How to Run an Awesome Workshop Using the Wheel of Life (in Under an Hour)!

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Emma-Louise
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How to Run a Workshop Using the Wheel of Life with Life Wheel and Confident Coach

In this article I share a simple but powerful way to run a workshop using the Wheel of Life Template.

In this workshop outline, you'll also get the chance to share who you are as a coach, how you can help your attendees, and any special offers you might have for attendees! The outline provided also includes what to do, when, questions to ask and a timed agenda.

If you haven't run a workshop before, using the Wheel of Life Template is an easy way to get started. I would encourage you to start here and build your experience with managing groups and running events. You can learn about your audience, practice, see what works and begin to discover your style.

Get your Free Wheel of Life Template here:

Tips for Your Wheel of Life Workshop

When you're just starting out, it can be hard to drum up interest in a workshop yourself. So, why not approach some local networking groups, companies, clubs or meet-up groups and ask if they're interested in you coming in to do a free inspirational workshop on how to have more life balance.

And when preparing to run a workshop using the Wheel of Life to talk about life balance, be sure to bring you—and your passion to it! Choose your key message about life balance, and 3 sub points you'd like to share that are unique to you. Then intersperse this information into the agenda below.

For everything you need to know about the Wheel of Life, check out The Complete Guide to the Wheel of Life here >>

How to Run a Workshop Using the Wheel of Life

Agenda with Timings and Outline

INTRODUCTION (total 5 mins)

  1. 5 mins - INTRODUCE yourself, your business, and why you think balance is so important.

    • Start by welcoming attendees and introducing yourself and your business.
    • Then share a personal "teaching story" about your own experience with life balance. Or, if you have a story of a client you helped to achieve more balance and the results, this is great too!
      IMPORTANT: Be sure to have permission to share a client's story, or create a "blended" story from several client experiences which has no identifying information.

MAIN BODY (total 40 mins)

  1.  10 mins - DISCUSS Balance with your attendees.

    • Share your thoughts on why balance is so important—especially these days.
    • Start by asking attendees how they feel when they are not in balance.
    • Then ask attendees what they think balance is.
      • OPTIONAL (add 10 mins): put people into groups of 2-4 to discuss what balance is and what it feels like.
      • Afterwards, ask one member of each group to share that back with the room.
    • Next ask attendees what balance might look like for them? How would they know when they are 'in balance'? How would it feel to be 'in balance'
    • It's also fun/interesting to ask, "So, when was the last time you felt your life was in balance?"
    • Share that we don't 'achieve' balance (or at least not for long). The key is to know whether you are moving towards or away from balance. Ask how this perspective could help them?
      Top Tip: Use a whiteboard, flipchart or an online version where you can write down what people are saying. This helps visual learners and makes people feel more involved.

  2. 5 mins - COMPLETE the Wheel of Life Template.

    • Explain that the "Wheel of Life" Exercise is a great tool to check-in with how balanced their life is, and where it might be out of balance.
    • Explain the 8 segments on the wheel and ask attendees to consider what satisfaction would feel like for each area, then to score their current level of satisfaction out of 10 for each area.
      Top Tip: Show people exactly where/how to draw the line and add each score to their wheel.
      Top Tip: Remind your attendees to follow their gut and write down the first number they think of (not to increase their score because they think they should feel better!)

  3. 15 mins - REVIEW the Wheel in small groups.

    • Start by asking your attendees to look at their completed wheels and say, "If this was your wheel of life, would it be a bumpy ride?"
    • Next ask your attendees to get into groups of 3-4 and review and discuss their results.
    • Give people 2-3 questions to consider, for example:
      • "What surprises were there for you?"
      • "How do you feel about your life as you look at your Wheel?" and
      • "How would you like to be spending time in these areas?"
    • Top Tip: Find more questions in the instructions on page 2 of our Wheel of Life Template coaching form.

  4. 10 mins - DISCUSS and SHARE learnings from the Wheel of Life as a larger group.

    • Some great questions to ask the group include:
      • So, what did you learn and notice as you reviewed your wheels with each other?
      • Which categories do you most want to improve?
      • What needs to change to bring more balance into your life?
      • What are the common themes we're noticing in the room today?
      • What help and support might you need from others to make the necessary changes and be more in balance?

