How to Run a Vision Board Workshop and Get New Clients Too
In December and January people naturally look ahead and think about resolutions and goals. So it’s a great time to run a vision board workshop and find some new prospects or clients. Your workshop helps people create a vision for their life and year ahead. Then, what you offer at the end is to help them make it a reality!
I recommend setting aside between two and three hours for your workshop so you have plenty of time for introductions, creativity and a wrap-up with your coaching offer. You’ll need:
- Large blank pieces of card stock (one for each attendee with a few spares)
- Colorful felt-tip pens
- Several pairs of scissors (one pair per two people)
- Several glue sticks (one per three people)
- A supply of colorful, beautiful, inspirational magazines (O, The Oprah Magazine; National Geographic; and home and garden magazines are all good. You can also ask attendees to bring some magazines of their own.)
Start by welcoming everyone and introduce yourself and your business. Next, ask people to introduce themselves. You could ask, “Who has done a vision board before?” and then ask people to share their name and why they signed up for the workshop.
I recommend that people sit in small circles to share glue/scissors and magazines —but let people know they are free to move around.
Explain to attendees what a vision board is. A vision board is simply a collective name for a wide variety of inspirational collages created from pictures. It’s a pictorial representation of your vision—and a powerful way to make your dreams more tangible and attainable. That’s because the very act of creating the vision board tells your mind what’s important. You’re teaching your mind what you want to focus on in your life.
It can be helpful to show examples of vision boards, if you have any. A vision board can be used to help set goals for the year ahead. It could also focus on a specific area like career, business, home life, spiritual growth, well-being or relationships.
Before you start, make sure everyone has a piece of card stock and ask them to write today’s date on there. You may want to offer a short meditation to help people relax and settle into themselves. Consider using some of the following statements to encourage attendees:
- “With a vision board, how you feel is more important that what you think.”
- “While you look for pictures, really feel into your goals. Allow your mind to run free.”
- “Make your board vibrant: Cut out things that inspire a positive or curious response from you. Don’t analyze—grab it.”
- “Include pictures, symbols, words and quotes—anything that resonates with you or appeals or speaks to you. It doesn’t need to make sense or be obvious why you like it.”
- “It can also be powerful to actively look for the unfamiliar, thinking ‘outside your box.’”
- “Remember, this is not about creating an artistic masterpiece but creating something personal and inspiring.”
Some attendees will have no idea where to start. Let them know this is a good thing! They can simply start flicking through the magazines and look for words, phrases and/or pictures that inspire or grab them.
Use some of the following statements to structure the wrap-up of the workshop:
- “So you’ve finished. Now what? Well, put your vision board somewhere you will see it every day to remind, inspire and focus you.”
- “However, sometimes when we see something regularly, after a while we stop seeing it. So, I recommend that once in a while, you sit down and look deeply at it. Review it; allow yourself to feel it and get excited by it.”
- “Just before you go to sleep is a great time to do this as it allows your mind to ponder and absorb it overnight!”
Finally, remember to sell you! Have some flyers, brochures or branded coaching exercises at the back of the room for people to take home , and promote your newsletter with a sign-up sheet too. The end of this inspiring workshop is when you promote your special offers, upcoming workshops or programs. Offer a free consultation to set their goals for the year ahead and get their year off to a flying start. Or offer to help them turn their vision board into reality.
Emma-Louise Elsey (Canada)
Emma-Louise Elsey has been coaching for more than 10 years and is founder of The Coaching Tools Company and Life Coach on the Go. Originally a project and relationship manager for Fortune 500 companies, she discovered coaching in 2003 and hasn't looked back.
The views and opinions expressed in guest posts featured on this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the International Coach Federation (ICF). The publication of a guest post on the ICF Blog does not equate to an ICF endorsement or guarantee of the products or services provided by the author.
Additionally, for the purpose of full disclosure and as a disclaimer of liability, this content was possibly generated using the assistance of an AI program. Its contents, either in whole or in part, have been reviewed and revised by a human. Nevertheless, the reader/user is responsible for verifying the information presented and should not rely upon this article or post as providing any specific professional advice or counsel. Its contents are provided “as is,” and ICF makes no representations or warranties as to its accuracy or completeness and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law specifically disclaims any and all liability for any damages or injuries resulting from use of or reliance thereupon.
