Podcasts about workshops work

Dr. Myriam Hadnes, Founder of Workshops Work, shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and the creation of her companies NeverDoneBefore.org and Workshops.Work. She discusses the challenges she faced in transitioning to entrepreneurship and the importance of building a community and creating a safe space for collaboration. Myriam also explains her facilitation agency model and the value of investing in branding and design. She emphasizes the power of understanding human behavior and communication in facilitating workshops and building successful businesses.This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the only accelerated platform with a holistic approach to professional development that guarantees and nurtures the growth of employees. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation

Next Thursday, Dr. Myriam Hadnes, Founder of Workshops Work, shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and the creation of her companies NeverDoneBefore.org and Workshops.Work. She discusses the challenges she faced in transitioning to entrepreneurship and the importance of building a community and creating a safe space for collaboration. Myriam also explains her facilitation agency model and the value of investing in branding and design. She emphasizes the power of understanding human behavior and communication in facilitating workshops and building successful businesses.This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the only accelerated platform with a holistic approach to professional development that guarantees and nurtures the growth of employees. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation

How do we facilitate a workshop that actually works?  What are some key facilitation strategies that turn your meetings from boring to extraordinary?   Myriam Hadnes, facilitation expert and the host of Workshops Work podcast, joins Rob Kalwarowsky from Elite High Performance to answer these questions and more. Check out Rob Kalwarowsky's TEDx talk - How to Handle a Bad Boss Have you ever had a bad boss?  Are you working for an a**hole?  Check out, executive coach and mental health advocate. Rob Kalwarowsky's brand new TEDx talk, How to Handle a Bad Boss! -   The talk covers: Signs of a Bad Boss 6 types of A**hole Bosses The Mental Health Impact of a Bad Boss Strategies to Deal with Your Bad Boss Find Myriam Hadnes https://workshops.work https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriam-hadnes https://www.youtube.com/c/workshopswork https://www.instagram.com/myriamhadnes/ https://open.spotify.com/show/7jZ2y0z0nOD6uRB7520w4u?si=97a8c9b2930f4446  Find Rob Kalwarowsky, World-Renowned Leadership Coach & TEDx Speaker, at the following links:  https://www.howtodealboss.com/howtodealwithanassholeboss  https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kalwarowsky/ https://www.instagram.com/bosscoachrobk/  https://www.tiktok.com/@bosscoachrobk 

Join Ally Dommu, Director of Service Development, and Dr. Myriam Hadnes, facilitator, and founder of Workshops Work, as they discuss the power and importance of facilitation. Discover steps facilitators can take to harness benefits and create respectful and inclusive spaces.

Tänases saates on Andres Kostivi külaliseks Tiina Hiller, pikaaegse turunduse- ja personalijuhtimise kogemusega ekspert, kes täna tegutseb Futuristi töötubade fasilitaatori ja digiteenuste arenduse projektijuht.    Tänases episoodis võtame Tiinaga vaatluse alla fasiliteerimise kui strateegilise tööriista, mis aitab meeskondadel ja organisatsioonidel paremaid otsuseid teha, tulemusi saavutada ning kiiremini kohaneda.   Saates tuleb juttu:  Fasiliteerimise olemus ja tähtsus: Tiina selgitab, mis on fasiliteerimine ja miks on see tänapäeval nii oluliseks muutunud.  Fasiliteerimise mõju: arutleme, kuidas fasiliteerimine mõjutab positiivselt tiime ja organisatsioone, tõhustades koostööd ja suurendades kaasatust.  Fasiliteerimine juhi tööriistana: Räägime sellest, kuidas fasiliteerimisoskused aitavad juhtidel meeskonna potentsiaali maksimeerida, otsustusprotsesse kiirendada ja meeskonna ühtsust tugevdada.  Millal kasutada fasiliteerimist: Tiina jagab näpunäiteid olukordade äratundmiseks, kus fasiliteerimine on eriti kasulik.  Olulised fasiliteerimisoskused: Käsitleme vajalikke oskusi efektiivseks fasilitaatoriks olemiseks ning Tiina jagab ka soovitusi ja fasiliteerimisoskuste arendamiseks ja täiendamiseks.    Soovitatud materjalid:  Raamatusoovitus: The Art and Science of Facilitation: How to Lead Effective Collaboration with Agile Teams, autorilt Marsha Acker.  Blogisoovitus: The Workshopper blog by AJ & Smart).  Podcasti soovitused: Workshops Work (kuula siit) ja First Time Facilitator (kuula siit).  Kiiresti muutuvad turutingimused ja tehnoloogilised uuendused nõuavad ettevõtetelt pidevat kohanemist. Fasiliteerimisoskused aitavad organisatsioonidel ja tiimidel tõhusamalt kaasata oma liikmeid, struktureerida arutelusid ning jõuda kiiremini innovatiivsete ja efektiivsete lahendusteni.    Kuulake meie viimast episoodi ja avasta, kuidas fasiliteerimisoskused võivad sinu tiimi ja organisatsiooni aidata.

A deep and insightful conversation with Myriam Hadnes, a self-described facilitation evangelist and the host of the 'Workshops Work' podcast. Myriam shares her journey from an academic background in behavioral economics to embracing facilitation as her superpower, aiming to help others learn and apply it effectively. She highlights her experiences living and working in different parts of the world, emphasizing the role of travel in gaining insights into diverse cultures, which she finds crucial in her work. The conversation delves into the essence of facilitation, contrasting it with coaching, and explores its application in making group processes easy and engaging. Myriam also shares practical tips and strategies for effective facilitation, including dealing with disruptive participants and designing workshops that create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants. The episode concludes with resources and ways to connect with Miriam for those interested in learning more about the art and science of facilitation.00:00 The Journey of a Facilitation Evangelist04:03 Embracing the Digital Shift in Facilitation05:20 Cultural Nuances in Facilitation08:02 The Essence and Impact of Facilitation10:40 Navigating Group Dynamics as a Facilitator16:13 Designing Effective Workshops18:50 Managing Disruptive Participants22:41 Exploring Facilitation Techniques and Ground Rules24:00 The Art of Icebreakers and Energizers27:49 Engagement and Attention Span in Meetings28:25 Effective Session Lengths and Participant Engagement30:16 Innovative Facilitation Techniques and Tools33:03 Virtual Facilitation and Preferred Platforms36:46 The Power of Listening and Authenticity in Work38:07 Connecting with the Facilitation Community39:05 Personal Insights and Closing ThoughtsMyriam HadnesFacilitation Evangelist: "An expert in the field of facilitation who actively promotes its importance and benefits. This person is passionate about the power of effective group collaboration and aims to spread the word, advocating for the adoption of facilitation techniques in various settings.https://workshops.work/⚡️ In each episode, Paddy Dhanda deep dives into a new human Superpower to help you thrive in the age of AI.

