Tailoring Workshops to Audience Needs

The Week Before Your Workshop Determines Its Success … After leading more than 1,000 workshops across the world, there’s one golden rule I’ve learned: Preparation, preparation, preparation. The week before your workshop is not the time to relax — it’s the moment to make or break your success. Here’s what great preparation looks like: • Know exactly who will be in the room — their names, their roles, their personalities, and their interests. • Understand their stakes — what motivates them, what worries them, what they hope to get out of the session. • Design your flow carefully — tailor your techniques and tactics to fit the group, not just the agenda. • Practise, practise, practise — rehearse key moments, transitions, and how you’ll handle tricky situations. • Visualise success — mentally walk through the day: how will you open, how will you energise, how will you land your key messages? Even after 1,000+ workshops with the proven FORTH Innovation Method I still practise before every session I facilitate. Not because I’m nervous — but because respecting the group means showing up 100% prepared. Great workshops are not spontaneous magic. They are the result of disciplined preparation behind the scenes. The real work happens before you even enter the room. #Preparation #WorkshopFacilitation #Leadership #InnovationWorkshops #FacilitatorTips #WorkshopDesign #PracticeMakesPerfect #designthinking #innovation

We understand user’s needs, but we sometimes forget to understand our stakeholder’s needs We spend hours creating artefacts; Journey maps, research reports, polished designs But, it's easy to forget that: → People's brains work differently → Different roles need different information → Stakeholders have goals and pain points too I remember the first time I saw an ecosystem map I was in a workshop and asked for my thoughts There was no start or end point It was a web of arrows I just didn't get it I felt clueless. Plus, it came with a side of imposter syndrome. Great. We ask for feedback But, if stakeholders don't understand it: → It can be overwhelming → The value can be limited → The artefact purpose loses impact We need to make information digestible, and relevant to stakeholders Here's 3 things you can start doing👇 1️⃣ Understand your audience What do they need to know? Each role will focus on different information: KPIs vs tech constraints vs user sentiment etc. Here's what I do ↴ Tailor information and language to who it's aimed at. For example: → Presenting to execs: I'll show the high-level flow and business goals → Align on feasibility with devs: I'll use a service blueprint 2️⃣ Level the playing field Understand, and reduce people's pain points E.g ideation sessions: they're exciting for some people, but daunting for others Here's what I do ↴ Remove barriers and reduce imposter syndrome. E.g, prepare workshops with lo-fi wireframe components. This gives everyone the same starting point and enables them to focus on their ideas, rather than how it looks). Even better, suggest a variety of formats to suit their needs (write on post-its, draw on paper) 3️⃣ Communication is key Help them to understand. Don't assume people know what the purpose of the artefact is for, or why you've done something. Here's what I do: ↴ → Ditch the jargon → Give a clear starting point → Record a video to walkthrough → Add context and rationale to designs → Explain the purpose. What is and isn't covered? --- Understand stakeholders, like you understand users Uncover their needs, pain points and goals What communication works best? What's important to them? What is and isn't useful? How do they work? The better you can work with the people around you, the more impact you, and your designs will have --- PS Have you used Miro's pre-made wireframe components for ideation sessions? 


