful and beneficial to everyone! If the new technology is something that your employees can get their hands on, allowing them to spend time using the product will help them better understand it. Sometimes new technology is a piece of software on their computer; In this case, using tutorial videos for your employees is the best way for them to become familiar with the new technology! 

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2. Networking Workshop

Everyone in the corporate world knows how important networking is to professional careers. Networking gathers people from all backgrounds, companies, and industries, allowing them to interact and start conversations about work. A study by Eventbrite found that 76% of people attend events to network and make new connections. Gathering with people and getting to know them better personally and professionally can help jumpstart your career! You may have an idea or a thought, and you’re just not sure on where to start to get that idea off the ground; at a networking workshop, you may get talking with someone who knows exactly how to get that idea started. Networking is all about building connections with people you may not get to meet, but getting business cards or even connecting on LinkedIn will keep you in touch! 

3. A Pre-Workshop Breakfast Meeting

Food is a great way for your guests to relax in a comfortable atmosphere while still making connections with one another. The great thing about hosting a breakfast meeting is gathering people in person. Providing breakfast items such as coffee, tea, and pastries allows your guests to have a small bite while they chat and mingle with the people at their table. If your event requires a virtual meeting with people in a different location or time zone, you can still gather together while enjoying a light breakfast. In order to feel like you are truly interacting face-to-face with the person on the video screen, invite them to have some small refreshments as well! Coming together to discuss business, network or learn a new policy will feel comfortable and inviting to your guests. 

4. Meditation And Stretching

When you're in any kind of meeting or workshop event, you may feel the need to get up, stretch your legs or even take a walk. Even working from home you may feel the need to step away from your computer and stretch out your muscles. If you are an event organizer, scheduling in stretching and meditation breaks will be helpful and beneficial to everyone. Incorporating wellness into your event will decrease stress and improve mentality. If you have more than one speaker at your workshop event, using meditation or stretching can be used as a transition in between each speaker. Breathing exercises can help to center and refocus your employees after a full day of learning. 

5. Industry Lunch

Networking is usually done with some light refreshments, and maybe some drinks. This helps people to relax and be themselves as they meet new people to bring into their networking circle. Another great idea for a workshop is hosting an industry lunch! Having lunch stations or even food trucks will be a great topic of conversation and will let your employees choose what they want to eat. Once everyone has their food, then the learning can begin! If the weather allows, this event can be held outside, just to give everyone a nice change of scenery. Changing up the way you learn will be beneficial and you can also have fun while doing so! 

6. Offer A Coding Class

When it comes to coding, many people might not know where to begin. By offering a coding workshop, you will be able to teach eager employees a new skill for them to have in their toolbelt. Coding can be difficult to learn initially, but through courses, teaching and coaching, coding is a skill that can be used by anyone! Teaching comes with answering questions and problem solving, and your employees will definitely have questions when learning something new! Having a Q&A session will let employees ask any questions they might have, and you are able to answer these questions to the group. More than one employee may have the same question, and answering these questions on a larger scale will put all of their minds at ease. 

7. Play Games 

As we all know, all day meetings, conferences or workshops can become heavily information based, and it may be a lot to take in in one day. In order to break up the learning process, using games will help to keep employees focused and keep their mind sharp. We all know how important taking breaks throughout the day is, and using games is a fun way for employees to change up the way they take breaks! Puzzles, brain teasers and memory games will keep their minds sharp, while taking a break from the day. Keep in mind that your employees do have to return to their learning. Adding a time limit or using games to end a speaking session is the easiest way to transition into a new portion of your workshop. 

8. Practice Self Care

Self care is such an important part of working in the corporate world, but it seems like not everyone practices that concept. Self care can come in many forms, and can be personalized to you as an individual! Self care can be as simple as breathing exercises and meditation, or it can be reading a book or cooking your favorite dish. In terms of a workshop setting, having a portion of the day dedicated to self care is so important for your guests. Using a round robin method to discover what everyone’s favorite form of self care is may give new ideas to guests who may be struggling to find a self care activity that works for them. 

9. Host A Writing Workshop

With almost all communication within the corporate world being done through a computer, writing things down by hand could possibly become a thing of the past. Writing workshops don’t have to be formal; they can be as simple as writing a letter to a friend. Hosting a writing workshop complete with paper, pens and other writing tools can inspire your guests to get back to actually writing things down. To be more inspired, choose a venue that will inspire people to clear their mind and write down their thoughts, such as an outside venue or a cool, quiet room. Sending letters to your colleagues, friends and family is a wonderful way to get back to writing and is a great way to express yourself. 

10. Invite Influential People Within The Industry

Industry influencers can be a huge selling point to your potential guests! According to a report by Influencer Marketing Hub, businesses are making $5.20 for every $1 spent on influencer marketing, with the top 13% of businesses earning $20 or more for every $1 invested. As you market and advertise your workshop, be sure to include any influencers or guest speakers who have confirmed they are coming! These influential people can be upper management within your industry, and they can speak to motivate your guests! At the end of the event, having a panel discussion or a Q&A session between the influencers and your guests will connect everyone on a personal level. Your guests can take their stories, advice and influence and learn to apply that to their career and everyday life. 

