The Fun Before the Focus: How Warm-Ups Can Make Your Workshop Shine
The Fun Before the Focus: How Warm-Ups Can Make Your Workshop Shine
You and I both know a good warm-up gets the energy flowing. Here's the best way to kick off your session, whether your group is feeling serious, silly, or somewhere in between.
As an athlete, I like to do warm-ups because that is a fun part of training before getting into the core of the workout. (Workouts are fun, too, but it require more effort)
Warm-ups could be fun and an excellent way to start strong.
Similarly, facilitating warm-ups helps participants get into the zone for the following main exercise.
The key to an effective warm-up is choosing an activity that is relevant to the exercise, whether it's brainstorming, visioning, or a more left-brain activity. This activity empowers your participants for what is coming next.
One crucial warm-up is the ice-melter at the start of any workshop. It helps you start strong and set the tone for the day.
However, something I ignored in planning this part of the workshop experience was the participant’s context (until a colleague brought it up.)
So, today, I’m sharing how he does it. Thanks Jack Ken for this insight.
Do they know each other? Are they a team, strangers, or friends?
Do they lean more into the seriousness scale, the playful or the silly end?
Is the workshop held in person or virtually?
Once you've gathered your answers, it's time to map them visually.
Here is how to use the answers to help you select a more appropriate warm-up.
Draw a two-by-two matrix.
Label the vertical axis with "Teams" at the top and "Strangers" at the bottom.
Label the horizontal axis with "Serious" on the left and "Silly" on the right.
Now, fill each quadrant with sticky notes listing possible warm-up activities that align with the participants' familiarity and level of playfulness.
After filling in your matrix, review the options in each quadrant. Consider the energy of the room and the needs of your participants.
Once you've selected the warm-up that feels like the best fit, introduce it to the group and get started!
Remember, a well-chosen warm-up can set the tone for a productive and engaging session. Whether the group comprises strangers or long-time teammates, and whether they lean toward the serious or the silly, the suitable activity will help everyone feel more comfortable and ready to collaborate.