Every workshop and exercise on Workshopr includes timing guidance to help you plan and run your sessions effectively. Here's how to interpret and use these timelines.
Duration Labels
Each activity shows an estimated total duration:
- 5-15 minutes: Quick activities like icebreakers and energizers
- 15-30 minutes: Short exercises for focused outcomes
- 30-60 minutes: Medium activities with more depth
- 1-2 hours: Substantial workshops with multiple phases
- 2-4 hours: Full workshop sessions
- Half day / Full day: Extended sessions for complex topics
Reading the Agenda
Workshop detail pages include a step-by-step agenda showing:
- Phase name: What each section is called
- Duration: Suggested time for that phase
- Description: What happens during this phase
- Running total: Cumulative time to that point
Adjusting Timelines
The suggested times are guidelines, not rules. Consider adjusting based on:
Factors That May Require More Time
- Larger groups (more people = more sharing time)
- Complex topics that need more discussion
- Participants who are new to workshop formats
- Remote sessions (technology transitions take longer)
- High-stakes decisions that need thorough exploration
Factors That May Allow Less Time
- Smaller groups
- Experienced participants familiar with the format
- Simpler topics
- Follow-up sessions where context is already established
Time Management Tips
- Build in buffer: Add 10-15% extra time for transitions and questions
- Use a visible timer: Keep time visible so everyone stays on track
- Give warnings: Announce "5 minutes left" and "1 minute left"
- Protect the important phases: If running short, cut from less critical activities
- Know your "must-haves": Identify which phases are essential
When You're Running Short
If you're running out of time, consider:
- Shortening discussion/sharing rounds
- Reducing the number of iterations
- Skipping optional warm-up activities
- Combining related phases
- Scheduling a follow-up session for remaining items
Need help planning?
Our AI assistant can help you adapt workshop timelines for your specific situation.
Comments & Discussion
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Recent Comments (3)
This workshop was incredibly effective for our remote team! We adapted it slightly for a virtual setting and it worked wonderfully. The key was breaking into smaller breakout rooms.
Great resource! One tip: prepare all materials the day before to avoid any last-minute rushes.
Used this for our quarterly planning session. The structured approach really helped us stay on track!