Attending workshops is a great way to learn new skills as a team. After all, workshops are made to train people in certain abilities through a well-crafted curriculum specifically designed to do so. Venues are also meticulously chosen to provide an effective learning and working environment.
Yet it’s so easy for us to forget the things we learn from the workshop. Despite the handouts, keynotes, and other reference materials we take away from workshops, it’s still hard for us to implement the things that we went there to learn in the first place.
It’s completely normal, but it’s also something we should try to avoid. After all, workshops are platforms for learning, so we should take as much information as we can when we leave.
Here are a couple of tips on how to avoid workshop amnesia:
1. Come to the workshop with goals in mind.
Having goals in mind when attending a workshop is a great way to relate the sessions to your projects. What problem do you think the workshop can answer or solve? What skills do you need that might be provided by the workshop? Thoughts like these help you solidify a connection between the workshop and your actual work, making it easier to recall the things you’ve just learned.
2. Always try to relate the workshop to your company.
Keeping your work in mind during workshops is also an effective way to come up with ways to apply the things they teach in sessions to your processes. It also becomes easier to remember the sessions once you’ve linked them to your business, which in turn makes it easier to apply.
3. Think about how you’re going to teach your team.
Another effective method for avoiding workshop amnesia is to think about how you would be teaching it to your team. Not only does this increase relevance of the workshop itself, but you can also tailor your teaching method to the needs of your team.
4. Read more about the topics afterward.
Attending a class or workshop is great, but the learning shouldn’t stop there. Try to find articles or videos about the topic online. Look for case studies and forums and really learn about the topic. Workshops are an awesome entry point, but it’s always better to follow that up with constant and additive information.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
The instructors roles are to guide the attendees in understanding the subject matter, so don’t be afraid to ask questions when you don’t quite understand. You can send the instructors an email or send them a message on social media. It’s not only tolerated, but encouraged!
In the end though, it’s all about making the most out of your workshop experience. Only you know how your learnings could be applied into your team and processes, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find the best fit.
Ready to attend a workshop? Learn more about our August workshops or avail our free one hour consultation.