Workshop sessions are best held in a different format to meetings and the layout of the room can play a huge part in how productive a workshop is and how much participants get involved.
Arrange Tables in a U-Shape or Clusters
A U shape is very good as everyone can see each other and the facilitator can move into the middle. A cluster of 4-6 people working as their normal teams for most of the time in the session, can work well around tables set up in a cluster.
Leave Floor Space for Breakout Work
Workshops also have the occasional occasion where people stand around, move around, scatter papers, make notes, etc. Don’t waste room capacity by filling every available chair. Push tables to the perimeter of the room and make a clear circle in the middle of the room for those break out activities.
Use Wall Space for Collaborative Display
The walls in a meeting room are a blank canvas – so make use of them in your workshops. Write on surfaces, pin up notes on pinboards or draw on large sheets of paper stuck to the wall. This will enable groups to map out their ideas visually, which research into the most effective meeting and workshop designs has found to increase participation.
Match Room Size to Your Headcount
A room designed for thirty people is not going to be much fun with just eight of you attending workshops. When booking Meeting Rooms Stroud make sure you find out the workshop capacity of the room and not the theatre or boardroom capacity as this is generally a lot higher.
Plan the Flow Between Group and Plenary Work
Consider how easily you can switch from cluster work to a whole group debrief. Lightweight stackable chairs and moveable tables enable you to make this transition quickly and easily without losing too much time to set up.
A good room layout for a workshop is free – and can make all the difference between an effective workshop and a flat one.
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