There is an art to facilitating workshops, especially if you wish it to be impactful. Today's guest is Myriam Hadnes, who founded Workshops Work to support individuals and organizations to grow their facilitation skills. She shares her thoughts on helping clients create a smoother workshop, drawing from the best practices she has learned from navigating and growing as an expert in the field. What is more, Myriam adds some tips for facilitators to avoid mirroring negative effects in the workshops. Tune in to this exciting episode as Myriam joins Michael Zipursky to share more about designing a workshop that truly works.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.consultingsuccess.com/podcast

Welcome to Yoga Boss episode 164, "How to make your workshops work." Not all workshops are created equally. Not all workshops will help you create more paid students in your business.  Maybe you are using workshops to market your business...but you are spending more time teaching and delivering without seeing students convert.  Listen to this episode to learn how to distinguish between a workshop that sells and a workshop that doesn't. Listen to this episode to turn on the money flow in 2023. In this episode we cover the following: -The Profitable Yoga Boss Group Monthly Bonus workshops-The Workshop Workshop March 24th, 2023 -The Profitable Yoga Boss Group OPEN Apply now-Exact outline for workshops that create more paid students  -Workshops are not all created equal. -Apply for The Yoga Boss Group now to get the workshopAs mentioned in the episode:www.theyogabossgroup.com/apply

Hi everyone.Are you a good listener? A person who doesn't need to be in the limelight to shine? Someone who's interested in helping workgroups achieve their best possible outcomes? Perhaps you're considering making a career change, or maybe looking to improve your facilitation skills? If so, you'll definitely want to listen to this episode, #107, of Looking Forward: Opportunities for Job, Career, Business and Investment Seekers.My guest expert, Dr. Myriam Hadnes, will share her expertise on such things as: (1) what facilitators do, (2) what kinds of facilitators there are, (3) who uses facilitators and where, and (4) why she believes the need for facilitators will continue to grow. And, in true Looking Forward fashion, you'll hear about the steps you can take to become a facilitator, such as how to find a job in that field, or to improve your facilitation skills so you can flourish within your profession.Myriam Hadnes is a Ph.D. behavioral economist by training, the host of the “Workshops Work” podcast by passion, and a facilitator by profession. Motivated by the vision that we can change the world, one workshop at a time, Myriam curates the global "NeverDoneBefore" community that explores the edges of the art and craft of facilitation. In her work, Myriam applies scientific insights about human behavior and group dynamics- along with her learnings from experts on her podcast-- to improve collaborative work. You'll find out more about Myriam and how to connect with her at the end of this episode. You'll find more information about my business by visiting www.jeff-ostroff.com There you can also contact me about the various marketing and communications services we offer, such as (1) podcast hosting, creation, and consulting, (2) professional voice overs and B2B/B2C interviewing, and (3) live, interactive webinars featuring some of our "All Star" Looking Forward guest experts.** If you enjoy this episode, please be sure to tell your family, friends, and other members of YOUR network about it… and encourage them to listen to it, too. Also, please give it a "like" and/or a good review.Looking Forward is THE podcast about the OPPORTUNITIES created by global trends, now and into the future, and how YOU might capitalize on those: Think... jobs, careers, business start-ups, ventures, investments, life enrichment.Guests are experts in their field, and most are C-suite executives, household names, authors, and/or from prestigious universities or similar organizations.Looking Forward is a great source for media outlets, podcast producers, telecom companies, audio publishers, etc. to include as part of their content. This is what MTN, the gigantic telecommunications company in Africa, is doing.To discuss revenue-sharing opportunities to distribute our content-- which can be customized and reformatted to meet your needs and those of your target audience-- please contact us at www.jeff-ostroff.comLooking Forward also offers a smart and affordable way for advertisers to promote their products or services, especially given its positive spin and informative, entertaining, and wholesome content.

Workshop preparation requires a lot of work and can be frustrating, but if done correctly, can lead to magic. There are several reasons why personas should be updated often, including new insights into customer needs and motivation.: Assuming your data model is already well along, influencing it in the early stages can save valuable time and money. Follow Ivy on Twitter (@ivyquinz3l) Follow Paulo on Twitter (@paulofonseca__)--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/designerdao/message This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designer-dao.xyz

In today's episode, Pilar talks to Myriam Hadnes, facilitator and host of the Workshops Work podcast and founder of the Never Done Before festival.  Myriam first realised she was a facilitator after she read Priay Parker's "The Art of Gathering". Her perception of facilitation has broadened since then: she now thinks more of having the mindset of a facilitator as she's doing less and less pure facilitation, and more training and nurturing of facilitators. Maybe it's more a question of identity and how you do what you do eg in a conversation, being present, listening, making sure the other person is heard etc. Myriam has created a home for facilitators. The Never Done Before festival grew out of a feeling that there was nothing new in the events that Myriam attended. In 2020, Myriam set up the festival, online, with the only “rule” that those leading sessions had to do something they hadn't done before. She invited previous podcast guests to run sessions.The festival went on for 24 hours and everything that could go wrong, went wrong! However, there's a beauty about creating a space for a group into a session that might fail, because it's never done before. It creates a strong sense of connection.  (And there was even some impromptu singing at some point, sparked by some things going wrong…) There was even an “afterglow”, later in the year when some of the facilitators repeated their sessions. A participant suggested an “advent calendar” type event to follow up the festival. Everyone who had run a workshop could run the session again under the label “Done only once before”. The ongoing experience of meeting every day brought people even closer together. Two years on, the community is becoming stronger and doesn't need Myriam to curate and do everything for them, but provide the ecosystem and “give permission”. They have just run The Testival, a testing festival, 100% co-created by the community.  For the next Never Been Done Before festival, it will be the community that organises the event, which feels strange to Myriam. She's going through similar stages to giving birth and bringing up children, and it's an emotional process. To hold a space safe enough for everyone to take risks and show unpolished work to other facilitators is Myriam's main role now. They're now in the process of thinking about who else can join in, at the same time as protecting the community. Inclusivity (eg global) while being exclusive (eg it's a paid community) is a difficult balance to strike. One of the ways in which they're addressing this is through adjusting the price to purchasing power, so the price varies depending on where you are in the world.  21.30minsThe community also has a mentorship programme. They have adapted the Hero's Journey as a development programme for new facilitators, and it ends with mentees running a session in the festival. The next intake is in September 2022. They have two homes online: one for asynchronous communication, and they also have a community garden on Welo https://www.welo.space/. This space is open all the time, for people to hop in, meet others, and even run their own sessions.  Creating the habit for people to use this space has been interesting. First they called it a co-working space, but very few people would drop in. It finally kicked off when they started to schedule sessions there, and rename it to and design it as a “community garden”. 28.00minsMyriam realised that the facilitator community shares everything, except their fees. She also noticed that many struggle to price their services. She hosted a mastermind session for the NDB community and realised how good it felt to have an open conversation about money. Someone suggested carrying out a survey - mainly whether there was a difference between what people charged online vs in person.  The results: at the beginning of the pandemic, many clients expected online events to be cheaper than in person, or even free - now this has changed, and the rates are more or less the same (sometimes online is more expensive). Geographically, the rates in the US are higher than everywhere else.  Now that the world has woken up to the power of facilitation, and understands the value of a well facilitated workshops, the overall rates seem to have gone up. Value is a much better parameter to cost around than hours.  Myriam believes you can actually go deeper when you run sessions in the online world, because breakout rooms are truly private spaces, rather than the group work done in person, where many groups still share the same physical space in practice. As facilitators, we need a mindset shift: clients don't want a “workshop”, they want specific outputs. (And will these be achieved with one workshop?)  Myriam hosts a show called “Workshops Work”, and she's now past the 170 episodes. https://workshops.work/podcast/ If you would like to guest on Myriam's show, she is now looking for “the edges”, what is a different angle on workshops? What have workshop leaders learned from their career before running workshops, that they bring to the work?Myriam holds a chemistry call with potential guests, where she assesses whether she and the person “click”, and whether there is enough “flesh” - the moment Myriam gets curious and the questions start coming to her, that's where the chemistry call ends, and the recording date is set. (And if you want to find out more about Myriam as a podcaster, check out this conversation in Adventures in Podcasting: https://www.adventuresinpodcasting.com/ep-21-adventures-with-myriam-hadnes/ )   The next Never Been Done Before festival will run on 18 Nov 2022. https://neverdonebefore.org/

