Benefits of Workshops for Employees: Run Effective Training Sessions

In today’s workplace, employees want more than just a paycheck. They’re looking for growth, connection and a sense of purpose. Workshops can deliver all three. Done well, they help teams build skills, improve communication and come away with practical takeaways they can actually use. This guide walks through what makes a workshop effective and how to make sure your team leaves feeling energized, not drained.

Hi, I’m Beth Sherman, an award-winning keynote speaker, workshop leader, comedian and Emmy-winning TV writer, and the goal of this guide is to help you to understand the different roles of external speakers, workshop leaders and trainers, how to find them, and how to collaborate with them to get the best possible outcome for your event.

Understanding Training Workshops

What Is a Training Workshop?

A training workshop is an interactive learning session focused on helping employees develop specific skills or knowledge. Instead of long lectures, workshops invite participation and real-time problem solving. Whether it’s learning how to give better feedback or strengthening team collaboration, workshops create space for people to connect and grow.

Types of training workshops

Casual or informal training workshops

1. Lunch and Learns – Informal, typically one-hour sessions over lunch

2. Brown Bag Sessions – Similar to lunch and learns, often internal knowledge-sharing

3. Happy Hour Workshops – Light, social sessions held at the end of the day

4. Coffee Chats / Morning Meetups – Quick, informal morning sessions

5. Internal Speaker Series – Casual talks featuring guest experts or team members

Team-Building or Offsite Events

1. Away Days – Full-day team bonding/training offsite

2. Retreats – Multi-day immersive offsite experiences (strategic, team-building, reflective)

3. Quarterly Planning Sessions – Often include team-building workshops

4. Leadership Summits – Focused sessions for executives or senior staff

5. Innovation Days / Hackathons – Creativity-focused events that can include training elements

Formal / Structured Training

1. Professional Development Programs – Ongoing or structured skill-building curricula

2. Onboarding Bootcamps – For new hires to learn culture, communication, etc

3. Soft Skills Training – Focused on communication, leadership, empathy, etc

4. Executive Coaching Cohorts – Small-group coaching for upper management

Virtual / Hybrid Formats

1. Webinars – One-to-many format, often lecture-style

2. Virtual Workshops – Interactive, usually shorter than in-person versions

3. Asynchronous Learning Modules – Pre-recorded content employees complete on their own

4. Microlearning Sessions – Short, focused, virtual sessions (10–30 minutes)

5. Slack Live Q&As or Ask Me Anything (AMA) Sessions – Real-time, informal knowledge sharing

Key Elements of Successful Workshops

Great workshops don’t just happen. They’re built on a few core elements: clear objectives, engaging activities, and a safe space where everyone feels comfortable contributing. The best sessions mix structure with flexibility so teams stay focused but not rigid.

Communication Workshop Ideas

Importance of Communication in Teams

Poor communication is often the root of team tension. On the flip side, strong communication builds trust, reduces misunderstandings and keeps projects moving forward. Communication workshops help teams open up, listen better and respond more effectively, even when things get tough.

Top Communication Activities and Games

From “active listening” exercises to role-playing tough conversations, communication workshops can include everything from lighthearted icebreakers to deeper reflective work. Activities like the human knot or “Two Truths and a Lie” may sound simple, but they build essential team awareness and encourage connection.

The best workshop leaders and trainers offer activities that are unique and surprising to even your most jaded employees.

Implementing Communication Exercises

It’s one thing to play a game. It’s another to connect it to the real world. After each activity, allow time to reflect and link the lesson back to day-to-day team interactions. Encourage participants to share how the workshop made them think differently about the way they communicate.

Benefits of Workshops for Employees

Skill Development and Knowledge Enhancement

Workshops give employees the chance to sharpen existing skills or learn something entirely new. From leadership training to learning how to navigate conflict, the learning is immediate, practical and often more impactful than reading another manual.

Improved Team Collaboration

By working together in a workshop setting, teams build a better understanding of each other’s strengths and perspectives. This builds trust and helps teams collaborate more effectively in the long run, especially when they’ve already practiced navigating challenges together.

Increased Employee Engagement

When people feel like their growth is being invested in, they show up differently. Workshops show employees they matter, which in turn boosts morale, motivation and retention. Engaged employees are more likely to take initiative and bring creative energy to the table.

Implementing Effective Training Workshops

Planning and Preparation

Start with clear goals. What do you want your team to walk away with? Tailor your activities and structure around that. Keep things flexible enough to follow the energy in the room, but solid enough to stay on track.

Facilitator Roles and Responsibilities

A good facilitator guides without taking over. They keep the group focused, encourage quieter voices to speak up and create a space where people feel safe sharing honest thoughts. It’s less about giving answers and more about guiding discovery.

Measuring Workshop Success

Feedback is your best friend. Use post-session surveys or a quick team debrief to find out what worked and what didn’t. Look for signs of growth in how the team communicates or tackles challenges afterward. The impact of a great workshop often shows up in the weeks that follow.

Conclusion: Driving Team Success Through Workshops

Workshops are more than a break from the daily grind. They’re a chance to grow, connect and recharge. With the right planning and purpose, they can transform how teams communicate, collaborate and contribute. And yes, they can even be fun.

A workshop leader who might be right for your event

I deliver high-energy workshops and masterclasses packed with laughter, insight and immediately implementable strategies.

As a seasoned comedian and an award-winning comedy writer, I know how to gain and hold the attention of your employees. They’ll leave entertained, and with a humor toolkit they can use to build rapport, diffuse tension, and communicate with clarity and confidence.

Find out more about my workshops here.