If your team is ready to create something extraordinary in an environment where creativity and inclusivity drive impactful results, I invite you to explore more at Pinion Pathways.
As I near the completion of a project with an incredible consulting client, I’m deep in the design of our final workshop. Reflecting on the process, I realize my approach to creating meaningful workshops mirrors how I paint—a passion of mine that brings artistry and strategic insight into perfect harmony. This blend of creativity and structure fuels my love for this work. Here’s how my workshop methodology aligns with my approach to painting, leading to impactful, transformative experiences.
1. Start with a Sketch
Just as a painting begins with a rough outline, each project starts with a broad vision of the desired outcomes. This initial “sketch” doesn’t require every detail; it’s about having a direction and understanding that specifics will evolve. By laying down a framework that can grow organically, we create space for discovery, collaboration, and continuous refinement.
2. Frame the Canvas
Every artist knows the importance of defining the boundaries. In workshop design, I set clear guardrails and scope to focus our efforts and prevent the conversation from straying too far off course. These parameters give the team clarity and structure, helping us work effectively within defined limits while keeping our goals firmly in sight.
3. Prep the Background
In painting, the background establishes the tone and mood. Similarly, the environment I create for a workshop is crafted with intention: fostering collaboration, curiosity, creativity, and candor. It’s about establishing a setting where participants feel safe, open, and energized to share insights and contribute to the collective vision.
4. Brush Strokes and Layers
A workshop, like a painting, is built in layers. Each agenda item, discussion point, and activity adds depth, guiding the team toward the end goal. Key milestones and checkpoints maintain momentum and provide structure, just as brushstrokes and layers build a canvas into a cohesive piece.
5. Control the Flow
In art, controlling flow involves balancing fluidity with structure, sometimes letting the paint move organically, other times using tools to control drying. Workshop facilitation requires a similar balance—free-flowing discussions are essential but need to be anchored with time management to keep the day progressing purposefully.
6. Draw from the Palette
Effective workshops blend new ideas with established methods. Inspiration can come from anywhere: past projects, industry insights, research, or even a casual conversation. Like mixing colors on a palette, these varied inputs bring richness to the process, allowing the team to draw from a wealth of perspectives.
7. Find Balance in the Composition
A workshop, like any art piece, thrives on balance. Here, the 80:20 rule guides us: 20% structured activities, 80% organic exploration. This creates a dynamic environment where creativity can flourish within a defined framework. My role is to guide the team, helping them build their collective “masterpiece” while maintaining focus on the objectives.
8. Refine the Details
In both art and workshops, the magic happens in the details. Synthesizing diverse viewpoints into a cohesive result while preserving each person’s unique input is a powerful moment in the process. When participants see their contributions reflected in the final outcomes, buy-in and ownership naturally follow.
Creating solutions with clients is a privilege—helping teams unlock their collective creativity, knowledge, and passion. Like transforming a blank canvas into a meaningful work of art, these experiences are impactful when they embrace creativity, inclusion, and intentional design.