No one showed up for my workshop
I was at a weekend retreat. I was asked to present a workshop. I agreed to do How to Deal with Difficult People, a favorite of mine I can do and modify for all sorts of environments.
They scheduled it for Sunday afternoon. Not a great time. But I didn’t want to be difficult so I said nothing!
Right before the workshop I was at the pool. It was a beautiful sunny day. I didn’t want to go and facilitate.
But I had to so I went.
No one showed up.
With a group of close to 200, not one showed up.
There were several other workshops going on.
One which had caught my interest was on Laughter and Humor. I decided to check this out for going back to the pool.
There were about 20 attendees. They were all laughing. I quickly joined in.
I mentioned to a couple of people no one showed up for my workshop. They asked me which one it was and I told them. Their reaction: I thought of going to it.
I could have been offended since they didn’t go.
But I was honest with myself.
I didn’t want to attend my workshop!
It was the latter part of a holiday weekend/retreat.
What would people rather do – discuss how to deal with difficult people or laugh when they are on a vacation?!
I laughed because the answer was so obvious.
It’s not my topic isn’t important; it’s vital.
But there is a time and place for everything.
When I acknowledge there is a time and place for everything:
• I don’t get into what ifs
• I enjoy what is going on and not focus on what could have been
• I speak up when the situation warrants it, and unbelievably, can stay silent as well!
For me it takes a certain confidence to be okay with no one showing up to a workshop. I’m glad I have it!
September 21st, 2009 at 11:19 am
Great story, Howard!
I remember once giving a full two-day workshop to the one person who showed up. And holding an open-house block party for all my neighbors and having only the folks next door drop by briefly. It can be hard sometimes not to take things personally!
But you’ve modeled a great attitude and perspective here.