Interactive Skill Development Workshops

This week, I facilitated a manager workshop on how to grow and develop people and teams. One question sparked a great conversation: “How do you develop your people outside of formal programs?” It’s a great question. IMO, one of the highest leverage actions a leader can take is making small, but consistent actions to develop their people. While formal learning experiences absolutely a role, there are far more opportunities for growth outside of structured settings from an hours in the day perspective. Helping leaders recognize and embrace this is a major opportunity. I introduced the idea of Practices of Development (PODs) aka small, intentional activities integrated into everyday work that help employees build skills, flex new muscles, and increase their impact. Here are a few examples we discussed: 🌟 Paired Programming: Borrowed from software engineering, this involves pairing an employee with a peer to take on a new task—helping them ramp up quickly, cross-train, or learn by doing. 🌟 Learning Logs: Have team members track what they’re working on, learning, and questioning to encourage reflection. 🌟 Bullpen Sessions: Bring similar roles together for feedback, idea sharing, and collaborative problem-solving, where everyone both A) shares a deliverable they are working on, and B) gets feedback and suggestions for improvement 🌟 Each 1 Teach 1:  Give everyone a chance to teach one work-related skill or insight to the team. 🌟 I Do, We Do, You Do:Adapted from education, this scaffolding approach lets you model a task, then do it together, then hand it off. A simple and effective way to build confidence and skill. 🌟 Back Pocket Ideas:  During strategy/scoping work sessions, ask employees to submit ideas for initiatives tied to a customer problem or personal interest. Select the strongest ones and incorporate them into their role. These are a few examples that have worked well. If you’ve found creative ways to build development opportunities into your employees day to day work, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

There’s no question that AI is transforming the training landscape. From AI’s ability to tailor an employee’s learning journey based on their existing or required skills, learning preferences, and previous courses to virtual training that uses AI chatbots to answer employee questions and provide on-demand microlearning support, AI has opened up lots of developmental possibilities. While some speakers and trainers, understandably, are worried about being rendered irrelevant, here’s some context (and potentially good news) about what I’m seeing when it comes to skills-based communication and leadership training. Organizations are not seeking external training for purely knowledge-based issues, since AI can put together training on just about anything. Good information is not a differentiator. But with more technology comes more miscommunication. Employees may have instant access to information, but retention of that information and the emotional intelligence and ability to navigate high-stakes conversations—these are still deeply human skills and require real-time coaching and training to build. Skills-based trainers and coaches can make the most impact by using role play to help people practice the communication and aligned leadership skills for learning transfer to happen. The L&D initiatives that drive real change aren’t about knowledge acquisition—they’re about skill embodiment. And the best way to ensure that learning sticks? Live, immersive role-play training. A lot of trainers say they use role-play for skill development, but in reality, it’s often a surface-level exercise—scripted, predictable, and failing to replicate the real-world pressures of high-stakes communication. What True Role-Play Training Looks Like -Learners experience the tension and unpredictability of real conversations. -Scenarios are customized to specific challenges. -Participants get live coaching and feedback to adjust in the moment and get to retry critical communication. -There's psychological safety and trust for high-stakes practice—before it counts in real life. Role-play training isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s becoming a business imperative! As AI reshapes the learning landscape, the ability to embody skills—especially in high-stakes communication—is what sets impactful training, like what we do at Step into Your Moxie, apart. The most effective L&D initiatives aren’t just about acquiring knowledge; they’re about building the confidence and competence to use it when it matters most. How are you seeing AI impact leadership and communication training in your organization or consulting practice?

Running a workshop? Don’t just hope for engagement, design for it. It is 90% prep and 10% delivery. Here are my top tips for facilitating successful workshops: 🔍 Start with outcomes Be crystal clear on the why. What do you want people to walk away with? 💬 Design for emotion Map out how you want participants to feel before, during, and after the session. This affects everything from tone to format. 🗺️ Repeat the agenda Have timings and repeat throughout. It provides structure, helps people stay engaged and manages expectations. ⏱️ Make time visible Repeat timings on each slide and use timers to stay on track: • A digital timer on-screen (top right corner) during exercises helps participants self-manage. • A physical countdown timer with an alarm creates a clear transition cue. 📦 Timebox discussion: use ELMO Set clear boundaries for how long to spend on each topic. And when a conversation starts circling? Call out ELMO: Enough, Let’s Move On and add a note to revisit later in a Parking Lot. It keeps momentum high without cutting people off. 🤝 Keep it interactive Use group exercises and playback sessions. More voices = better thinking. Patterns often emerge in both the similarities and the differences. ✅ Recap achievements Before closing, reflect on what was accomplished. It reinforces momentum and gives people a sense of progress. ➡️ Agree next steps, with owners Clarity beats hope. Define what happens next, who owns it, and by when. Don’t leave it vague. Facilitation is a craft. Clarity, energy, and structure are your best friends. #BVSSH

