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Delivery Matters

Stories behind workshop plans,
sticky notes and markers.

Author: James Smart - page 2

33 active learning activities and strategies for engaging learners

Active learning strategies can turn passive, unengaging material into memorable learning experiences. When trainees and students are enlisted in their own learning the results can be transformative, but what instructional methods are most effective? In this guide, we'll explore experiential learning techniques you can use to improve student engagement and improve knowledge retention too. Whether you're a trainer, teacher or facilitator, you'll find proven activities to improve the participant experience. What is active learning? Active learning is an educational approach that seeks to engage participants directly in the learning process. Rather than learning passively, like listening to a lecture, learners actively engage in their own learning, often through group discussions,…

14 impactful leadership training topics for effective leaders

Leaders are responsible not only for achieving business results but also for guiding, inspiring, and supporting their teams. However, great leadership doesn’t happen by chance—it requires continuous learning and development. Investing in leadership training ensures that managers and executives develop the skills needed to navigate challenges, drive innovation, and lead with empathy. Below, we explore the most essential leadership training topics, explaining why they matter, how they contribute to business success, and what to consider when facilitating these sessions. What is leadership training? Leadership training is a structured learning process designed to develop and refine the skills necessary for effective leadership. Leadership training can come in formats ranging from bespoke…

20 fun games to play on Zoom (that won’t annoy your team)

We spend a lot of our working lives in Zoom meetings. For many of us working remotely, these are a great opportunity to get things done, but can they also be an opportunity for fun and connection? In this collection of the best games to play on Zoom, you'll find a selection of fun games that can be used to engage your group and feel closer, no matter how far apart you are. You'll find tips to help you run every Zoom game alongside a link to the SessionLab library with complete instructions and additional materials. Let's dive in! What are Zoom games and how to choose them? In our…

32 engaging ice breakers for virtual meetings (that won’t bore your team!)

Virtual icebreakers can be an effective method of kicking off a project, onboarding a new team member or enlivening your team meetings. Choose the right method and you can get your meeting off to an energizing start that encourages participation and builds connections. Get it wrong and risk being met with groaning team members or indifference. In this post, we'll share some proven virtual icebreaker games used by real facilitators and help you find the right method for your virtual team. Whether you need a short activity to kick off a conference call or to help onboard new team members without making things awkward, we have you covered! When teams start…

Three women in a corporate team building activity

29 corporate team building activities for high-performing teams

Every team is made up of individuals, all of whom have different ways of thinking, working and relating to one another. In a corporate setting, it's especially vital to build bonds between team members and develop the skills needed to perform well under pressure. Corporate team building activities like those we've collected below are proven methods for creating stronger, high-performing teams while also having fun, memorable experiences.In this post, you'll find activities designed to improve communication skills, engage small teams and big ones alike and generally improve team dynamics. Let's dive in. Why is team building important in a corporate setting? Team building isn’t just about breaking the ice or…

People sat in a circle playing a team building game.

Top 21 5-minute team building activities for instant engagement

Want to encourage connection between team members but never seem to have enough time? 5-minute team building activities are an effective way to improve team cohesion, deepen connections and create energy quickly! In this post, we'll share some of the best team building activities you can run with zero-prep and with in-person and remote teams alike. You'll find tried and tested activities used by experienced facilitators and team leaders alongside instructions for using them. Let's take a look. Why run 5-minute team building activities? As Forbes notes, team building is one of the best investments you can make in your team. Five minutes isn't a long time. So is it…

What is a workshop and why should you run one?

Workshops are more than just interactive meetings. They're a space for groups to come together around a shared goal, collaborate effectively and solve complex problems. If you're wondering what a workshop is, how they differ from training or meetings, or just want to start running them, you're in the right place! A great workshop can create innovation, connection and transformation for both companies and individuals. In this article, we'll explore what workshops are, what benefits you can expect, and also show you some workshop examples that you can use for inspiration when working with your team. What is a workshop? A workshop is a structured and interactive session designed to…

Facilitator running a leadership workshop with her team.

How to conduct an effective leadership workshop

Great teams are built on a foundation of great leaders. But how do leaders grow and develop the skills necessary to help their teams do great work and collaborate with purpose? Structured training programs and leadership skills workshops can help provide dedicated space for your leaders to level-up and grow in a collaborative format. In this guide, we'll explore why your team should invest in the growth of your leaders and share practical advice for how to facilitate an effective leadership workshop. Let's dive in! What is a leadership workshop? A leadership workshop is a collaborative session where new and existing leaders develop the skills needed to be effective leaders…

Group discussing ideas during an ideation workshop

How to run an engaging ideation workshop

Want to know a secret about ideation? Coming up with ideas is easy. But what separates a good idea from a great solution is collaboration, refinement and strategic thinking. Enter the ideation workshop: a proven format for generating new ideas and turning them into effective solutions. In this guide, we'll share an effective ideation workshop structure and a heap of tips for running an effective ideation process, whether you're trying to solve problems for users or simply need to create innovation in any context. What is an ideation workshop? An ideation workshop is a structured process for brainstorming innovative ideas and refining them into effective solutions. For me, an ideation…

20 impactful workshop ideas for your next event

Workshops are a powerful, dynamic format for getting stuff done as a group. Whether you're a manager working on skills development or a creative professional building space for innovation and fun, a workshop is one of the most effective ways to accomplish a shared goal. But how to choose the right workshop format to use and how to make the most of time spent together as a team? In this blog post, we'll share workshop ideas ranging from corporate sessions you can use to make an impact in the workplace all the way through to creative activities you can use to engage participants at any workshop event. When should I…

What to keep in mind when hiring a facilitator

When a group faces tough challenges, effective facilitation can help create space for inclusive and engaging change. But when should you consider bringing in a professional facilitator to host a workshop or event? How can you ensure it's a worthwhile investment of your time and money? In this guide, we'll explore what to keep in mind when choosing to hire a facilitator, what to expect from them, and give you some idea of the cost of a facilitator's services too! Understanding the role of a facilitator Before diving into the specifics of hiring, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of what a facilitator does and how they'll be able…

What is facilitation? Definition and principles

Facilitation is a powerful skillset that helps improve collaboration, generates results and improves group dynamics. But what does it truly mean to facilitate and approach situations like a skilled facilitator? How can managers, leaders and anyone running meetings and workshops learn to bring a facilitative approach to their work? In this post, we'll share a definition of facilitation before exploring the key principles of facilitation you can use to embody the approach successfully, whether you're looking to have more effective meetings, handle conflict and do more productive group work. Below, we'll explore the meaning of facilitation in simple terms while also giving you a better sense of the core principles…

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