Workshops are often seen as the solution to a problem.
We need a new strategy, a different approach to our work, or buy-in for a project – ‘let’s hold a workshop!’
And workshops can be brilliant. They create space to think, to connect, to step out of the day-to-day and focus on what matters. When they work well, the room feels energised and ideas are flowing, people are engaged, and there’s a real sense that something important has happened.
But if nothing changes afterwards, then no matter how good the day felt, regardless of the great ideas and good conversations, at best its fallen short and at worst its been a big waste of time.
Groundhog day
I often hear this when I start working with a new team:
‘We’ve talked about this before.’ ‘We’ve been here before and nothing changed.’ ‘We discussed this at the away day last year.’ (Last year!? There’s a whole blog here about staying ahead of change – I’ll save that for another time)
There’s usually a bit of eye-rolling when these things are said, and underneath that there’s a sting of disappointment and frustration.
Because people remember what it felt like to be in the room last time. The energy, the ideas, the sense that something might shift.
And then they went back to their desks and disappeared into the weeds as the day job took over.
Nothing changed, no actions or decisions were followed through and over time, that starts to damage trust.
This is where accountability comes in
A workshop that results in no change is a waste of time, energy and resource. To help prevent this I make sure that actions and accountability are built into the design of the workshop. I ensure that there is time and space for people to reflect, to be clear on what matters, and to decide what they are actually going to do differently.
It means being explicit about priorities and asking what people are going to stop doing to make space for the new actions. Because if nothing comes off the list, it’s unrealistic to expect anything new to get done.
Build accountability into your workshops
Depending on the client brief ,I ask workshop participants to do one or more of the following.
- Write actions down (with first next steps and a deadline).
- Share actions with someone else (and sometimes the whole group).
- Pair up as accountability buddies and agree when to check in – with a date in the diary
- Capture actions in a shared document that feeds into one-to-one conversations and objectives.
- Write a postcard of their actions that I send back a week later as a nudge.
- Write a letter to their future self, reflecting on the actions they have taken and the impact they have made.
None of this is complicated. But it all makes a difference because we are far more likely to follow through on something we have committed to visibly.
Leadership is the difference between action and inaction
Accountability is more than just deliberate workshop design. It’s about good leadership. Leaders set the conditions for what happens next. For example, clearing the path so people have the time to take action, setting clear expectations about what needs to move forward, helping people prioritise and stop doing things that are no longer priority as well as following up, asking about progress, and leading by example.
Without leadership, even the best workshop will struggle to make real impact.
This is also why I always build in a follow-up call as part of my workshop facilitation package.
A debrief to reflect on how the workshop worked, but more importantly to look at how actions are going to be embedded back into the organisation and what support might be needed to keep momentum going.
Because the workshop itself is just one moment. What happens afterwards is what makes the difference.
So when you’re planning your next workshop, it’s worth asking not just what you want to talk about, but what needs to be different afterwards – and how you are going to make sure that actually happens.
If you’d like support in designing and delivering a workshop that leads to real action, not just a good conversation, I can help. Get in touch lucy@lucidity.org.uk.