Sally Thompson faced a common challenge: designing her company’s first breakfast seminar. With a set start and finish time, and a list of presentations, she wondered how to structure the event for maximum impact. A key principle to remember is the ‘one-third’ rule: dedicate equal time to listening, discussing, and doing. This means for every hour, you only need a detailed script for twenty minutes.
If you’re using a PowerPoint presentation, aim for a pace of one slide every three minutes. Around seven slides, each with no more than seven bullet points, should fill a one-hour segment. This is a guideline, but it helps to break down the task and reduce anxiety. Delegates generally appreciate standard product literature and printed slides with space for notes.
If presentation writing isn’t your strength, consider hiring a creative writer experienced in crafting engaging presentations.
Workshops require interactive activities to put theory into practice. Paperwork exercises related to the subject matter are a good start. Consider incorporating abstract exercises to evoke emotion and stress. Observing spontaneous language and behavior can highlight key points in areas like teamwork, customer service, or leadership. These exercises often involve large-scale puzzles or obstacle courses using props rented from corporate entertainment suppliers.
One such puzzle, inspired by the parlor game ‘Chinese Crackers,’ stimulates discussions around organization, motivation, and teamwork. A stack of seven cushions of varying sizes must be rebuilt in a different corner of the room, with a third corner for temporary storage. The rules are simple: only smaller cushions can be placed on larger ones, and only one cushion can be moved at a time.
This seemingly straightforward task can quickly turn into chaos as participants abandon planning and positive thinking in their rush to beat the clock. The solution isn’t complex but requires identifying a pattern and sticking to it.
Applying this structured approach, Sally realized her initial plan was too ambitious. She transformed a single breakfast seminar into a series of weekly breakfast workshops. These workshops provided delegates with substantial content for discussion while leaving them wanting more.