Creating Agendas That Keep Workshop Participants Engaged

See One. Do One. Teach One. I was watching Grey’s Anatomy (don't judge) when a line jumped out at me: “See one. Do one. Teach one.” It was Dr. Webber's mantra for medical training: observe a skill, try it yourself, then pass it on. It's also the perfect blueprint for event engagement. Most events get stuck at “see one.” Attendees listen to keynotes, sit through panels, watch demos. They see a lot, but if that’s where it ends, the knowledge fades almost instantly. The next level is “do one.” Give attendees space to try what they’ve learned, through hands-on workshops, scenario labs, role plays, or even a 10-minute exercise in the room. This helps the ideas move from theory into muscle memory. But then there's “teach one.” Create moments for attendees to share their perspective. Whether it’s a micro-discussion at their table, a peer-to-peer breakout, or a post-session “lightning share” where they explain what they learned to someone else. When people teach, they anchor the learning in their own words, and engagement skyrockets. What if designing events around this mantra could transform attendees into contributors? They stop being passive listeners and start being co-creators of the experience. Maybe that's what engagement is meant to be, after all. 

Elevate your upcoming event with these 3 simple tweaks 👇 You've got the venue locked in. You've got the catering sorted. And your agenda is set. But something's still missing. Here are three tiny shifts that make the difference between "meh" and memorable: 1. Rethink Your Room Setup Ditch the traditional classroom or theater-style seating. Create conversation pods of 4-6 people instead. This instantly transforms passive listeners into active participants. I've seen engagement levels triple with this one change. 2. Strategic Silence Build in deliberate breaks between sessions. Not just bathroom breaks-real pauses. 15-20 minutes where people can: - Process what they've learned - Connect with others - Actually check those urgent emails This prevents mental fatigue and keeps everyone sharp. 3. The Power Move Start with the end. Before your first speaker takes the stage, have everyone write down what success looks like for them. What's their one big takeaway? Then close the event by revisiting these goals. I implemented these shifts at a recent tech summit in Austin: - 85% of attendees reported making meaningful connections - Post-event survey responses doubled - Engagement scores jumped 40% The best part? None of these require extra budget. They just need intentional planning. Want to go deeper? I've got a detailed guide breaking down 12 more micro-adjustments that create major impact. DM me "EVENT SHIFTS" and I'll send it your way. Because sometimes the smallest changes create the biggest waves.

Curious about my favorite workdays? They’re when people have a voice—and even better when I can help bring their ideas to life. Last week, my partner-in-crime Kelly Kleinholz and I hosted a dream team of problem-solvers at a gorgeous resort in San Antonio. If you’re new to leadership or planning a similar offsite, here are some steps I’ve found helpful for creating a meaningful experience. These tips can also be adapted for conferences or other facilitation roles: 1) Define success. Be clear about what you want to achieve by the end of the event, and reiterate this goal to participants throughout. 2) Strategically assign seats (if needed). For us, working teams post-event meant seating arrangements that fostered trust-building and diverse perspectives. Balance thinkers and talkers where appropriate. 3) Build a progressive agenda. Start with current challenges (we let teams “air the dirty laundry” on day one), then pivot to solutions and future planning on day two. Let the past inform, not dominate. 4) Incorporate movement. Keep energy up by breaking long stretches of sitting. We rotated brainstorming tables and included team presentations to keep ideas fresh. 5) Schedule meaningful breaks. High performers juggle big responsibilities, so give ample time for checking emails and resolving urgent issues. They’ll be more present and engaged as a result. 6) Leverage sticky notes. Sticky notes are perfect for quiet voices to be heard and for voting/feedback without endless “+1” comments. 7) Teach leadership principles. While unplanned, this stood out: teams often listed everything as a priority. It was a great opportunity to coach on prioritization—a key leadership skill. Hosting a productive offsite is part art, part strategy. I’d love to hear your favorite facilitation tips, too! #cla #leadership #caas #collaboration #prioritization #sanantonio #bettertogether #CLAfamily