Articulate the goals

If you don't know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere. So, the first step of planning should be articulating goals.

Goals refer to the outcomes or end results you want to achieve by the end of the workshop. Think of the tangible outputs you want to get and write a short, clear description of the ideal end state. For example, "Define key principles for approaching upmarket support projects.”

Your goals will most likely fall into one or more of these categories:

• Agreement goals: Reaching consensus on the direction
• Understanding goals: Gaining a shared deeper knowledge of a subject
• Generation goals: Creating new ideas or thought patterns
• Strengthening goals: Building empathy between teams or strengthening relationships between parties

Some experts separate goals (more abstract) from outcomes (tangible artifacts).