The Workshopping livestream series explores how to unlearn outdated tactics that limit the impact of collaborative sessions. In each 15-minute episode, coach Katy Caroan dives into a specific aspect of workshop design—ranging from preparation and facilitation to group dynamics and results. Grounded in real-world experience, the series challenges common assumptions and offers practical strategies to build trust, engagement, and follow-through. Whether you're a facilitator, participant, or sponsor, these sessions help you rethink workshops as intentional, creative, and outcome-driven experiences.

• Why unlearning outdated workshop habits leads to more meaningful results

• The importance of balancing sponsor, participant, and facilitator needs

• How personal ego and overused tools can sabotage workshop impact

• Starting with both tangible and intangible outcomes in mind

• Viewing workshops as a process, not just a one-time event 

• Invest time in stakeholder interviews to uncover both tangible and intangible expectations

• Avoid relying solely on the sponsor’s view—engage a range of participants to capture diverse insights

• Resist the urge to design the agenda too early—listen deeply before planning exercises

• Use prep work to surface past workshop challenges and tailor your approach accordingly

• Strong preparation builds early buy-in, smoother facilitation, and more aligned outcomes

• Why over-detailed agendas can create stress, limit flexibility, and reduce engagement

• How focusing on structure, not specifics, builds trust and curiosity

• The value of setting clear logistics (when to show up, when breaks happen) while keeping agenda items open

• Preparing backup plans (Plan B and C) to adapt in the moment without disrupting flow

• Creating “mystery trip” workshops where participants feel safe, guided, and outcome-focused—even without all the details

• Why unlearning outdated facilitation habits helps manage unpredictable energy and behavior

• How to handle distracted participants using movement, voice, and non-verbal presence

• Ways to re-engage disengaged or low-energy attendees through pacing, pauses, and interaction

• Strategies for dealing with disruptive behavior—including when and how to intervene or escalate

• The importance of owning the room while fostering trust, safety, and focus for everyone involved 

• Build trust by showing vulnerability, honesty, and care—before and during the workshop

• Boost engagement with clear instructions, varied activities, and check-ins (individual and group)

• Balance introverts and extroverts by designing exercises that work "together alone and together"

• Strengthen commitment by clarifying roles, capturing loose ends in a “parking lot,” and following up

• Schedule a post-workshop meeting (4–8 weeks later) to allow insights to incubate and decisions to mature 

• Rethinking introductions: make them brief, creative, or even happen before the workshop

• Overcoming assumptions: clearly explain exercises and never assume participants already understand

• Why setting the scene early builds trust and smoother collaboration throughout the day

• Ending on a high note by prioritizing reflection, journaling, and personal insights

• How intangible outcomes—like clarity and inspiration—often carry the most value

• Manage expectations around both tangible (documents, prototypes) and intangible (team dynamics, urgency, culture) outcomes

• Use interviews and prep work to clarify desired outcomes beyond deliverables

• Embrace unexpected results as opportunities—but don’t let them derail the agenda

• Use voting or parking-lot techniques to capture emerging insights without losing focus

• Build in time for individual reflection to surface deeper value and collaborative learning

• Understanding when a workshop is a poor fit versus when it creates real value

• Distinguishing workshops from traditional meetings based on goals, structure, and roles

• Recognizing the importance of a neutral facilitator and the risks of dual facilitator-expert roles

• Managing participant sentiment to reduce skepticism and build excitement about workshops

• Encouraging reflection on past experiences to reshape workshop culture and expectations