To run great workshops in Miro, set clear outcomes, prep frames and templates, and use attention controls, Private mode, Timer, Voting, and Breakout frames to guide the room. Wrap with Interactive Presentation and Talktrack for async, then use Miro AI to cluster ideas and summarise actions for fast follow‑up.

Why Miro is built for facilitation

If you’re wrestling with scattered slides, chat apps, and side documents, Miro brings the room back together. You get a single canvas where you can direct attention, time activities, collect ideas privately or publicly, and then converge with votes and decisions. Extras like Interactive Presentation Mode, Talktrack recordings, Private mode, Voting, Timer, and Breakout frames make it feel like you’ve got a co‑facilitator next to you — and Miro’s AI can cluster sticky notes and summarise themes so you move faster from talk to outcomes.

Bottom line: A good workshop has rhythm. Miro gives you the instruments; this guide shows you how to play them.

The workshop lifecycle in Miro

We’ll keep it simple: Before, During, After. Use this as your repeatable playbook.

Before: set up for momentum

Start from your desired outcomes and reverse‑engineer the board.

• Outcomes & agenda. Write outcomes in the first frame. Add a simple time‑boxed agenda right below it, then convert it to Interactive Presentation for crisp transitions.
  
  

• Space & groups. Create a lane of frames for each activity. If you’re using Breakout frames, duplicate a working area per group and label clearly.
  
  

• Private contributions. For brainstorming or sensitive feedback, toggle Private mode for that activity. People can ideate without anchoring on others, and you’ll reveal ideas together later.
  
  

• Converge moments. Pre‑configure Voting sessions for the top two decisions you need today. Set vote counts and time limits so you’re not fiddling mid‑workshop.
  
  

• Time boxing. Add the Timer to the toolbar and save a few presets (3, 7, 12 minutes). You’ll keep a steady cadence without watching the clock.
  
  

• Warm‑up & async. Record a short Talktrack to show how to navigate the board and the rules of engagement. Share it 24 hours before so people arrive ready.
  
  

• Access & attention. Check who can edit versus view, and test Bring everyone to me so you can re‑focus the room on command.

During: run the room like a pro

You’re curating energy and flow, not clicking buttons.

• Open with clarity. Start in Interactive Presentation to share outcomes, agenda, and working agreements. End the intro by zooming into Activity 1.
  
  

• Diverge first. Switch on Private mode for brainstorming; start the Timer; stay quiet for the first half to avoid steering ideas.
  
  

• Reveal & theme. Turn off Private mode; quickly group duplicates; use Miro AI to cluster sticky notes and suggest themes; rename clusters in plain English.
  
  

• Decide with purpose. Launch your pre‑set Voting session. While votes finish, prep a “Decision & Next steps” frame and draft success criteria.
  
  

• Breakouts without chaos. Send teams to their Breakout frames, set the Timer, and use attention controls to bring them back for share‑outs.
  
  

• Keep everyone with you. If people drift, use Bring everyone to me and a quick recap. Resist over‑zooming; change views deliberately.
  
  

• Capture actions live. Convert chosen ideas into cards/tasks (or tag owners directly on sticky notes). Keep a running “Decision log” on the board.

After: lock in value

Workshops end when actions start happening — not when the call ends.

• Summarise fast. Use AI to produce a short summary: goals, top themes, decisions, owners, dates. Save it as a Doc on the board.
  
  

• Share the story. Record a Talktrack recap (2–3 minutes) walking the decision frame. Post it to the project channel for absentees.
  
  

• Hand‑offs. Export action items to your system of record (e.g., Asana/Jira) and link back to the board. Schedule a 15‑minute check‑in.

A 90‑minute agenda that just works

0–10 mins — Welcome, outcomes, how we’ll work (Interactive Presentation).
10–25 mins — Silent brainstorm (Private mode + Timer).
25–40 mins — Reveal, cluster, and theme (Miro AI).
40–55 mins — Lightning share‑outs (attention control to move the room deliberately).
55–70 mins — Prioritisation vote (Voting).
70–85 mins — Breakouts on top items (Breakout frames + Timer).
85–90 mins — Decisions & next steps (owners, dates, Talktrack recap after the session).

Swap breakouts and voting if your group needs more exploration before prioritising.

Troubleshooting (quick rescues)

• People are lost on the board. Use Bring everyone to me, then slow your pans/zooms for 30 seconds.

• Ideas get biased early. Keep Private mode on longer; only reveal when time’s up.

• Too many duplicates. Cluster with AI, then ask the group to merge pairs manually for ownership.

• Energy dips. Shorten cycles: 5‑minute brainstorm → 3‑minute cluster → 4‑minute vote. A visible Timer resets the pace.

• Tech hiccups. Keep a text‑only “Lifeboat” frame where people can drop ideas if audio/video fails.

FAQ

Can I run hybrid workshops smoothly?
Yes. Keep a shared board as the single source of truth, and always narrate what you’re showing with Interactive Presentation so remote participants stay in step.

When should I use Private mode?
Any time you want honest input without anchoring — idea generation, pre‑mortems, 1–10 scoring — then reveal for discussion.

Are Breakout frames the same as video breakout rooms?
No. They’re shared spaces on one board for small‑group activities. You can still use your video tool’s breakouts if you prefer.

What if participants can’t attend live?
Use Talktrack to record instructions and a quick recap. People can comment and catch up asynchronously.

Will AI replace facilitated discussion?
No. Use AI to speed up clustering, summaries, and note‑taking; keep humans for judgment and prioritisation.

Next Steps

Book a Miro Workshop Facilitation session with Generation Digital — we’ll tailor your board blueprint, set up attention controls, private ideation, voting, and breakout frames, and train your facilitators to run confident, repeatable sessions.