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If you're planning an event, one of the questions that often comes up is: "Should we bring in a keynote or a workshop?" Both have their place, but they serve different purposes. Here's a simple way to think about the difference.

Keynotes Inspire and Motivate

When I think keynote, I think inspiration. A keynote is about big ideas, energy, and sparking momentum. It's the session where people sit back, take it in, and feel moved to think or act differently.

Now, some keynotes are interactive (mine included). People might stand up, share fears, and a few other surprises. However, even in an interactive keynote, the majority of the time is still spent allowing the audience to absorb the message while the speaker drives the energy forward.

Keynotes are:

• Designed for any size audience, from a small team to thousands in an arena
• Time flexible, usually 15–90 minutes (long enough to make an impact, short enough to keep attention)
• Mostly listening-focused, with some interactive elements sprinkled in depending on the speaker's style

Think of a keynote as the jumpstart. It's about shifting mindsets, getting everyone on the same page, and creating that "aha" moment that people carry with them long after the event.

Workshops Go Deeper

Workshops, on the other hand, are about implementation. They take the ideas from the keynote and help people put them into practice. Instead of just listening, participants work, write, and talk with each other.

Workshops are:

• Best for smaller groups (though they can also be done with large groups by breaking into smaller sections)
• Longer in time, usually an hour or more, because they need space for activities, discussion, and reflection
• More interactive, people partner up, share out, and actively apply what they're learning

Workshops are where you roll up your sleeves. They're less about inspiration and more about transformation: taking a concept and turning it into new behaviors, strategies, or habits. There will still be moments of listening, but the focus is on engagement and practice.

How They Work Together

One of the best ways to use both formats is back-to-back. A keynote can set the stage with energy and inspiration. A workshop can then follow, providing participants with the opportunity to dive deeper, process the content, and determine how to apply it to their own lives or work.

For example, a 60-minute morning keynote followed by a 45- to 90-minute afternoon workshop allows participants to absorb the big ideas first, then immediately practice applying them.

Adding a workshop to a keynote usually costs a bit extra, but it can be great for your group since the speaker is already there. You're maximizing the value of having them on-site while giving your participants the deeper implementation they need.

Workshops can even include pre-work (like worksheets or reflection questions) so that by the time the group gathers, they're ready to hit the ground running.

Which One Do You Need?

• If your goal is to inspire and energize any size group, go keynote
• If your goal is to help people practice and implement, go workshop
• If you want the best of both, start with a keynote and follow it up with a workshop to cement the learning
• If you have a large audience but limited time, consider a keynote with interactive elements

Both formats have value. It just depends on whether you want your audience to walk away inspired or equipped. Consider your three key factors: audience size, available time, and desired outcome. Still unsure? Reach out, I'm happy to talk through what would work best for your specific situation.

At Fearless Inside, we offer both keynotes and interactive workshops to provide implementation of Fear Intelligence.