Ellen Wagner ist Diversity-Coach und arbeitet in den USA und Deutschland. Die 41-Jährige spricht im Podcast über die Suche nach ihren leiblichen Eltern, Rassismus in queeren Spaces und Homophobie in der Schwarzen Community – und darüber, warum sie sich bei Workshops manchmal auf den Boden schmeißt. https://ellen-wagner.com/ (04:30) Passkontrolle (08:55) Bewerbungsgespräch (Rubrik) (12:25) Klischee-Check (15:20) Wurzellosigkeit & Paradiesvogel im Senegal (31:25) Anderssein: Homophobie in Schwarzen und Rassismus in queeren Communities (49:05) Suche nach den Eltern: Gentest und Halbgeschwister (1:01:00) Diversity-Coaching: Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe und Heilen (1:17:40) Wie man mit Post-Its auf Rassismus reagiert Diese Folge ist Teil der "Work-Edition" mit dem Schwerpunkt Arbeit. Sie wird unterstützt von LinkedIn. Hört auch rein in die Work-Edition des Kopfsalat-Podcasts: https://www.frnd.de/kopfsalat/ Der Halbe Katoffl Podcast ist eine Gesprächsreihe mit Deutschen, die nicht deutsche Wurzeln haben. Moderator ist der Berliner Journalist Frank Joung, dessen Eltern aus Korea kommen. Es geht um Themen wie Integration (gähn), Identität (ah ja) und Stereotypisierungen (oha) – aber eben lustig, unterhaltsam und kurzweilig. Anekdoten aus dem Leben statt Theorien aus dem Lehrbuch. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-joung-76-fjo/ Website: https://halbekatoffl.de Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halbekatoffl/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HalbeKatoffl Twitter: https://twitter.com/HalbeKatoffl

Kelvy has been a scribe for almost 30 years - there are few people better placed to share insights and reflections on the discipline and its impact on collaborative work.Scribing is far more than ‘just' drawing pictures or transcribing speech, as Kelvy explains with perfect clarity and engaging spirit in this episode.Join us as we plumb the multi-sensory depths of her work. We explore what it means to listen without seeing, to participate without influencing, and to join art and information for the benefit of the group (and beyond).Find out about:What scribing is and how it enhances our collaborationWhy ink and pencil marks are only the tip of the iceberg in the multi-sensory world of scribingHow perception, knowledge, and drawing come together in scribingHow Otto Scharmer's four levels of listening translate to scribingWhat feedback looks like when we accept that no drawing can be ‘bad'Why Kelvy recommends for anyone interested in exploring scribingDon't miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and AnswersPart two [01:28] Can one be taught to read non-linearly? [04:30] Do you ever feel frustrated at a group for going in a different direction than you expected? [08:24] What makes a workshop fail - and how does it feel as a scribe to witness?[11:01] You've written books about scribing. Where do you start when teaching it? [17:39] How do you avoid anticipating the movements of a group? Do you have to hold yourself back?[22:27] Though we agree that there is no such thing as a bad scribe, what would you recommend to someone who wants to improving their scribing?[26:39] What's your favourite exercise?LinksWebsiteUpcoming programsScribing Essentials course, in OctoberGenerative Scribing bookMedium profileConnect to Kelvy:LinkedInTwitterInstagram

Kelvy has been a scribe for almost 30 years - there are few people better placed to share insights and reflections on the discipline & its impact on collaborative work.Scribing is far more than ‘just' drawing pictures or transcribing speech, as Kelvy explains with perfect clarity & engaging spirit in this episode.  We explore what it means to listen without seeing, to participate without influencing, & to join art and information for the benefit of the group.Find out about:What scribing is and how it enhances our collaborationWhy ink and pencil marks are only the tip of the iceberg in the multi-sensory world of scribingHow perception, knowledge, and drawing come together in scribingHow Otto Scharmer's four levels of listening translate to scribingWhat feedback looks like when we accept that no drawing can be ‘bad'Why Kelvy recommends for anyone interested in exploring scribingSubscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Download the free 1-page summary, to keep key points of this episode to hand.And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and AnswersPart one [01:08] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - if you do? [04:09] What did you have to leave behind from your education in art to become a 'real' scribe? [05:57] Can you explain the difference between scribing and graphic facilitation? [11:03] How do you perceive your impact on the group - does scribing change the course of a workshop?[13:28] How do you represent silence, pauses, and the unspoken? [16:43] Can you read other scribes' work in ways that participants can't? [23:01] What's the difference between reading body language in-person and online? [25:46] Has there been a particular moment when you've felt proud of the group's reaction to your drawings? [29:59] More emotion comes through in drawings, does that make them more memorable than traditional minute-taking? [31:21] Where is the line between art and information in your work? Do the two merge[32:56] How do you retain independent creativity whilst trying to meet the expectations of the client? [36:20] What I'm hearing is that you may feel you've lost some sharpness, but gained more 'sensing'? [38:25] Could a university professor use a scribe to capture their first iteration of a lecture and then use those drawings as their presentation in the future? [45:24] Could you imagine a museum or gallery for scribes? [49:34] Is the sense of care and depth of listening a way to distinguish between a good scribe and a bad scribe? Is there such a distinction?LinksWebsiteUpcoming programsScribing Essentials course, in OctoberGenerative Scribing bookMedium profileConnect to Kelvy:LinkedInTwitterInstagram

We all hope to facilitate breakthroughs - those “a-ha” moments when participants have a lightbulb over their heads, ideas synthesise, and new ideas emerge.But we can't legislate and plan for them, can we?Of course, there are no guarantees... but Kimberly Wiefling (and her approach to facilitation) is as close to a guarantee as you can get!Join us in this episode as we discuss failure, emergence, workshop design, behavioural economics, language, and many more topics by way of some deeply personal reflections and storytelling. It's a wondrous episode!Find out about:How to facilitate for breakthroughs to occur, rather than leaving it to chanceWhere physics and facilitation intersectWhat a workshop of breakthroughs looks like - before, during, and afterWhy sharing a space and experience is critical to a workshop's successHow to use clothing to influence your creativity (and mindset in general)How using contracts (signed by employee and manager) can codify workshop outcomesDon't miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!Questions and AnswersPart two [02:45] Might we use the CEO as leverage to create a more innovative company culture? [09:16] How do you help groups prevent the 'workshop hangover', to maintain their learnings? [14:08] Examples of designing our environments to embed change. [16:48] Asking questions, posing possibilities, and how facilitators can introduce the idea of change. [20:53] Using overeating as an example to look at self-soothing, comforting, and avoidance. [23:36] How time moves differently when we're energised or burned out. [27:47] Facilitating transformational experiences. [29:36] Inviting co-creation by assigning roles in a workshop. [36:57] The disempowerment we create as facilitators when we 'take control' of a workshop.LinksKimberly's websiteKimberly's teamKimberly's businessTwo pages full of Kimberly's free videos, articles, and templatesKimberly's booksConnect to Kimberly:On LinkedInOn Twitter