Driving Success Through Positive Reskilling and Upskilling Initiatives Develop Personalized Learning Pathways Tailor learning pathways to each employee’s current skill set, career goals, and the organization’s future needs. Personalized learning experiences increase engagement and ensure that employees develop skills that are directly applicable to their roles. The World Economic Forum explains that companies implementing personalized learning pathways see a 29% increase in employee productivity and a 32% improvement in job satisfaction. Integrate Learning into the Flow of Work Make learning a seamless part of the daily workflow by incorporating microlearning modules, on-the-job training, and access to learning resources directly within employees’ work environments. This approach reduces disruption and enhances the retention of new skills. Deloitte indicates that organizations that integrate learning into the flow of work experience a 20% faster skill acquisition and a 25% higher application of learned skills. Create a Culture of Continuous Learning with Peer-Led Workshops Implement peer-led workshops where employees can share their expertise and learn from one another. This democratizes learning and builds a sense of community and collaboration. The Journal of Workplace Learning found that peer-led learning initiatives lead to a 26% increase in employee engagement and a 22% improvement in knowledge retention. Leverage AI and Data Analytics for Skills Gap Analysis Use AI and data analytics to identify current skills gaps and predict future skills needs based on industry trends and organizational goals. According to McKinsey & Company, organizations using AI-driven skills gap analysis are 31% more likely to achieve their reskilling objectives and maintain a competitive edge. Incorporate Gamification and Interactive Learning Tools Badges, leaderboards, and interactive simulations can make learning more engaging and effective, particularly for complex or technical skills. A study by the International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education found that gamified learning environments lead to a 35% increase in learner motivation and a 28% improvement in skill mastery. #Reskilling #Upskilling #LearningAndDevelopment #WorkforceTransformation #PositiveInterventions World Economic Forum. (2022). The Impact of Personalized Learning Pathways on Employee Productivity and Satisfaction. Deloitte. (2021). Integrating Learning into the Flow of Work for Faster Skill Acquisition. Journal of Workplace Learning. (2020). Peer-Led Workshops and Their Role in Fostering Continuous Learning. McKinsey & Company. (2023). AI-Driven Skills Gap Analysis: A Strategic Approach to Reskilling. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. (2021). The Effectiveness of Gamification in Learning Environments.

Learners engage better when they’re not just passive recipients of information. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲: 🔴 Learners will quickly tune out and forget key concepts. 🔴 There’s no connection between the content and how learners will actually use it. Instead, make your training 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴-𝘰𝘯. 1️⃣ Scenario-based learning Create real-world scenarios that challenge learners to think critically and make decisions. Example: 𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘣. 2️⃣ Hands-on practice Give learners the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned through practice exercises and tasks. Example: 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘴. 3️⃣ Group discussions Foster collaboration and deeper learning by encouraging group conversations. Let learners share their experiences and insights in a structured way. Example: 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 4️⃣ Branching scenarios Let learners make choices and see the consequences of their decisions. This helps them see the impact of their actions in a safe, controlled environment. 5️⃣ Reflection questions Encourage personal connection by asking learners to reflect on how the content applies to their own experiences. Example: "𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦?" 6️⃣ Simulations Replicate real-world tasks so learners can practice in a risk-free environment. Simulations allow learners to learn by doing without the consequences of mistakes. 7️⃣ Role play Get learners actively involved by having them step into different roles and practice their responses. Example: 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘱𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳. 8️⃣ Practice exercises Reinforce knowledge through repetition. Provide exercises that help learners practice and retain what they’ve learned. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒐𝒇? ----------------------- 👋 Hi! I'm Elizabeth! ♻️ Repost and share if you found this post helpful. 👆 Follow me for more tips! 🤝 Reach out if you're looking for a high-quality learning solution designed to change the behavior of the learner to meet the needs of your organization. #InstructionalDesign #LearningAndDevelopment #TrainingTips #InteractiveLearning #BehaviorChange