5 Ways To Make Your Workshop Event Memorable 

As an event organizer, your main goal should be to plan a workshop event that your guests will remember and also have fun at! From giveaways to even picking the best motivational music, keep in mind that your guests are going to be the ones who takeaway the most information. Setting your guests up for success and retaining them as guests for the next workshop event will be beneficial for everyone. 

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1. Choose A Unique Venue

Hosting a workshop in a conference or meeting room is the standard way to host. This can become a little too predictable for your guests. However, changing the venue into something unexpected will keep your guests on their toes and will be a nice change of scenery! Hosting your workshop at a cool new restaurant or a funky coffee shop will get the conversation going between your guests! One thing to remember is that wherever you choose to host your workshop, make sure there is enough space and seating for everyone. Also, double check with the venue to ensure that hosting your workshop there won’t be a problem.

2. Change The Room Layout 

Instead of the traditional set-up of chairs pointed towards the front, play around with the layout of the room! If you have the space, the addition of tables along with the chairs will let your guests sit with people and get to know them better! Using tables and chairs will create small groups for people to brainstorm ideas, share thoughts and possibly network! If you really want your guest to feel comfortable and at home, using furniture like lounge chairs and ottomans will help to promote comfort! People learn in all different ways, and something as simple as changing the layout of the furniture will help people learn more effectively. 

3. Play Motivational Music

When the time comes to break out into smaller groups during your workshop, playing motivational music will help your guests think and perform better within their group. At the beginning of your workshop, playing pump up music and letting your employees move around will shake any nerves out of them! If the situation arises for breaking out into small groups, playing motivational music lightly in the background will provide comfort for your guests as they work. If you are looking to motivate your guests even more, find out what kind of music your guests enjoy! Sending out a simple survey before your workshop to get a better understanding of the music your guests enjoy will provide you with all of the information to make a great playlist for your workshop!

4. Giveaways

As a thank you to your guests for attending your workshop, giveaways will keep your guests engaged and will be a great surprise at the end! Depending on the size of your workshop, you may have a budget to give every guest a swag bag. Swag bags may include items such as a reusable water bottle, a t- shirt or keychains. If you don’t have a budget to provide a swag bag to every guest, having larger giveaways to a smaller number of people will keep everyone on their toes! Use your attendance roster to choose names at random for your guests to win prizes, such as a gift card, professional notebooks or even a donation to charity in your name! Giveaways are a great memento for guests to remember your workshop and all of the information they gained from it.

5. Let Your Team Choose Your Next Workshop Idea

Receiving feedback from your attendees on how your workshop was will be crucial to planning your next workshop! While you have all of your attendees gathered together, ask for their feedback in person and what they would want to see for future workshop events! Let your attendees brainstorm ideas for your next workshop, and even leave it to a group vote for which one should be the next workshop! By allowing your guests to choose which workshop they want to see next, they will be more inclined to return to participate in your next workshop! 

Frequently asked questions

• What are workshop events?
  Workshop events are educational events that focus on hands-on learning and engagement. They typically involve activities, discussions, and group work to help attendees develop new skills or knowledge.
• What are some examples of high impact workshop event ideas?
  Some examples of high impact workshop event ideas include design thinking workshops, leadership development workshops, team building workshops, and innovation workshops.
• How long do workshop events typically last?
  The length of a workshop event can vary depending on the topic and goals of the event. Some workshop events may be half-day or full-day events, while others may span multiple days or weeks.
• What are the benefits of attending a workshop event?
  Attending a workshop event can provide numerous benefits, such as the opportunity to learn new skills, network with other professionals, gain insights and perspectives from industry experts, and improve job performance.
• Can workshop events be held virtually?
  Yes, with the rise of virtual and hybrid events, workshop events can be held virtually or in a hybrid format, where attendees can participate both in-person and remotely.
• What types of businesses or organizations can benefit from hosting a workshop event?
  Any business or organization that wants to provide educational and engaging opportunities for its employees or customers can benefit from hosting a workshop event. This can include startups, corporations, non-profits, and educational institutions.
• How do I determine the best workshop event idea for my business or organization?
  To determine the best workshop event idea for your business or organization, consider your goals, target audience, and the skills or knowledge you want to impart. You may also want to conduct market research or consult with industry experts to determine what topics or formats are most relevant and effective.
• How can I promote my workshop event?
  You can promote your workshop event through various marketing channels, such as social media, email marketing, paid advertising, and partnerships with industry influencers or organizations. You may also want to consider offering early bird discounts or other incentives to encourage early registration.

Master The Art Of Workshop Events 

Workshop events can be held virtually and in person, like any event! Reaching out to a virtual event platform host like Hubilo can help take all guesswork out of planning! Workshop events can be informative, with panel discussions and conference-style learning. On the other hand, workshops can also be more casual, where the guests are working on puzzles and brain teasers. The main thing to takeaway is that your guests will be receiving information in various ways. Planning how your guests receive that information from your workshop can be the difference between the attendees having fun and your guests not returning for the next workshop. A fun and engaging workshop hosted on Hubilo will ensure that your attendees will have a great experience and will want to return to the next workshop. If you are looking to make a big impact with your next workshop event, let us show you how. Book a demo today and discover how our platform can help you create an unforgettable experience for your attendees.