As a sustainability manager you’re already spinning several plates and now you’ve been handed the plate of running workshops to bring your sustainability strategy to life.

It's a brilliant opportunity to engage your team, spark meaningful conversations, and drive action toward a sustainable future. But if you're new to running workshops, or simply want to make sure they’re as effective as possible, you might wonder how to make them engaging, interactive, and purposeful.

And that’s why we’re here, we’ve got you covered. This guide highlights three common mistakes to avoid and offers practical tips for running successful sustainability workshops.

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Mistake #1: Making It Too Complicated

When it comes to sustainability, it's easy to get lost in the complexity of it all. There's so much information out there, and the temptation is to cram everything into your workshop. After all, you want everyone to leave with a comprehensive understanding, right? Well, not quite.

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Keep It Sustainably Simple

The first mistake to avoid is overwhelming your audience with information. Remember the old saying: "Less is more." The truth is, people tend to forget 80% of what they hear (the "forgetting curve" is real!), so trying to include every detail will likely leave your participants confused and disengaged. That’s the last thing you need.

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Instead, focus on these key tips:

• Prioritise Simplicity: Start with the basics. What initially sparked your interest in sustainability? Was it learning about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or understanding the simple definition of sustainability? Use these powerful yet straightforward concepts to engage your audience.
• Use the KISS Principle: Keep It Sustainably Simple. Ultimately you are trying to coach people and the best coaches simplify complex ideas by focussing on core messages that resonate with their audience. The goal is to make sustainability accessible and relatable.
• Create Memorable Moments: Highlight key points and memorable stories that will stick with your audience long after the workshop is over.

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Tip: Check out our Sustainable Pathways Training—a quick, effective 60-minute workshop that anyone can deliver. It’s designed to introduce sustainability in an engaging and impactful way.

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Mistake #2: Focusing Solely on Lecturing

Picture this: you're standing at the front of a room, flipping through slide after slide, talking at your audience for 45 minutes straight. Then, you offer a quick Q&A before everyone leaves. Sound familiar? This is a common mistake that turns workshops into a game of sleeping lions.

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Facilitate, Don't Lecture

Instead of seeing yourself as the all-knowing lecturer, think of yourself as a facilitator of thought and conversation. Your role is to guide the learning process and encourage participants to think critically about sustainability.

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Here’s how to make your workshop more interactive:

• Encourage Group Discussions: Start by posing a thought-provoking question, then break your audience into small groups (3-4 people) to discuss. This not only makes the session more engaging but also fosters collaboration and deeper understanding.
• Use Activities: Incorporate interactive activities that require participants to apply what they’ve learned. This could be a hands-on exercise, a role-playing scenario, or a group brainstorming session.
• Embrace the Franklin Approach: Remember Benjamin Franklin’s wisdom: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.” Let your audience take part in the learning process.
• Take the Pressure Off Yourself: By facilitating rather than lecturing, you remove the pressure of having to prepare lengthy presentations. Let your audience guide the conversation with their questions and insights.

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Bonus Tip: Facilitation not only keeps your audience engaged, but it also empowers them to contribute their ideas and perspectives, enriching the discussion and creating a more dynamic learning environment.

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Mistake #3: Leading with Doom and Gloom

It's tempting to start your workshop with a deep dive into the climate emergency, complete with alarming statistics and dire predictions. The house is on fire and people need to know right!?

Leading with doom and gloom can leave your audience feeling overwhelmed and powerless, which isn't exactly conducive to sparking action.

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Lead with Stories of Action and Success

Rather than focusing on the negatives, highlight stories of businesses and individuals making impactful changes. Use these examples to inspire your audience and demonstrate what’s possible.

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Here's how to flip the script:

• Share Success Stories: Showcase real-world examples of businesses and communities that have successfully implemented sustainable practices. These stories can serve as both inspiration and practical guidance.
• Spark Creativity: Share case studies from various industries, not just your own. This cross-pollination of ideas can lead to creative solutions tailored to your organisation.
• Facilitate Discovery: Instead of telling participants about the climate crisis, guide them to that realisation through discussion and exploration. Let them connect the dots and understand why action is necessary.
• Gamify the Experience: Pose the question, "How can we turn this into a serious game?" Gamification can transform your workshop into an engaging experience that encourages participation and problem-solving.

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Curious about serious games? Explore our Serious Games Page to learn more about how we use gamification to drive sustainability.

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Final Thoughts

Running a sustainability workshop doesn’t have to be daunting. By avoiding common mistakes and focusing on engagement and simplicity, you can create an impactful and memorable experience for your audience.

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And remember, just be you. Being your authentic self is a powerful way to connect with your audience and turn an ice-cold room into a warm one where conversation and ideas flow.

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And if you’d like to improve your facilitation skills, join our next cohort of Sustainable Pathways Facilitators. Or give us a shout and we can work with you to bring your workshop to life, like your sustainability sidekick.

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