I have seen it a hundred times... A new hire, full of potential, ready to make their mark. Then, that potential gets squandered by a lack of focused training. I was working with a tech company with an incredibly talented new hire named Michael. He was exceptional with data analysis but fell flat when presenting his findings to stakeholders. His reports were dense with technical data all over the PowerPoint slides and charts, and they were so small that they were nearly unreadable. The leadership kept hurrying Michael through his presentations, seemingly uninterested in his work. Michael, clearly frustrated, confided in me, "Jay, I'm putting in all this work, but the leadership isn't using it." The culprit? A training gap. The leadership felt Michael was "not getting the job" and he was sent to training on how to use the internal systems. As an expert in his field, Michael was frustrated with having to redo remedial courses and felt like the leadership should be taking them instead. In reality, no one had equipped Michael with the skills to translate complex data into clear, actionable stories. So, we shifted his training to focus on presentation skills: 📕 Storytelling: Teaching Michael how to weave a narrative around the data, highlighting key trends and insights. 👁️🗨️ Visual Communication: Equipping him with design principles to create clear and concise charts and graphs. 🎯 Audience Awareness: Tailoring his presentations to his stakeholders' specific needs and knowledge level. The impact was immediate, and Michael's next presentation surprised the leadership team. The stakeholders were engaged, asking questions, and appreciative of the insights. Michael admitted, "I was seriously close to quitting, and if I had to do one more of those systems training, I would have!" This emphasizes the importance of offering the right training. Conducting proper needs analysis and getting to the heart of the issue saved this company from losing a talented employee. Learning is not just about teaching skills; it's about empowering individuals with the right skills to produce the needed business outcomes. Have you ever been required to attend a training that felt like a waste of time? What was that experience like for you? If you think your organization can use some help in bridging the gap between learning and performance, let's talk. #training #dataanalysis #professionaldevelopment #learninganddevelopment #communication #maketrainingmatter

As a product manager, tailoring your communication style to diverse audiences is crucial. It's like explaining different aspects of a complex machine to various stakeholders. You wouldn't delve into intricate schematics when introducing the concept to someone unfamiliar with the technology. Similarly, understanding your audience’s background, needs, and preferences is key. When speaking to engineers, dive into the technical details—they thrive on specifics. For executives, focus on the big picture and strategic impact, much like showcasing the final product to highlight its market potential. With customers, emphasize benefits and ease of use, akin to demonstrating how the machine simplifies their tasks. Effective communication is a two-way street. Pay close attention to feedback and questions from your audience. This helps gauge their understanding and shows you value their input. Active listening provides insights into their concerns and preferences, allowing you to refine your communication in real-time and build trust. In my role at an enterprise SaaS company focusing on cybersecurity and AI, adapting communication styles isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. Whether I’m discussing cutting-edge AI features with a tech-savvy team or explaining the importance of data security to a non-technical stakeholder, my goal is to ensure clarity, foster engagement, and drive alignment. This tailored approach helps create a shared understanding, making the journey towards innovation smooth and collaborative.

Ever wondered what turns a keynote speaker into a sought-after expert? It’s not just about speaking well or having a fancy title. It’s about tailoring every single presentation to resonate with the specific audience. Here’s how I’m filling my calendar with bookings and leaving audiences with tools they can use immediately. Understand the Audience → Each audience is unique. ↳ I dive deep into understanding their needs, challenges, and expectations. Customization is Key → I don’t believe in onesizefitsall presentations. ↳ Every talk is crafted specifically for the group I’m addressing. ↳ This means integrating realworld examples and scenarios that the audience can relate to. Practical AI Tools → It’s not just about talking AI. ↳ It’s about ensuring everyone leaves with practical tools they can use immediately. ↳ Whether it’s a simple automation trick or a complex AI solution, my goal is to empower. Engagement and Interaction → Audiences crave interaction. ↳ I make sure to include Q&A sessions, live demos, and handson activities. ↳ This keeps everyone engaged and ensures they’re not just passive listeners. Feedback Loop → Postsession, I engage with attendees to gather feedback. ↳ This not only helps improve future sessions but also strengthens connections. The result? A calendar full of bookings and audiences that walk away with actionable AI insights. What strategies have you found effective in engaging an audience? Share below!

In the past few months, I’ve conducted finance workshops for people from the age of 20 to 60. The biggest lesson? No two classrooms are ever the same. Over the past several months, I’ve had the privilege of conducting workshops for teams across Capital Markets, Wealth Management, and Investment Banking in India. The audience have been diverse as well, with learners ranging from fresh graduates just starting their careers to senior leaders with decades of experience. How do you explain the same financial concept to a 22 year old analyst and a 45 year old seasoned professional? It needs to solve the problem they face! That has been my biggest learning over the years! - A 22 year old Analyst wants clarity with respect to frameworks, and step by step guides to build a process of analysis - A 45 year old Wealth Manager wants an application of these concepts in direct client conversations Beyond age and experience, the regional context also matters. A workshop in Mumbai is very different from one in Chennai, and that is very different from one in Delhi. The most challenging and satisfying part of all these is tailoring these workshops across locations, age groups and clients to help them solve their core problems! At its core, training is not just slides and concepts. It is meeting people where they are, and taking them ahead! The one thing that gets reinforced in each of these is that finance concepts may be universal, but the way people learn them is very unique. Learning is deeply personal. And making that shift across programs is the biggest challenge for an educator!

