Why workshops are like films

A workshop needs a design like a film needs a script.

Sure, you can just turn up and see what happens. It might just work if people know each other well and you’re in the hands of a skilled facilitator.

My first film (clay animation featuring Bob Hawke, yellowcake and shot on super 8) was probably my best film. It had a script. After that, I experimented making films without scripts. Improvised dialogue and shots. ‘Embarrassing’ was high praise for them!

I love improv. I watched my thespian friends perform in Theatresports, about the same time I was making those earnest films. The principles of improv are super helpful in facilitation. Being supportive and open, not making other participants look bad, responding with phrases like ‘yes and’, listening and being present.

But I’m with Ingmar Bergman. The master filmmaker said that if you want to improvise, you need to have a damn good script (🙏🏼Jussi Luukkonen for sharing this with me).

Scripts are detailed. Every single element is covered. How people smile, what they say, how they move, the camera angle, the lighting and even where the music comes in.

My workshop designs are as detailed. It’s the ‘if I get hit by a bus’ thing. Experience has taught me that it’s vital to have everything for the workshop in the one document. From the venue address and all our phone numbers, to the carefully considered activities.

But at the workshop, it’s another story – storyboard in fact. I don’t feel like I’m really prepared unless I’ve distilled that detailed design into a storyboard. Each square with sketches that serve as reminders for what questions I’ll ask and what the group might do.

I say might because I hold that story board lightly. Face-to-face, it often stays folded up in my pocket I don’t walk around with it on a clipboard. It’s the ‘script’ that leaves me – and the group – free to improvise.

It’s a technique I think I brought with me from film. Scripts become storyboards and then shot lists.

As I work through the second or third version of a workshop design with a client, I sometimes wonder if our time could be better spent. But effort in the design provides a solid structure for a group to feel safe to have free and open conversations.

As Bergman told the New York Times, ‘I write scripts to serve as skeletons awaiting the flesh and sinew of images’ (22 Jan 1978).

I design workshops to serve as the scaffolding to build free and open conversations. The sort that are needed to solve complex problems, make decisions and collaborate.

I want to help my clients and my blog readers nail workshop design. It’s my focus for 2021. Design is challenging for face-to-face workshops. It’s even harder for online ones.

If you take workshop design seriously as I do, please join me at my Backstage Masterclass. It kicks off on 23 February. Every Tuesday, 12pm – 1.15pm, for 4 weeks. We’ll unpack the four key areas of workshop design.

I’ve limited it to just 8 people so we can deep dive into the challenges and how to fix them. Early bird offer closes 9 February. All the details and to register, are here.

I’d love to have you there.