💥 😱 Training is fundamentally broken. Think about it: We spend HOURS listening to lectures, reading books, or watching videos… only to retain almost nothing. The result? Knowledge that fades faster than yesterday’s to-do list. Why? Because passive learning is a trap. We consume knowledge, but we never truly retain it. The solution? 💡 Shift from PASSIVE to ACTIVE learning. This is where the Learning Pyramid comes in. 🔺 What is the Learning Pyramid? It’s a simple, science-backed model that shows how we retain information. And here’s the spoiler: 👉 The secret to learning isn’t listening. It’s DOING. Here’s how it breaks down: 👀 At the top: Passive methods like lectures, reading, and watching videos. 💪 At the bottom: Active methods like practice, group discussions, and teaching others. The difference? 💡 Passive methods = Knowledge INPUT. 💥 Active methods = Knowledge OUTPUT. And guess what? 👉 The magic happens in the output. Imagine this: Instead of your team passively sitting through a 60-minute presentation (retention: 5%)… 💥 They teach the same content to others (retention: 90%). That’s not just a small shift. That’s a GAME. CHANGER. 🤩🤩🤩 SO… how do you level up your learning experiences starting today? 💥 Here’s the powerful truth: The best way to learn something is to teach it. If you’re running a team workshop, client training, or even a simple meeting – make it INTERACTIVE! 😀 Here are 5 easy tools to boost engagement and retention immediately: 1️⃣ Breakout Rooms Don’t let participants sit passively. 💬 Break them into small groups to discuss key topics and collaborate in real-time. Easy to do with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet. 2️⃣ Online Whiteboards (Figma, Miro, Mural) Learning doesn’t just happen through words. Let people sketch, brainstorm, and visually build ideas together during sessions. It taps into visual + active learning modes! 3️⃣ Quizzes & Polls People LOVE immediate feedback. Tools like Slido or Kahoot! make it easy to add live polls and quizzes during your sessions. 4️⃣ Peer Teaching Exercises Want someone to REALLY learn something? 💡 Ask them to teach it to someone else. Teaching forces them to organize their thoughts and solidify their understanding. 5️⃣ Interactive Demos Forget slide decks. SHOW people how something works, then let them try it themselves. The difference? 👀 Passive watching vs. 💪 Active doing. 🔥 Here’s the challenge: If you want your team (or clients) to actually retain what you’re teaching… 👉 Make them do the work. ❌ Stop talking AT them. ✅ Start collaborating WITH them. Because retention doesn’t come from listening. It comes from ACTION. ///// ///// ///// ///// ///// 👋🏻Hi, I’m Andy! Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow me for more. Want to build the future of architecture with me? Let’s start a conversation today. 🌟 #Architecture #Collaboration #Innovation #Leadership #slantisVibes

💡 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

Workshops are a game-changer in UX. They make insights actionable, drive alignment, and help teams collaborate in real time. Instead of a 50-page report that no one reads, workshops get buy-in, problem-solving, and decision-making done faster. Here are five UX workshop methods, plus when (and when NOT) to use them: 1. Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ) A structured, time-boxed way to identify problems, prioritize solutions, and align on next steps—fast. Use it when: • You need to move from problems to decisions quickly. • Stakeholders struggle with alignment or prioritization. • There’s no time for lengthy discussions, but a decision is needed. Avoid it when: • You need deep exploration of a problem (LDJ is fast, not in-depth). • The team isn’t aligned on the actual problem yet—discovery first! 2. Crazy 8s A sketching exercise where participants generate 8 ideas in 8 minutes—great for breaking creative blocks. Use it when: • You want to push past the obvious solutions. • The team needs quick, diverse ideas before refining further. • A fresh perspective is needed for an existing problem. Avoid it when: • You need structured, research-backed solutions (this is purely idea generation). • The team isn’t comfortable sketching—consider an alternative ideation exercise. 3. Affinity mapping Group and categorize ideas or research findings to spot patterns and key themes. Use it when: • You have a large set of qualitative data that needs to be structured. • You need the team to align on key insights from research. • You want to synthesize user feedback collaboratively. Avoid it when: • The data set is too small—no need to map what’s already clear. • The group prefers data-driven prioritization over qualitative grouping. 4. Impact-Effort Matrix Prioritize initiatives by mapping them based on impact vs. effort. Use it when: • The team has too many ideas and needs a clear priority order. • You need to balance quick wins vs. long-term investments. • There’s limited capacity and you need to focus on high-impact work. Avoid it when: • The problem is still undefined—define before prioritizing. • There’s no clarity on effort estimates, making placement inaccurate. 5. Diverge & Converge Alternating between individual brainstorming and group refinement to prevent groupthink while encouraging collaboration. Use it when: • You need both deep thinking and team alignment. • Some people need quiet time to process before sharing (neurodivergent-friendly!). • The team struggles with groupthink or dominant voices in discussions. Avoid it when: • The workshop is already time-constrained—this method needs breathing room. • The problem is highly technical, requiring expertise over broad ideation. So, whats your favorite? UXR Study

– Imagine Gen AI workshops where association staff and volunteers don’t just learn—they transform how they work, engage, and lead. – These interactive sessions empower teams to use AI tools for real challenges, from automating admin tasks to personalizing member experiences. – Unlike passive seminars, workshops spark a mindset shift, turning AI from an abstract concept into a practical ally in achieving mission-critical goals. – Hands-on training tailored to association roles helps participants build real skills while aligning with organizational priorities. – Gen AI workshops aren’t just about technology—they’re about innovation, culture change, and elevating the impact of associations in their industries. How are you preparing your team to use Gen AI in meaningful, hands-on ways?