WRAP-UP (10 mins total)

  1. 5 mins - Each person identifies an ACTION to create more balance

    • Ask each person to come up with ONE action they could take to move closer to balance in their lives, and write it next to the relevant category on their wheel.
    • A great question to ask is, "If there was one key action you could take that would begin to bring everything into balance, what would it be?"
      Tip: If anyone struggles to identify an action try asking, "What is the smallest or easiest thing you could commit to, to move towards balance?"

  2. 5 mins - SUMMARISE and wrap-up the session

    • Thank the attendees for being there and sharing!
    • Tip: If you have time, it's nice to ask everyone to share their action with the room. Allow 30-60 seconds per person.
    • Share and summarise your main point and 3 sub-points about life balance. You could also share a powerful quote if you like. Some examples include:
      • "Looking back at the times where I allowed my work to create stress and frustration in my life, I now realize what I thought was important really was not. I am not saying you should not take your work seriously; what I am saying is that we need to realize that life is all about balance." Catherine Pulsifer
      • "Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony." Thomas Merton
      • "Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself." Jessye Norman
    • Wrap-up the session by talking about what you offer, specifically how you could help them create more balance and fulfilment in life.
      Top Tip: I recommend you have a special offer for attendees for one-on-one coaching, and/or ongoing group coaching offer around creating a balanced and more fulfilled life!
    • OPTIONAL: I recommend you also ask for feedback and use this to get sample sessions and/or permission to send them your email newsletter!

  3. FINALLY, make sure no-one leaves empty-handed!

    • Mention your handouts on offer at the back of the room (branded with your details on) for them to take home. Examples could include a special report on coaching, articles you have written on life balance, branded coaching tools and exercises for attendees to take away—and a flyer listing your special offer (that can also be given to friends!).

This workshop packs a powerful punch in a short space of time—helping people connect with how balanced their life is, how they feel about that, where the issues might be—and identifying one action to take away and improve things!

Would you like this Agenda & Workshop Outline as a Printable .PDF?

Get your FREE Wheel of Life Workshop Outline .PDF

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And remember to grab your Free Wheel of Life Exercise Template here:

IMPORTANT: You don't have to be perfect, especially if you're offering a free workshop! I guarantee people will love what you have to say. And they will also appreciate this valuable time to meet and share with others, learn about themselves and improve their lives. Now get out there and start sharing you!

Did you like this article on How to Run a Workshop Using the Wheel of Life? Try these:

There is also a filter/category in our coaching tools catalogue that shows you coaching exercises suitable for use in workshops and group coaching.

Emma-Louise Elsey Headshot

Contributing Author:

Emma-Louise Elsey is passionate about kindness, coaching and personal development and has been coaching since 2003. She's the Founder and Former CEO of The Coaching Tools Company, and Founder of Fierce Kindness. Originally a project and relationship manager for Fortune 500 companies she loves to create coaching tools and exercises, including lots of free coaching tools for you here at The Coaching Tools Company. Through Fierce Kindness she helps people create a life they love, make a difference and learn to be kind to themselves.

She'd love you to sign-up for the Fierce Kindness Newsletter and grab a free How to Be Kind to Yourself Workbook. Or connect personally on Linkedin, Facebook or Instagram.

Learn more about Emma-Louise & see all their articles here >>

Categories: Balance & Self-Care, Coaching Ideas & Inspiration, Coaching Tools for Workshops, Coaching Wheel, Grow Your Coaching Business, Health & Wellness Coaching, How to Use Coaching Tools, Life Coaching

Image of Intelligent businesswoman thinking about workshop by kurhan via Shutterstock

32 Comments

  2. Cindy

    Hi Emma-Louise,
    Thank you for all the wonderful ideas and resources. I am just starting out. Do you offer any materials that are specifically for health and wellness coaching?

    Reply
  3. Katerina

    Dear Emma-Louise,
    Thank you so much for your article, it's a wonderful guidance for me! I'm just starting out and this brings high score in my anxiety's scale. Your article popped up just on time as I was searching for a way to start my first presentation/workshop. The amazing coincidence is that I was also considering to use the Wheel of Life. Now you made it structured and specific.
    Much gratidude and all my best wishes!

