Run Your First Workshop
Everything you need to go from zero to a live session. No facilitation background required.
Run Your First Session
The fastest path to your first workshop. Follow these steps in order.
Go to safefortheoffice.ca/host and sign in with your facilitator credentials. This is where you launch and control every session.
From the dashboard, select a playbook that matches your session goal. If this is your first time, start with the Team Building Playbook — it is the most forgiving format for a first run.
Before launching, read through the activity sequence. You will see the activity type, suggested duration, and facilitator notes for each step. You do not need to memorize this — it is visible during the session.
When you are ready to begin, launch the first activity. The platform generates a QR code and room code. Display the QR code on your screen so participants can join.
Read the facilitator prompt aloud, let participants respond, then reveal results when you are ready. Use the discussion prompt to debrief. Advance to the next activity when the conversation is done.
After the final activity, close the room from the facilitator dashboard. Summarize what the group surfaced and name any next steps before ending the meeting.
A 45–60 minute session combining an icebreaker, a values poll, a Would You Rather, and a reflection activity. Low stakes, high participation, easy to facilitate. Ideal for a first run with a team you already know.
Browse playbooks →Choose a Playbook
A playbook is a pre-built workshop format. It defines the activity sequence, content, timing, and facilitator guidance. You choose the playbook — the platform handles the structure.
What do you want the session to produce? Connection, alignment, reflection, planning? Browse playbooks by outcome at /playbooks.
Most playbooks run 45–90 minutes. Check the suggested duration before choosing. You can always skip an activity if time is short — the platform does not force you to complete every step.
Some playbooks are designed for new teams, others for established ones. Some are built for leadership groups, others for mixed teams. The playbook description tells you who it is designed for.
Each playbook recommends a topic pack. You do not need to select content separately — the playbook and pack are designed to work together.
Choose a playbook with 3–4 activities, not 6–8. A shorter session is easier to control and gives you room to slow down for discussion. You can always run a longer session once you are comfortable with the platform.
Launch Your First Room
A room is a live session for a single activity. Each activity in a playbook is its own room — you launch them one at a time.
From the facilitator dashboard, open the workshop plan for your chosen playbook. You will see the full activity sequence with estimated durations.
Click Launch on the first activity. The platform creates a room and generates a QR code and a 4-character room code. Display the QR code on your screen or projector.
You can see how many participants have joined from the facilitator view. Wait until most of the room has joined before starting. You do not need to wait for everyone — late joiners can join at any point.
Read the facilitator prompt aloud to the room. This sets context for participants before they respond. Then open the activity so participants can submit their answers.
When enough participants have responded, reveal the results. Use the discussion prompt to guide a brief conversation about what the room surfaced. You control when to reveal — participants cannot see results until you do.
When the debrief is done, close the room and launch the next activity. Participants will see a waiting screen until you launch the next room.
The platform never advances automatically. You decide when to reveal results, when to move on, and when the session ends. If a discussion runs long, let it — the next activity will wait.
Participant Join Guide
Share these instructions with participants before the session. No app download required. No account required.
Send participants the join URL in advance: safefortheoffice.ca/join. Tell them they will need the room code when they arrive. This saves time at the start of the session.
Common Questions
They can go to safefortheoffice.ca/join in any browser and enter the room code manually. The room code is always displayed alongside the QR code on the facilitator screen.
Late joiners can join at any point using the same QR code or room code. They participate from the current question forward. You will see them appear in the participant count.
Yes. You do not have to run every activity in a playbook. If time is short or an activity does not fit the room, close it and launch the next one. The platform does not enforce the sequence.
Yes. Each time you launch a playbook, a new room is created with a new room code. You can run the same playbook with different teams or the same team at different times.
It depends on the activity. Polls, Would You Rather, Priority Poker, Idea Storm, and Retrospective activities show aggregate results — individual responses are not attributed. Icebreaker and Trivia activities show participant names alongside responses, as those activities are designed for open sharing.
You control the pace entirely. If a discussion is going well, stay in it — the next activity will wait. If an activity lands flat, close it quickly and move on. The suggested durations are guidelines, not requirements.
Use the contact form to tell us exactly what happened. Your feedback shapes what gets fixed first. Go to safefortheoffice.ca/contact.
The Toolkit has guides, checklists, and practical advice for running your first session with confidence.
Browse the Toolkit →Sign in to the Facilitator Portal to choose a playbook and launch your first room.