HOW I'VE LEARNED TO TAILOR MY TALKS: 5 PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR BETTER ENGAGEMENT. The last thing your audience wants is to sit through a presentation full of analytics with no actionable content nuggets. The best feedback I receive is when I've taken the time to make my talk bespoke to the people in the audience. By tailoring your talk to the audience, you create a more engaging, interactive, and relevant experience. Here's how I ensure my presentations resonate with my audience: ONE ↳Ask the organiser: Find out who will be in the audience. While organisers can't share data lists, they can give you an idea of the types of businesses and individuals attending. Use this information to research and add relevant examples to your talk. TWO ↳Arrive early: Get to the event early and speak to the audience. Learn about their biggest pains and challenges related to your topic. Incorporate these insights into your presentation to make it more relatable. THREE ↳Encourage questions: Allow your audience to ask questions throughout your talk. This will make the presentation more engaging and ensure that you're addressing their specific needs and interests. FOUR ↳Q&A session: Include a dedicated Q&A session at the end of your talk. This will allow the audience to seek further clarification and help you address any lingering questions. FIVE ↳Pre-event survey: Conduct a pre-event survey with the attendees to ask about their biggest pains and challenges. Use this feedback to tailor your presentation content to their needs. And guess what? It works. Tailoring my talks has resulted in more engaged audiences and better feedback. Attendees feel that the presentation is relevant and that they're part of a collective experience. Now, every time I present, I ensure my content is bespoke to the audience, making it impactful and actionable. To anyone looking to improve their speaking engagements: Make your presentations relevant and engaging by tailoring them to your audience's needs. Connect, educate, and inspire by making your audience feel heard and valued. How do you make your presentation relevant for your audience? To your successes, Zoe. ____________ If you like this post, you will love my newsletter 💜 Join my newsletter for a FREE weekly growth strategy for speakers and thought leaders - see the first comment below to join 👇

💡 Crafting Meaningful Workshops on Critical Thinking 💡 Over the years, conducting workshops on Critical Thinking has been an incredibly enriching experience. Today, I want to share some key pointers that have helped me design impactful sessions: ✅Know Your Audience Understand who they are and what they seek. A preliminary questionnaire can work wonders in setting the tone and understanding their expectations. ✅ Set Clear Takeaways Define actionable outcomes and use real-life examples to help participants connect with the concepts. ✅ Use Visual Aids Movie clips and relatable scenarios can simplify complex ideas and make them more memorable. ✅ Keep It Simple Avoid overwhelming participants with excessive content. Clarity and focus are key to driving engagement. ✅ Encourage Interaction Interactive sessions foster meaningful engagement. Incorporating team activities and simple challenges can spark critical thinking, push participants beyond their usual perspectives, and build acceptance of diverse views without bias. Here’s why this approach works: 1️⃣ It helps participants open their minds and stretch their thinking. 2️⃣ It encourages collaboration, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding. 💡 Bonus Tip: Pairing Up with a Buddy A workplace buddy can be a game-changer! They provide ongoing support, enabling participants to share ideas, navigate challenges, and find better solutions together—even after the workshop ends. Ultimately, the goal is to inspire open-mindedness and cultivate quality thinking that participants can carry into their professional and personal lives. What strategies have you found effective in driving critical thinking or engaging audiences? Let’s exchange ideas! Dr. Neepa Choksi, Energy Healer, Personal Development Coach #personaldevelopment #criticalthinking #leadership #challenge #openmind