Its more about being able to pivot and be adaptable based on the natural flow of the room, if you try to force the group to "move faster" for an objective that was set you likely will create a tense vibe of rushing. Be open to splitting the workshop up, you may need a followup to go deeper and give something the time it needs and deserves. Plan ahead as to which parts aren't the biggest priority if it seems like you're going over in one area you know what you can drop to stay focused. During prep... ↳ Don't pack too much in ↳ Allow enough time for discussion for each activity or section, calculate based on how many participants ... more participants need more time ↳ Consider breaking up the experience into multiple sessions

If time is short, help the group decide what they want to optimise for. This will probably mean moves like: - Prioritising which objectives to try to hit, and which ones to park for another time - Give them plenty of warning that they will need to drop one or more objectives, e.g. half-way through, and not toward the end! ;) - Divide and conquer: can the group split into smaller groups to work on several objectives at once, and then come back together and report? - Plan ahead. Assume that not all objectives will be achieved, and be prepared to stay flexible. This reminds me of a great facilitation question to ask at the START of a meeting: "What can we do in this meeting to achieve all our objectives in half the time?"

That's my daily work! :) An agenda and time-boxing help with this. Methods such as Lean Coffee are perfect for clarifying many topics (8 minutes discussion time per topic). Otherwise, all goals can be prioritized together with the group at the beginning. Depending on the priority, the workshop then proceeds to achieve these goals.

Time constraints will sometimes make or break a workshop. In planning it is great to estimate the time needed for each activity and keep a time check on that during the session. You should also prioritize the activities for those most valuable in meeting the goals and be ready to eliminate something if the session is running long. For example having a quick retro at the end is a best practice but if you are over time you can have it be a takeaway. Using a timer is also a great way to keep everyone paying attention - a ‘time timer’ works well for in-person sessions and usually virtual whiteboards have a timer for remote activities. Happy facilitating!

Use a timer. Crazy idea right? Parkinson's law states that: “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Pro tip: make sure there’s an alarm set.

I’d default to ensuring that there is alignment with the team ( or sponsor) on what the objectives are. Almost always there is a list… the next job is to rank/ prioritise these goals. If you can have this BEFORE the workshop, you’re setting up everyone for success. Then that’s where time becomes an element. I designed very tightly, timeboxed every 15min increments. But that all goes away from the get-go or midstream if what is emergent dictates an adaptive, reflexive and open approach.

Prioritize Objectives: Identify the most critical objectives that absolutely need to be covered. Focus on these first to ensure they are achieved. Create a Detailed Agenda: Break down the workshop into specific sections with allocated times for each. Stick to this schedule as closely as possible to stay on track. Engage Participants Early: Start with a strong opening to get everyone’s attention. Use interactive elements like quick polls or questions to immediately involve participants. Use Time Management Techniques: Keep an eye on the clock. Use a timer if necessary to stay within the allotted time for each section. Facilitate Efficiently: Be clear and concise in your instructions.