We all hope to facilitate breakthroughs - those “a-ha” moments when participants have a lightbulb over their heads, ideas synthesise, and new ideas emerge.But we can't legislate and plan for them, can we?Of course, there are no guarantees... but Kimberly Wiefling (and her approach to facilitation) is as close to a guarantee as you can get!Join us in this episode as we discuss failure, emergence, workshop design, behavioural economics, language, and many more topics by way of some deeply personal reflections and storytelling. It's a wondrous episode!Find out about:How to facilitate for breakthroughs to occur, rather than leaving it to chanceWhere physics and facilitation intersectWhat a workshop of breakthroughs looks like - before, during, and afterWhy sharing a space and experience is critical to a workshop's successHow to use clothing to influence your creativity (and mindset in general)How using contracts (signed by employee and manager) can codify workshop outcomesDon't miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!Questions and AnswersPart one [01:13] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - if you do? [02:00] When was the moment that you realised you are a facilitator, not a trainer? [05:05] What have you learned from physics about facilitation?# [09:55] How can we detach our own expectations and open our minds up to new possibilities and different realities within a group? [11:13] Can you tell us the story of the Chinese horse farmer? [14:10] Can we re-engineer confirmation bias to help us find silver linings?[16:25] Using first-person narrativisation to reframe our experiences as positive. [19:07] How can we use negatives as fuel to change the narrative?[22:40] Kimberly shares a perspective-shifting exercise. [25:38] What makes a workshop fail? [28:53] How can a facilitator turn up, do nothing, and still make things happen?[36:35] What is the one step we can take to make the impossible possible in organisations plagued by 'learned helplessness? LinksKimberly's websiteKimberly's teamKimberly's businessTwo pages full of Kimberly's free videos, articles, and templatesKimberly's booksConnect to Kimberly:On LinkedInOn Twitter

Supporting employee self-development isn't a sacrifice for organisations. In fact, it is often a precursor to the organisation's own growth and progress.In Kristiaan Hartman and Wouter Smeets, we have two of the best people possible to discuss self-development in the workplace - and its impacts throughout organisations.As the founders of Prototype You, Kristiaan and Wouter have been facilitating self-development programmes within organisations since 2018. Safe to say, they have plenty of insights to share about how facilitation can help us design better (perfect?) roles, workspaces, and even careers!Find out about:Why employees' personal growth so often generates organisational growthHow to create a culture of shared development, based on inner valuesThe story of Kristiaan and Wouter's business - Prototype You - and why they started itWhy skillset and mindset are equally important in personal developmentHow the duo recruit facilitators to deliver the programme - and what they've learned through the processDon't miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Exclusive offer from Facilitator Cards for workshops.work listeners! You can get 15% off your entire purchase at shop.facilitator.cards by using code workshopswork.Questions and AnswersPart two [01:40] Is your service - your product - still in prototype? Or is that phase complete? [03:05] As you have external facilitators deliver some of your programmes, is each session codesigned with them? [04:33] How do you recruit your facilitators? [08:42] Is it scary to have other facilitators out there delivering "your" work? [13:32] Discussing the arrogance inherent in assuming that we see things that someone else doesn't and theorising about "what might have happened". [20:20] It sounds like your facilitators need to be highly skilled and mature - in their own practice but also in your programme? [21:59] How do you balance the personal learning styles and speeds of participants with the need for the group to make shared progress? [25:05] Do you have a favourite exercise?[30:18] What would be your one-word description for each other? [33:25] What is the one thing you want listeners to take away from this episode?LinksConnect to Kristiaan and Wouter:Wouter on LinkedInKristiaan on LinkedIn

Supporting employee self-development isn't a sacrifice for organisations. In fact, it is often a precursor to the organisation's own growth and progress.In Kristiaan Hartman and Wouter Smeets, we have two of the best people possible to discuss self-development in the workplace - and its impacts throughout organisations.As the founders of Prototype You, Kristiaan and Wouter have been facilitating self-development programmes within organisations since 2018. Safe to say, they have plenty of insights to share about how facilitation can help us design better (perfect?) roles, workspaces, and even careers!Find out about:Why employees' personal growth so often generates organisational growthHow to create a culture of shared development, based on inner valuesThe story of Kristiaan and Wouter's business - Prototype You - and why they started itWhy skillset and mindset are equally important in personal developmentHow the duo recruit facilitators to deliver the programme - and what they've learned through the processDon't miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Exclusive offer from Facilitator Cards for workshops.work listeners! You can get 15% off your entire purchase at shop.facilitator.cards by using code workshopswork.Questions and AnswersPart one [01:43] When did you start calling yourselves facilitators? [02:46] What's the difference between a coach and a facilitator? [07:52] Why did you call your company Prototype You? And why not Perfect You? [11:41] Is prototyping a skill to learn or a mindset to adopt?[14:42] What is Prototype You, then? What is the process behind it? [17:05] This sounds reminiscent of a retrospective in Scrum? [23:57] Do you focus on our self-responsibility for our work experience? [29:07] Could the next step be to develop a version of Prototype You for families? [31:01] Discussing failure and different perspectives on it. [34:55] What role do managers play in the Prototype You process? [41:51] How would you deal with a manager realising that they've overpromised something as part of an employee's prototyping? [45:10] Do you have a checklist or a process to vet companies? How do you spot red flags?LinksConnect to Kristiaan and Wouter:Wouter on LinkedInKristiaan on LinkedIn

Facilitation is a lot of things: we'd all agree on and understand it as a verb. Many of us would identify it as a profession. But how many of us understand it as a business?Mireille Beumer wasn't always in the business of facilitation. Yes, she was a freelancer offering facilitation services, but it took a little while longer for her to step into entrepreneurship and create her facilitation business.It might seem like pedantic semantics, but it's a crucial difference.Learn what it means to create a facilitation business, rather than being a solo facilitator in this episode... and learn how Mireille did it herself! Find out about:●       Mireille's journey of turning facilitation from a verb to a profession to a business●       The building blocks for creating a facilitation business●       Why asking for help brings success, but uncritically accepting advice doesn't●       How a freelance facilitator operates differently to a facilitation business●       Why it is a folly to try and sell your 'human' services to businesses●       What Mireille recommends if you aren't sure where to start with entrepreneurship Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Exclusive offer from Facilitator Cards for workshops.work listeners you can get 15% off your entire purchase at shop.facilitator.cards by using code workshopswork. Questions and AnswersPart two[01:09] What's your process for deciding pricing?[04:03] Why is it that you don't share your preparation time?[09:38] The need to compensate ourselves for training and education.[11:56] What is one thing you wish you had known before starting?[13:42] Coping with uncertainty.[18:03] What's the difference between being a freelance facilitator and having a facilitation business?[22:59] What can you share about the back office of your business? With whom do your work?[25:50] Where is your business heading - more co-facilitators? Automated sessions? Or are you happy with how it is right now?[27:21] What makes a young business fail?[28:58] What are your thoughts on 'competitors'?[34:46] Avoiding falling into the same traps our clients might call us in to help them out of.[35:32] What is the one thing you would like the audience to take away from this episode?LinksEpisode 30 - featuring Mireille!Mireille's websiteConnect to Mireille:On LinkedInOn Instagram 

