Workshops are serious business. Businesses love hosting workshops just to be able to say they provide continuing education. Speakers across the nation have jumped on the workshop bandwagon trying to become the next great guru.
Anyone with valuable information or notable skills should run a successful workshop. You should because, even though workshops are sprouting up all over the place, there still aren't enough to accommodate everyone. But in order for you to conduct a successful workshop that means something to you, you have to avoid a few mistakes others make.
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Avoid Mixed Signals
If you conduct a certain workshop, it should fit your profile. You can't tell men about being loyal to women if you cheat. You can't conduct inspiring workshops if you are depressed. You shouldn't lead people to believe that you are a millionaire and you can help them make that much money if you're leaving the workshop in your rusty van.
You have to believe what you are conducting the workshop about. My art workshops are about my ability to do art and to teach art. Anyone can learn how to do art and I instill that lesson into everyone I meet. I don't parade to know something I don't. I believe in my workshop and it is very much a part of my life.
Either Know It All or Don't Be A Know-It-All
There is so much to know about any topic that it would literally be impossible to know everything about it. But, some speakers try to come across as if they know all the answers. Some speakers like Anthony Robbins or Dr. Phil might have all the answers about their topic. But, most of us won't. And it's ok.
If you don't know something about your topic, don't be afraid to let your audience know. That moment would normally come at the question and answer time. One of your audience members might ask a question that even you don't know. For my art workshops, I have the opportunity to have my audience members back. So, I normally address a question I can't answer with a statement that I don't know, I'll look it up and get back to them about it the next time I see them.
It's much more credible because most people can see right through a person who is making up an answer as they go along. Most people understand that no one person can know everything about any one topic. And how you handle their question is not a brush off that implies that they should look up the answer themselves. You are willing to go the extra step and find out by the next time you meet with them.
Have Passion
A speaker who doesn't have passion for their own subject matter is a lousy speaker. No matter how much you know, no matter how much you put on, your audience will see through you soon enough. I walked into a hallway at a seminar and overheard one of the speakers saying, "They are so stupid. I can't stand how dense they are. I ask a question and everyone just sits there like a lump on a log."
I can understand the frustration. But if the passion isn't there, don't expect the audience to do your job. And if you don't care about your audience, so much so that you feel the need to put them down, maybe they saw through you. Maybe they saw that you didn't care that much about them, so they didn't show you any respect either.
Three simple things you need to remember to gain your audience's attention and to keep it. Avoid sending mixed signals, don't act like you know it all and have passion. The world is full of fakes. The world has seen its share of fakes. Be for real and you'll stand out in a heartbeat.
Being Real: Successful Workshop Tips Kids Workshop
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