Design your workshop to be imperfect.
Imperfection is perfection in disguise
The search for the perfect workshop is like the search for the holy grail. Every facilitator wants to run it, but nobody will ever do it. And that is perfect in itself.
Why?
Imperfection makes us remember things. Think about the holidays you have had. Which ones do you remember more detail about, where everything went smoothly or completely chaotic? I know where my money is.
Furthermore, imperfection is a space that invites us to try, explore, and discover things and where learning can happen.
Perfection does the opposite. It makes us observe rather than touch. It increases the participation threshold because we could be doing something "wrong." We want to be someone other than the ones f***ing things up.
To invite people to embrace imperfection, go ahead as a facilitator and show your fallibility. If something doesn't work, say it. If an exercise doesn't play out, stop it and share why you did what you did.
Everything in a workshop can be learning for everyone involved, and imperfection is the perfect nurturing ground for memorable experiences.
Instead, for the holy grail, create your unique mug.
Enjoy.