Myriam Hadnes (workshops.work) joins Phil to discuss; - The importance of leaders role modeling vulnerability - The work before the work, assessing the needs of your clients - Why doing things you have never done before can enhance your facilitation skills Connect with Myriam - myriam@workshops.work Learn more about Myriam's work - http://workshops.work/

Facilitation is a lot of things: we'd all agree on and understand it as a verb. Many of us would identify it as a profession. But how many of us understand it as a business?Mireille Beumer wasn't always in the business of facilitation. Yes, she was a freelancer offering facilitation services, but it took a little while longer for her to step into entrepreneurship and create her facilitation business.It might seem like pedantic semantics, but it's a crucial difference.Learn what it means to create a facilitation business, rather than being a solo facilitator in this episode... and learn how Mireille did it herself! Find out about:●       Mireille's journey of turning facilitation from a verb to a profession to a business●       The building blocks for creating a facilitation business●       Why asking for help brings success, but uncritically accepting advice doesn't●       How a freelance facilitator operates differently to a facilitation business●       Why it is a folly to try and sell your 'human' services to businesses●       What Mireille recommends if you aren't sure where to start with entrepreneurship Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Exclusive offer from Facilitator Cards for workshops.work listeners you can get 15% off your entire purchase at shop.facilitator.cards by using code workshopswork. Questions and AnswersPart one[01:46] What has happened since you were last on the show, late in 2019, and how have you navigated the pandemic?[05:05] How did you come to build your facilitation business? What comes next?[06:56] Would you consider LinkedIn as the main source of your work?[11:36] Who are the clients you attract? And how did this shift in the pandemic?[17:05] How did you first get started as a facilitation business owner? It can seem so huge and impossible to begin, from the outside.[21:44] Did you purposefully create your personal brand and niche, or did it emerge naturally over time?[26:41] Staying consistent and coherent with your branding.[28:20] The need for education, innovation, and evolution rather than revolution.LinksEpisode 30 - featuring Mireille!Mireille's websiteConnect to Mireille:On LinkedInOn Instagram 

What will the most successful teams look like in the future of work? How is consultancy changing? How can businesses improve their knowledge management and sharing?Believe it or not, Marilyn Zakhour and I manage to fit all of these topics (and several more) into this episode.Marilyn is a fascinating person - from her multi-hyphenate career to her ease of conversation.Since 2020, when she left her role as Head of Dubai Opera, she has been working with top executives to help them step into the future of work and prioritise collaboration over co-location.Our wide-ranging conversation about big ideas felt more like a casual chat with a friend - and there are plenty more seats at the table for you to join us.Find out about:●     Why consultancy is increasingly about change and project management●     How the best remote teams embrace newness, rather than replicate tradition●     Why context is an essential precursor to outcomes in a workshop●     What happens when participant hear you use buzzwords and acronyms●     How Marilyn designs her workshop debriefs to encourage long-lasting behavioural change●     What great information management looks like in businesses (including facilitation ones!)Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Exclusive offer from Facilitator Cards for workshops.work listeners you can get 15% off your entire purchase at shop.facilitator.cards by using code workshopswork.Questions and AnswersPart two[01:07] Can you share the story behind your company's name - Cosmic Centaurs?[05:44] What are the key ingredients that can make a remote team fail?[09:49] How can an organisation design a work interface that is instantly ‘gettable'?[16:25] What would you say is a quick win or starting point for knowledge management?[19:15] If you were creating the perfect remote team from scratch, how would you start?[23:58] The irony of excessive acronyms in a profession that prides itself on simplification and creating clarity.[27:36] The relevance of friendships in our workplace communication.[30:43] Why disagreement is healthy when we have a connection.[32:11] What's the future of work?LinksCosmic Centaurs websiteCosmic Centaurs LinkedIn pageAion Teams websiteConnect to Marilyn:On LinkedIn

What will the most successful teams look like in the future of work? How is consultancy changing? How can businesses improve their knowledge management and sharing?Believe it or not, Marilyn Zakhour and I manage to fit all of these topics (and several more) into this episode.Marilyn is a fascinating person - from her multi-hyphenate career to her ease of conversation.Since 2020, when she left her role as Head of Dubai Opera, she has been working with top executives to help them step into the future of work and prioritise collaboration over co-location.Our wide-ranging conversation about big ideas felt more like a casual chat with a friend - and there are plenty more seats at the table for you to join us.Find out about:●     Why consultancy is increasingly about change and project management●     How the best remote teams embrace newness, rather than replicate tradition●     Why context is an essential precursor to outcomes in a workshop●     What happens when participant hear you use buzzwords and acronyms●     How Marilyn designs her workshop debriefs to encourage long-lasting behavioural change●     What great information management looks like in businesses (including facilitation ones!)Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Exclusive offer from Facilitator Cards for workshops.work listeners you can get 15% off your entire purchase at shop.facilitator.cards by using code workshopswork.Questions and AnswersPart one[01:35] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - in fact, do you?[03:57] What's the switch been like between management and facilitation?[09:24] How do you help clients bridge that gap between knowing and doing after a workshop?[11:56] Do you find that all managers receive well the prompt that they've forgotten something?[17:11] When do you determine that a project is finished? And when did your consulting business become an 'interim management' business?[19:23] This sounds a lot like change management - would you say that's accurate?[22:22] How many people affected by the outcome of a workshop can you legitimately include in said workshop? Isn't there a tipping point?[25:44] What makes a workshop or project fail?[27:19] What's the cost of a failed workshop?[27:59] What would your advice be to a facilitator whose workshop has just failed?LinksCosmic Centaurs websiteCosmic Centaurs LinkedIn pageAion Teams websiteConnect to Marilyn:On LinkedIn

Myriam Hadnes is the host of the Workshops Work podcast, where she talks to guests about facilitation and collaboration. We also talk about the role the podcast has taken in developing her business and community, sponsor breaks and how she uses a visual map to guide people into her show. Workshops Work was part of her business communication, and a year and a half into her podcast, she actually changed the name of her business to match the podcast. Her first guest was her mentor, who also introduced Myriam to workshops. She then reached out to her close community and friends. The show structure has become freer now - Myriam has gone from scripting all her questions and following the script, to sending some questions through to give "the illusion of preparation" and be able to follow the conversation. 17.50 minsThrough podcasting, Myriam has also learned "the art of taking space", a concept she came across through improv. By being vulnerable and sharing her own perspective, she supports her guest helping them to play with the content, instead of being responsible for creating the content for the episode. Being of service to the other person is also something that comes from facilitation. Myriam edited the first 25 episodes herself, which is important to do to get a real sense of your own presence and the conversation dynamics. "We don't want a thinking break to be confused with a tech issue." She used to take 4 hours per hour of episode. 27.30 minsWhen conversations are long, the episodes are split into two shows, as Myriam asked her audience about their preferred length - they said 40 minutes and that it would be good for longer episodes to be split into two. This shows there's all kind of preferences, and it's worth asking your audience. 32.36 minsA few years ago, Myriam went to a conference and was so dissatisfied that eventually, after being prompted by a guest, she set up her own conference. She invited her guests to do something at an event, where they would do something that had never done before. The first 24 hour festival took place in November 2020, and now it's evolved into this whole thing, the Never Done Before community and events: https://neverdonebefore.org/40.50minsMyriam talks about how she decided to get her listeners used to "sponsors breaks" since the first episode so that, if at some point she could sell sponsorship onto the show, the audience would already be used to it.46.50 minsMyriam has a wonderful visual map on Mural for her episodes. You can find it here: https://bit.ly/podcast-map ,  Finally, Myriam talks about what she likes best about having her show: those moments when her and the guest forget that they are recording a show and have memorable, or incredibly fun conversations. Some of her favourite moments are her conversation with Meg Bolger, and Howard Gray.You can connect with Myriam on LinkedIn, and also check out her site Workshops Work. If you want to hear from me (Pilar) in between episodes, you can sign up to the Adventures in Podcasting newsletter here: If you're thinking of starting your own podcasting adventure, I recommend Buzzsprout as host - click here for my affiliate link, which also gets you a little discount, and Riverside FM for recording, which you can access through this other affiliate link.

