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How to Organizea Doug Lipman Coaching Workshop
What, How, and Then What?:
Here are some suggestions for dealing with the details of organizing a storytelling coaching workshop--while keeping it a pleasure for you. You may also be interested in Doug Lipman's workshops in general, his coaching services in general, or in his publications about coaching:
These suggestions are based on the experiences of past workshop organizers--but your situation may require different procedures. Use your judgement! And if you need help, call Doug and ask! When? How to schedule the workshop You'll choose the dates for your workshop in consultation with Doug. Of course, you'll take into consideration:
How many days? First, decide on a format. If you choose any format except a small-group mini-workshop, you'll have to decide how many days you would like it to last: from less than one day to three, four, or more days. Most multi-day workshops last either three days (e.g., a weekend) or four days (e.g., a long weekend). Each has its advantages and disadvantages. (Doug is willing to give longer workshops, too.) Three-day workshops are cheaper, and require less time commitment from potential participants. Somewhat reluctant participants may be more willing to try a shorter workshop. Four-day workshops, on the other hand, give more than just 33% more benefit: the extra day allows people to take much larger risks, and to grow correspondingly more as storytellers. At the same time, the extra day is the cheapest, since the travel and publicity costs are fixed. How Long a Day? Doug is willing to coach people almost as many hours as they are willing to be coached. The minimum schedule for an eight-person coaching workshop is eight hours per day--excluding meals. If the day is any shorter, Doug can't guarantee to give everyone a turn. Doug is willing to coach more than eight hours a day, however, and even prefers nine hours. (If the workshop goes through the evening hours, Doug needs a "nap break" in the afternoon.) Evening hours allow more coaching time, as well as time for telling of stories by Doug or by participants. The first day of the workshop can start in the morning, the afternoon, or the evening (Doug's fee is the same, regardless). An evening start can allow participants to begin on a work day. (Even if the first day is short, it's still worth doing, because it allows participants to begin the second day with a sense of what the workshop will be like, and therefore with increased trust.) Choose a schedule that fits the needs of your group:
How to get people to come The most successful coaching workshops are the ones that most meet the needs of you, the organizer. One way to think of who to invite is to ask yourself these questions:
Making Personal Contact Once you have answered the questions about who you wish would come, it's time to start calling or talking in person to the people you want. Personal contact has two big advantages:
"I hope to have Doug Lipman come and coach me and other people in our community. I'm inviting the people I want to have on my team of storytelling allies (or: as potential rehearsal buddies, etc.). You were one of the people I thought of first. Would you be interested in knowing more?"It's usually more effective for all involved if you take some time to ask people what their needs are as storytellers. You can model supportive listening as they describe both their successes and their "stuck" places. Over the years, Doug has helped storytellers with nearly every possible issue. But don't hesitate to ask Doug if a particular storyteller's issue is one that Doug feels competent to help with. In some cases, it will make sense for you to relay some of Doug's thoughts about a particular issue. This might even help the particular storyteller understand what use this workshop might be.
Beyond Your Existing Contacts In many cases, you won't even need a flier, since you'll be talking to people you personally want to invite. Sometimes, however, it makes sense to use the workshop as an opportunity to reach out to people you wouldn't otherwise have a chance to meet, or might not know well enough to include on your list of "good bets." In this case, it may help to do some or all of the following:
If you decide you want a flier, by the way, Doug will send you a master copy, which you can duplicate. When using such "broadcast" approaches, you will still usually want to make personal contact with the people you already know, including those who might be able to pass the word along at various events, such as:
Building on initial interest Once someone shows an interest in the workshop, it's time to devote some attention to this person. It might make sense to:
If someone states a firm intention to attend, consider asking them for a deposit. Acting on a commitment can often strengthen it! Setting the fee One part of getting people to come is deciding on an appropriate fee. A brief talk with Doug will sort this out quickly. In this talk you'll discuss:
Then What? Once They've Agreed to Come When you get a deposit from someone, send a letter of confirmation, even if he or she gave you the deposit in person. This letter spells out the deposit policy, the exact dates, etc. It also puts the entire experience on a more professional level. Any misunderstandings avoided now will avert later crises. When you get final payments (or earlier, if you're not collecting final payments until the workshop begins), send people these things:
Then get ready to enjoy the workshop. You'll enjoy it more than anyone, because you will have designed it to meet your needs. You may also enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that you've made it possible for everyone. HOME . SERVICES . PUBLICATIONS . STORIES . ARTICLES . RESOURCES Doug Lipman This page was last updated on Friday, November 28, 2003
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