I had a chance to deliver a workshop last Friday with my colleague Leslie Lautzenhiser. I coach people who are looking to build businesses, she does the same for those who are evaluating franchises. We got great feedback and participation.
I learned a number of things through this experience that I thought I’d share with you:
1. It’s great working with someone who’s really sharp and who wants to be a good partner. Even though Leslie and I are both quite busy, we quickly established that we’re philosophically on the same page and could bring something unique to the community. The productivity and results were fantastic.
2. Giving presentations can be a joy when you have something interesting to say. Yes, I know that many people consider public speaking to be a fate worse than death. But for me, I enjoy the challenge of putting together some useful content in an interesting way, and being able to help people who want to hear my message.
3. This is a great way to reinforce my reputation with my target customer base. Even if you’re working inside a company, that’s a useful concept, because you’re also managing your reputation where you work. If you want to be known as an expert in a certain area, show people your expertise by sharing it freely.
4. We all know that a teacher learns more than the student. This is because the teacher has to not only prepare what’s being taught, but also be ready to answer questions that arise. Without looking foolish and unprepared. So if you want to learn something, sign up to teach it!
5. This is a great way to give back to the community. Many attendees were recently laid off, and really struggling with their career decisions. Having been through that, I appreciated the opportunity to help people with their struggles.
Do you want to help people and build reputation as a helpful expert? Put together and deliver a workshop!