If you think of adventure education, do you imagine rock climbing, swinging from trees, and kayaking down flowing streams?For Phil Brown, Lead Trainer at High 5 Adventure Learning Centre, it looks more like overcoming vulnerability and supporting one's peers.Adventure education is facilitation in action - literally. The act of exploring and adventuring stretches far beyond the physical experience and challenges us emotionally and socially.Phil joins me in this episode to share the facilitation lessons he's learned from a career in adventure education. Find out about:●       Why adventure education is about far more than physical challenges●       How to encourage risk-taking when you've worked hard to establish trust and psychological safety●       Why collective and individual growth happens when we share novel experiences●       How we each need different support structures around us to take risks - and how we can facilitate them●       What it means to be vulnerable in a shared space and the things it can teach us Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.  Click here to download the free 1-page summary. And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Exclusive offer from Facilitator Cards for workshops.work listeners you can get 15% off your entire purchase at shop.facilitator.cards by using code workshopswork. Questions and AnswersPart two[00:44] Phil shares a story of how different personalities require different types of encouragement and empowerment.[07:56] How do you make adventure education to a person with a physical disability?[16:48] Can adventure education translate to digital spaces?[19:56] What's the difference between an adventurous experience and a vulnerable experience?[24:21] What happens if we stop asking people to be vulnerable and, instead, ask them to be adventurous?[27:18] Do we apologise for our emotions because we are not comfortable in them ourselves?[31:08] Is it worth evaluating workshops immediately after they finish?[33:42] What would be your advice to a facilitator who wants to be a little more adventurous?LinksVertical Playpen - High 5's podcast hosted by PhilHigh 5's websiteConnect to Phil:On LinkedIn 

If you think of adventure education, do you imagine rock climbing, swinging from trees, and kayaking down flowing streams?For Phil Brown, Lead Trainer at High 5 Adventure Learning Centre, it looks more like overcoming vulnerability and supporting one's peers.Adventure education is facilitation in action - literally. The act of exploring and adventuring stretches far beyond the physical experience and challenges us emotionally and socially.Phil joins me in this episode to share the facilitation lessons he's learned from a career in adventure education. Find out about:●       Why adventure education is about far more than physical challenges●       How to encourage risk-taking when you've worked hard to establish trust and psychological safety●       Why collective and individual growth happens when we share novel experiences●       How we each need different support structures around us to take risks - and how we can facilitate them●       What it means to be vulnerable in a shared space and the things it can teach us Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.  Click here to download the free 1-page summary. And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Exclusive offer from Facilitator Cards for workshops.work listeners you can get 15% off your entire purchase at shop.facilitator.cards by using code workshopswork. Questions and AnswersPart one[01:03] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[02:05] What advanced facilitation skills did you learn that changed your mind?[05:20] Why Phil struggles with a 'traditional' educator mindset.[10:06] Can you explain what adventure education is?[15:05] What happens if the physical challenge is entirely within a person's comfort zone?[21:15] When does the trust start to build - on the ground or in the air?[23:38] Can playful contexts teach us serious skills?[26:35] How do you find the right 'amount' of risk? How do you determine that balance?LinksVertical Playpen - High 5's podcast hosted by PhilHigh 5's websiteConnect to Phil:On LinkedIn 

Sara Huang's ‘three R's' of facilitation make for a reliable North Star in workshop environments.And, in our age of sometimes-online-sometimes-in-person-sometimes-hybrid meetings, having a reliable and familiar formula to fall back on can be a huge relief.This episode is, ostensibly, about online facilitation and how things have changed since Sara and I last spoke (episode 60) at the outbreak of the pandemic. But, as is common with this show, we end up touching the edges of so many challenging and energising topics.We explore the thin line that divides honouring our authenticity and finding agreement, fight or flight reactions in the face of discrimination, and the societal structures that influence workshops.So, if you're looking for an episode to warm your cockles, brighten your spark of inspiration, and push you to step further into growing as a facilitator… Enjoy! Find out about:●       Why a black and white view of online vs. in-person events is reductive and harmful●       The three ingredients that can make or break online workshops●       How Sara prioritises the ‘three Rs' of facilitation in her workshop●       Why we need to be mindful of organisational and societal pressures at play in all workshop●       How to combine digital tools to create a flow of sensitive and emotive information Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[02:27] Over the last two years, what has emerged for you about facilitation? Has anything changed?[05:48] How do you bring everything together and clear the distractions when facilitating online?[10:23] How do you choose or moderate your energy for a group - do you decide straight away or is it responsive?[12:04] Is this energetic modulation instinctive, or is it something you've learned?[15:50] Sara shares an incredible - and personal - story about experiencing and negotiating hostility and a 'heated' discussion.[23:33] How and where do you draw your line of personal autonomy and authority vs. the rest of the room?[28:14] How did you handle this situation in what was a relatively new online space (Zoom)?[34:19] How do you negotiate an environment in which everything is welcome, but certain behaviours aren't accepted?[38:47] What was the reaction when you questioned this person on their tone?[43:29] What would you like to carry forward from the last two years into the future of facilitation?[48:31] Was there anything else you wanted to share that we haven't discussed yet?Linkswww.bureautwist.nl/englishConnect to Sara:On LinkedInOn Instagram 