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Dear Katerina,

      I'm so glad you found the article helpful AND timely! I'm sure you will do much better than you expect! And that you'll enjoy it more than you expect too (once you get going). Groups are fun, and if you set a framework and get them discussing things together - they do the workshop for you! Warmly, best of luck, Emma-Louise

      Reply
  4. Alinah Kallon

    Hi Emma-Louise
    Thank you for taking your time to share these useful tools with us. They have been very useful for me personally in my job and my business. Thank you.

    Reply
  5. Karen Wiggins

    Just this morning I was thinking...I want to do a workshop but I have no ideas how to break it up. I have it logged in my bullet journal to research and then I opened this. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful ideas and resources.

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Dear Karen, it sounds like the right article at the right time 🙂 It is much easier than you think to run a workshop! And once you've done one, you'll learn lots to help you in the future. Enjoy! Warmly, Emma-Louise 🙂

      Reply
  6. Marsha T

    This is a great exercise! I did something similar which sparked my interest in coaching. I'm
    currently enrolled in a health coaching certification. I think is exercise is a great way to get started with a client. It really sets them up to want more from the relationship. Thank you for sharing I'm going to use this in a 1:1 setting this week. Thanks again!!

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Dear Marsha! Thank-you for taking the time to comment 🙂 I really appreciate it and am glad you found the article inspiring/helpful. Warmly, Emma-Louise

      Reply
  7. Wanda N Walker

    Hi EL,
    Thanks so much for the creativity around how to change tool to make it relevant. I'm starting a new position in a few weeks and was thinking about something to use with my new team! What categories might you use for a wheel of leadership?
    I've enjoyed these tools for many years and I thank you for the refresh and new tools consistently.

    Blessings to you,

    Reply
  8. Ndidi Viviene Nkwopara

    Hi Emma-Louise,
    Thank you very much for the information. I am just preparing for my first workshop. The Wheel of L ife will help greatly.

    Reply
  9. Rebecca Kirk

    Thank you sooooo much for sharing this really helpful article Emme-Louise. I have been scratching my head thinking about potential taster workshop topics and then had a flash of inspiration around using the Wheel of Life which then led me to your ready made outline! It all feels very aligned and very simple. Thank you for your generosity in sharing your knowledge. I hope it comes back to you tenfold!

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Hi Rebecca, thank-YOU for taking the time to share your comment and how this wheel of life article helped! That made my day 🙂 It's so lovely to know you're making a difference. Good luck with your workshop, warmly, Emma-Louise

      Reply
  11. Beena

    Thank you very much for this tool and clear timeline for the workshop. Just what I was looking for on a constrained timeline for a free workshop. Gratitude.

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Dear Beena, I am so glad you found this article about using the Wheel of Life in a SHORT workshop helpful 🙂 Warmly, Emma-Louise

      Reply
  12. Farrah

    Excellent resources! Have bookmarked them ready for when I do my Intro to Coching webinar 🙂

    Reply
    • Michela Phillips

      Amazing! Glad you're enjoying the resources, Farrah!
      - Kindly, Michela

      Reply
  13. Michelle Ryerson

    This is a wonderful article. I have been trying to come up with (or put together) a simple group workshop to get started with my life & wellness coaching career and I'm so happy to have come across this article. I was introduced to the Wheel of Life form during my coach training course.

    Reply
    • Michela Phillips

      So glad you enjoyed the article, Michelle!
      - Kindly, Michela

      Reply
  14. Yinlayefa Adeleke

    This is great! Your tools and resources are a -must -have. Thanks for all you do.

    Reply
  15. Michelle L Davidson

    I am doing my first workshop next week. I had heard about the Wheel of Life and I am going to use it. I am so glad to have found this site. It had ALL the answers to my "What's Next" questions. THANK YOU!

    Reply
    • Michela Phillips

      So glad you like the Wheel of Life, Michelle! I hope your workshop goes well 🙂
      - Kindly, Michela

      Reply
  16. Wanda Walker

    Hi EL,
    This is always a good reminder. I've seen this before and didn't really think about how I might use this tool in this manner. I am in a different place now and this message is right on time. I will be thinking about how I can use this in a one hour format as a recruitment for my annual vision board event.

    I've been rocking and rolling with you for over 15 years now. Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Emma-Louise

      Hi Wanda! Great to hear from you, and so glad you found this wheel of life workshop article helpful! Warmly, Emma-Louise

      Reply

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