By Chelsea Keighley
As a Fractional Consultant, delivering workshops is a key part of your role in sharing expertise and fostering meaningful discussions. But what happens after the workshop concludes? How can you ensure that your efforts are making a lasting impact on your audience? In a recent discussion within the Fractional Consultant Community, one member, Ann Storr, posed a question that many consultants grapple with: How can you wrap up a workshop in a way that encourages feedback and reflection?
Asking the Right Questions and Going Beyond Surface-level
Emma Westley, fractional CMO, offered a brilliant approach. For workshops, she suggests starting with introductions and understanding participants' expectations at the beginning. Then, at the close of the workshop, “you can loop back by asking what each person is taking away as their one big learning and if they found the session useful. You can then use that in your final wrap-up to close”. This technique, circling back by asking each participant what their main takeaway is and whether they found the session valuable, not only fosters engagement but also provides a structured way to conclude the workshop with insights from the attendees themselves.
Emma's suggestion allows her to take the feedback process a step deeper. By revisiting participants' hopes and fears at the end of the session, she can gauge whether the workshop addressed their concerns and met their expectations. This iterative feedback loop adds a layer of depth to the feedback process, ensuring that the session's impact is accurately captured.
Honest and Anonymous Feedback
Mark Batty, fractional CTO, proposed arranging for “honest and anonymous feedback about various aspects” of the workshop, such as content, delivery, and overall experience. This approach can help participants feel more comfortable expressing their thoughts candidly, leading to more constructive feedback. This feedback can then serve as a valuable tool for refining your workshop techniques and content for future sessions.
The Power of Personal Follow-ups
Fergus Doyle, consultant CTO, shared his perspective on post-workshop interactions. He highlighted “If you've been speaking with people in the group already then I've found following up one-on-one effective”, he goes on to recommending utilising channels such as Slack or email for this purpose. This personalised approach shows your commitment to their growth and provides an opportunity for them to share their thoughts in a more private setting. However, Fergus also noted that this approach might be less effective if it's the first time you're meeting the participants.
Conclusion
As a Fractional Consultant, the workshop experience doesn't end when you walk out of the room. Collecting feedback is a vital step in your continuous improvement journey. By incorporating these insights from the Fractional Consultant Community, you can wrap up your workshops in a way that encourages reflection, fosters engagement, and garners honest insights. This commitment to enhancing your workshops will not only benefit your clients but also elevate your expertise and reputation within the consulting landscape.