In this episode Pilar talks to Penny Pullan, Director of “Making Projects Work” and author of “Virtual Leadership: Practical Strategies for Success with Remote or Hybrid Work and Teams”, just out in its second edition, and in 2021,  “Making Workshops Work: Creative Collaboration for Our Time”. Penny explains that Making Workshops Work was originally contracted and due to be published in 2016 but then the pandemic hit and she focused on writing the book to help people, not necessarily certified professional facilitators, who needed to collaborate. Penny talks about seeing her role as a catalyst for collaboration, making it easy for groups to do the best work they can do. They move on to talking about when Penny first called herself a facilitator.  Penny explains that it began when she was running a session for a group where a Senior person said in front of everyone, they were going to leave at lunchtime if the session didn't improve. Penny opted to give the group a break and admitted to this senior person that she felt out of her depth.  They gave her some hints and tips that worked and Penny realised that there is such a thing as facilitation. Penny recalls that what changed in that workshop was that whereas she had always been in a position of giving her perspective as an expert, in facilitation the focus is always about the group and that's where the spotlight is.  The experience of that first workshop was helpful as she realised the importance of learning facilitation skills.  They move on to talk about why Penny wrote “Making Workshops Work”. Penny explains that while she's written other books, she realised that a book for those that come to her facilitation skills courses would be useful.   Next they talk about how Penny got into virtual and hybrid facilitation.   It began when Penny was working as a Global Programme Manager. The kick off meeting in her first programme was due to be in New York but then 9/11 happened, planes were grounded and the kick off moved to virtual.  Penny had just been training in facilitation meaning that she could focus on how to apply the principles of facilitation virtually. Penny ended up writing guidelines on virtual facilitation in the company and then leaving to set up her own company including helping people work in virtual and hybrid ways. Pilar asks about the principles Penny focuses on most that can be applied in person, virtual and hybrid.  Penny feels many of the principles are the same, what differs is thinking about the environment and technology.  In any session, you need a clear purpose, shared understanding of the goals, a time plan, knowing the roles of the people taking part.  In person but more so in virtual is knowing “how are we going to work together today?” and working out what's right for that session. In hybrid the key challenge is that it's not a level playing field and as a facilitator it's thinking about how to adjust to that. Pilar asks how Penny decided what to include in the book.  Penny says that as she has worked with so many people over the years they helped her to understand the things that other people find tricky and the things they find most useful.  She's recognised the things that develop confidence as well as competence. They talk about real rather than fake confidence. Penny says she didn't put facilitation in the title of her book as the people she works with are people who need to run workshops but don't have training in facilitation.  For them, building competence builds confidence. Pilar pulls out from the book a list of things great groups have.  Penny explains she did some work with Dale Hunter's company Zenergy in New Zealand.  The list is in Dale Hunter's book “Handling Groups in Action” (UK title).  In it they bring out 16 qualities and Penny realised they are the things that great groups have.  It starts with simple things like Purpose, Culture, Safety and Trust but then moves on to things that are present when a group is really working well. Pilar reflects on how the list is very specific and helps to think about how she can help and role model the behaviours.  Penny highlights this is something that Hunter focuses on particularly in her book. Pilar asks Penny to share a favourite activity.  Penny picks out using an affirmation. She asks everyone to take a sticky note for each person and share a great thing about that person.  It can sound cheesy but it can help people feel really encouraged and this helps them to build confidence. They finish by talking about Penny's journey.  She now has the title “Master Facilitator” and is studying a Masters in Theological Studies.  Pilar asks what the title means to Penny and why she's doing the MA.  Master Facilitator came from when Penny put in for her CPF renewal she needed to resubmit it and the Master Facilitator option had opened up and she decided to go for it. The Masters degree is because Penny has been doing some training with her Church and she wanted to really understand some of the subject matter.  She's studying ethics at the moment and her next assignment is on comparing the ethics of COVID responses in the UK and New Zealand.  Penny is also learning Greek of 2000 years ago so she can read the Bible in its original language, and is about to start an anthropology module.  She is sure that some of the thinking particularly around ethics, will feed back into her facilitation.  Penny will be sharing some of her thinking. To connect with Penny: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennypullan Website: https://makingprojectswork.co.uk/ Her book is “Making Project Work Creative Collaboration for Our Time”.

David Mead is made for this podcast - and not because he's a speaker, consultant, and communicator...David's commitment and insights into leadership have taken him across the world, where he coaches teams and leaders towards closer relationships, stronger cultures, and genuine trust.In this episode, we explore what it means to build trust, create consistency, and stepping up into our responsibilities.David is an inspiring professional speaker on company culture and leadership today - and you get to enjoy an hour of his wisdom for free.  Find out about:●       How dissonance between our words and actions sow the seeds of distrust●       Why leaders need to double down on integrity and responsibility●       How to design workshops that set and meet your participants' expectations●       The three character traits we display that signal we are trustworthy●       What it means to "show up to give" and why this changes everyone's experience of your workshop●       How to find inspiration and prompts to implement behaviour change Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.  Click here to download the free 1-page summary. A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:10] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[02:26] Does your facilitation practice sit alongside your work as a trainer?[03:50] What (and when) was it that changed your mindset from trainer to facilitator?[06:08] What do you think the 'old' you as a salesman could learn from you as a facilitator?[07:44] And is there anything you've learned from training and sales that applies to your facilitation?[10:41] What's the story behind your interest in 'the trust gap' - what actually is it?[17:07] How do you approach bridging the trust gap? Lowering expectations or doing the hard work?[28:48] How do the traits of leadership apply to facilitation, if we feel our workshop has not delivered on its intentions?[33:00] Where do you draw the line when it comes to taking responsibility for a workshop's success?[37:49] What makes a workshop fail?[40:09] Can we train ourselves to carry more leadership traits, or is it a matter of maturity and time?[44:43] Do you have any exercises that someone can practice to develop these leadership traits?[49:11] What is your 'why'?[49:30] What would be the one piece of advice you'd give to facilitators, leaders, and coaches about bridging the trust gap?#[52:14] Was there anything else you wanted to share that we haven't discussed yet?LinksDavid's LinktreeConnect to David:On LinkedInOn TwitterOn Instagram 

Some might not expect an introverted, neurodivergent woman like Sharon Leigh to ‘fit' with facilitation. But anyone can access, practice, and succeed with it – as Sharon knows from personal experience. In fact, Sharon doesn't just fit with facilitation – she excels at it.Together, we cover a huge amount of ground in the world of facilitation, taking in the sights of inclusion, digital spaces, and holding space for facilitators.We also take some unexpected roads and unmapped routes, traversing the hitherto uncharted territory of workshops and neurodivergence, collaborative living, and knowing how to give someone a mood-boosting hug through a computer screen.This episode is a perfect summary of why I started the podcast. We uncover some incredible insights around the practice of facilitation, but we get there by looking deeply at what it means to be human and how we can connect with each other in simple, meaningful ways.Find out about:●     What it takes – and why it's so important – for facilitators and coaches to have their own space for reflection●     Finding gold among the heavy rocks and fast flowing waters of the pandemic●     Why going online can make meetings, group work, and connection more accessible to all●     What Sharon has learned about facilitation, boundaries, and communication from collaborative living●     Why great workshops don't provide great content or solutions, but ‘brain vacations'●     How a pared-down agenda leaves space for the real magic of your workshop to come throughDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and AnswersPart two[02:12] How would you go about ‘yanking people off the cliff-edge' of emotional vulnerability and risk-taking – in a group setting?[07:38] What was the structure you followed for starting your collaborative household?[09:47] What's a learning you would pass onto someone considering collaborative living/a shared household?[13:12] Can you give me a few examples of the boundaries you've set?[18:09] What makes a workshop fail?[23:56] What's your favourite way to build trust and go deep quickly? [26:38] Is there a maximum number of participants you'll work with in a workshop?[30:47] Are there clues or hints that you'd look for in a workshop as to the participants readiness, relaxedness, and openness?[37:20] What are the three things people can pay attention to if they want to learn to read the room better?[41:50] How can we design workshops that are neuro-inclusive?[45:20] Do you have a process you follow for debriefs that is slow enough to hear all voices, but doesn't get too ‘messy'?[49:02] Would you agree that one of the facilitator's superpowers is synthesis? ConnectOn LinkedIn 