Thank you!
Dear Makiesha, you are most welcome 🙂 Warmly, Emma-Louise
Emma, Icant thank you enough. Your coaching toos are equally effective and fun to do. Just as i was pondering about how to close the year and my plan for the year ahead, I found your vision board work shop post. Its really inspiring. Please let me know if you have workshop ideas for clients too. Thank you once agsin.
Dear Nahla, what a lovely comment – I am so glad you found this post inspiring and helpful 🙂
Wishing you the very best indeed in 2016!
Warmly, Emma-Louise
Thank you so much!
Dear TL – you are MOST welcome 🙂
Warmly, Emma-Louise
This is a lovely write up on vision boards, which I happen to love, love, love. This activity effects me on all kinds of levels. It is fun, causing lots of smiles and laughter, it is inspiring and motivating. I have done it with my children several times and luckily they love it too. For us it actually turns out to be quite the family adventure, as we go shopping for all the supplies together, then we hit a list of used book stores we already know about to get tons of magazines. I love the list of meditation questions provided here!! This will help generate great conversation among us. Great bonding time and getting to know what the children have on their minds and in their hearts at this time without having to ask a ton of questions, which they don’t take too kindly to sometimes. This post at this moment has moved me to make this a new family tradition for Christmas day. We are all already together and we all love it. Just before starting off the New Year. Perfect!! Thanks Emma!! P.S. — I love the Coaching Tools Company!! Fabulous!! Happy Holidays to you and yours!!!
Dear Aimee,
What a beautiful comment! Your family are very lucky to have you 🙂
I am actually having a Vision Boarding birthday party!!! I have just told my friends to bring sharp scissors (they don’t know what they’re in for yet!). Oh – and there will be wine too… It will be interesting to see our results!
Thanks so much for your kind words too! So glad you love The Coaching Tools Company 🙂
Warmly, Emma-Louise
Hi! Very well written in simple manner. I have been conducting Vision Board Workshops for students during their vacation. I will surely use some of your tips, especially ‘selling’ my next workshop. I most often offer them a complementary 60-90 mins session port the Workshop to help them ‘planning’.
I can definitely lead them to further topics and introduce my other Workshops. Thanks again, Emma.
Dear Binda,
Thank-you for your comments – and you are most welcome! I’m glad you found some useful tips in there – especially as you are already conducting vision board workshops 🙂
Warmly, Emma-Louise
I love your generousity
Dear Gavin, thank-you! I appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙂 Warmly, Emma-Louise
Dear Emma,
Thank you very much, the write-up and advice is very much insightful.
Thank you very much. and stay strong.
Dear Selaocwe, thank-you! Glad you found it helpful. Warmly, Emma-Louise
Wow that’s awesome information. Thanks a bunch. I’m just starting my Vision Board workshops (at age 55 – ha)
Dear Carmen, so glad you found it helpful! Age is irrelevant when it comes to helping others (and in many other areas too 😉 ) Enjoy leading your workshops – it’s a lot of fun! Warmly, Emma-Louise
Thank you so much for your inspiring views. I am about to start the workshop this Friday. Through your insights i decided to take charge and pull the trigger.. God is in my future. This is it.
Dear Melany,
You are most welcome, and I hope your workshop went super-well 🙂 Warmly, Emma-Louise
Emma-Louise,
You are just too awesome, and it’s time I tell you publicly. I have been enjoying your tools for years and when I stumbled on this one in my email just now I decided to let you know how much I appreciate you.
Vision Boards are not new to me, but in reading this, I instantly realize how it would fit in well with an event I am planning for December using the Set Your Compass Worksheet.
I certainly appreciate your freebies and as well as the packages I have purchased to date.
Thank you!
Daisy
Dear Daisy, what a LOVELY comment! And I received your email too! Thank-you so much for taking the time to make my day 🙂 🙂
I am so glad you found the article helpful, and the “Set Your Compass” Tool too!
Warmly, Emma-Louise
Dear Daisy, what a LOVELY comment! And I received your email too! Thank-you so much for taking the time to make my day 🙂 🙂
I am so glad you found the article helpful, and the “Set Your Compass” Tool too!
Warmly, Emma-Louise