Client workshops are one of the best ways to showcase your expertise. But the room you host them in can either amplify your impact or quietly undermine it.
Here’s how to make your workshop space work as hard as you do.
1. Design the room for interaction, not just presentation
Workshops are about doing, not just listening.
Set up:
- Round tables or pods so clients can face each other
- A clear area at the front for you to present and facilitate
- Space on the walls for flip charts or sticky-note boards
You want people to feel comfortable talking, brainstorming, and moving around.
2. Make the tech invisible (in a good way)
Tech should support your workshop, not become the star of the show.
Before clients arrive:
- Test your slides, videos, and audio.
- Have your conference center adjust lighting so the screen is clear but the room isn’t dark.
- Tape down any cords or cables.
If you’re running exercises on laptops, make sure Wi-Fi is strong at every table.
3. Use materials that feel “take-home worthy”
Everything clients touch should reinforce your professionalism:
- Printed workbooks or worksheets
- Pens that actually work (you’d be surprised)
- Simple, branded folders if possible
Think of these materials as physical proof of the value you delivered.
4. Plan the flow of the day in the room
Walk through your agenda physically:
- Where will people be sitting during presentations?
- Where will you stand during demos or discussions?
- Where will groups move during breakout exercises?
Small details like where to stand during Q&A or how people will move to the coffee area affect energy and attention.
5. Use breaks strategically
Breaks are where relationships deepen.
Make sure there’s:
- Space near the workshop room for snacks and coffee
- Time in the schedule for informal questions
- A clearly marked restrooms path (your clients won’t want to ask)
Stay available during breaks; those hallway conversations often lead to follow-up work.
6. Capture the room’s work
Don’t let great ideas disappear when you erase a whiteboard.
- Snap photos of flip charts and sticky-note walls.
- Collect any worksheets people are comfortable sharing.
- Include these in your post-workshop recap.
Clients love seeing the evidence of what they accomplished with you.
When you treat your workshop space as part of your delivery, not just a backdrop, your clients feel the difference. They’ll remember not only what they learned, but how clear, organized, and cared-for the whole experience felt.