Some might not expect an introverted, neurodivergent woman like Sharon Leigh to ‘fit' with facilitation. But anyone can access, practice, and succeed with it – as Sharon knows from personal experience. In fact, Sharon doesn't just fit with facilitation – she excels at it.Together, we cover a huge amount of ground in the world of facilitation, taking in the sights of inclusion, digital spaces, and holding space for facilitators.We also take some unexpected roads and unmapped routes, traversing the hitherto uncharted territory of workshops and neurodivergence, collaborative living, and knowing how to give someone a mood-boosting hug through a computer screen.This episode is a perfect summary of why I started the podcast. We uncover some incredible insights around the practice of facilitation, but we get there by looking deeply at what it means to be human and how we can connect with each other in simple, meaningful ways.Find out about:●     What it takes – and why it's so important – for facilitators and coaches to have their own space for reflection●     Finding gold among the heavy rocks and fast flowing waters of the pandemic●     Why going online can make meetings, group work, and connection more accessible to all●     What Sharon has learned about facilitation, boundaries, and communication from collaborative living●     Why great workshops don't provide great content or solutions, but ‘brain vacations'●     How a pared-down agenda leaves space for the real magic of your workshop to come throughDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and AnswersPart one[01:24] Before I hit record, you were telling me about a book you'd like to write called “COVID Conversations: Not About Covid, But…”[05:42] Do you think we can keep the extra space we've developed for questioning and connection?[07:22] You say that the work from home mandate has been “your time”, what do you mean by that exactly? How have you benefited?[10:37] What's an applicable truth that you'd share with a neurotypical person, that you've learned from trying to ‘fit' in the world as a neurodivergent person?[17:31] How can we, as facilitators, reach out to include others who might not be so comfortable with being themselves?[20:27] How do you facilitate self-care?[25:23] As coaches and facilitators, how much can we be in service to our loved ones?[31:08] Learning to check in and ask permission, determining the difference between giving someone space to vent and space to have their problems solved.[42:12] What's the digital equivalent of reaching out to give someone a reassuring, serotonin-boosting hug?[45:54] Do you think this fear of judgement comes from our proclivity for projection?[47:11] How can we change this mindset of judgement, if at all?ConnectOn LinkedIn 

Being a facilitator is one thing, but Stephen Berkeley is on a mission to live a facilitative life.This idea is incredibly intriguing - can it be done? How do we walk the line between staying curious and ‘coaching' our relationships? Is it possible to use silence as a tool in our day-to-day lives?Stephen joins me in this episode to explore all of the above and much more. We wind our way through the edges of facilitation and find ourselves at the heart of what it means to be human, to hold space for others, and to be present in every situation we encounter.Find out about:Understanding the difference between facilitating and being facilitativeThe special things that happen when you start a workshop in silenceThe three-question process Stephen follows to reflect on his workshopsWhy a ‘bad' or ‘failed' workshop is a matter of perspectiveHow to nurture our natural curiosity so it easily extends into all facets of our livesStephen's advice to anyone who is curious about living a more facilitative life Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.  Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:16] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:51] What is the difference between being facilitative and being a facilitator?[07:02] How can we detect our innate facilitative skill?[11:37] What does it mean, to you, to live a facilitative life?[13:02] How can we avoid ‘overfacilitating' non-workshop situations and creating friction?[18:32] Is there a possibility that having experienced such high-intensity crises, you risk underestimating crises in a workshop?[21:47] What three questions do you answer to help you reflect on a workshop you've delivered?[24:52] Have you ever come to the conclusion that a workshop failed?[32:38] Do you use silence in other areas of your life or work?[37:08] What happens if we apply more silence in our daily conversations?[43:12] As facilitators, we listen and reflect all day. Does our capacity to listen outside of our work diminish as a result?[46:07] How can we nurture our facilitative nature so that asking questions, being curious, and listening come naturally to us and don't require us to put our ‘facilitator hat' on?[51:01] If someone in the audience would like to start living a more facilitative life, what would be your advice to them?LinksLink to the book including Stephen's chapterConnect to Stephen:On LinkedInOn Twitter 

A nickname like “The Box Guy” belies Jimbo Clark's effervescence and brilliance. In fact, Jimbo has spent many years trying to help us open the boxes we put ourselves in (or put over ourselves). And this mindset shift sits at the heart of our conversation in this episode - understanding the boxes we operate in and under, exploring what it means to step outside of them, and seeing what changes when facilitators adopt an unboxing mindset. Jimbo is an exemplary facilitator and a wonderful podcast guest, bringing light and charm in abundance to accompany his razor-sharp expertise. Find out about: ●       Why we need to look at, in, and around our own ‘box' before we ask anyone to look at theirs●       The importance of taking what's on the inside and displaying it on the outside●       How to help a group visualise their own box and physically create it – so they can escape it●       The many reasons why facilitators need to have an ongoing relationship with self-awareness and self-development●       Why we can't lose sight of the client's purpose in a workshop – and how that can present difficulties●       What facilitators have in common with midwives Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.  Click here to download the free 1-page summary. And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and AnswersPart two[02:59] How can we put a value on the work of facilitation – is it possible?[05:25] Talking about pricing for facilitation services.[13:16] What makes a workshop fail?[17:21] To whom (or what) do we have a responsibility in a workshop?[23:25] What would change if the title of ‘facilitator' become divorced from the specific role? (In the way that ‘leaders' don't always have to be CEOs.)[32:32] Do we have to do big things to have big impacts?[36:35] How can we make the best choice when it comes to platforms that enhance the experience of a workshop?[39:41] What would you like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksJimbo's Business: box.innogreat.com Connect to Jimbo:On LinkedIn 

A nickname like “The Box Guy” belies Jimbo Clark's effervescence and brilliance. In fact, Jimbo has spent many years trying to help us open the boxes we put ourselves in (or put over ourselves).And this mindset shift sits at the heart of our conversation in this episode - understanding the boxes we operate in and under, exploring what it means to step outside of them, and seeing what changes when facilitators adopt an unboxing mindset.Jimbo is an exemplary facilitator and a wonderful podcast guest, bringing light and charm in abundance to accompany his razor-sharp expertise. Find out about: ●       Why we need to look at, in, and around our own ‘box' before we ask anyone to look at theirs●       The importance of taking what's on the inside and displaying it on the outside●       How to help a group visualise their own box and physically create it – so they can escape it●       The many reasons why facilitators need to have an ongoing relationship with self-awareness and self-development●       Why we can't lose sight of the client's purpose in a workshop – and how that can present difficulties●       What facilitators have in common with midwives Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.  Click here to download the free 1-page summary. And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and AnswersPart one[01:23] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:06] What makes Larry Philbrook your facilitation ‘godfather', rather than ‘mentor'?[07:21] What makes a ‘world class' facilitator?[12:11] So, what makes you ‘The Box Guy'?[15:48] What do you take from leadership's reaction to ‘boxes on heads'?[20:41] At what point does the magic occur with this exercise – is it through the process, or at the end result?[25:23] You used the phrase “open box” not “outside the box”[27:05] What is ‘reboxing'?[30:58] How do you facilitate the ‘me to we' moment?[38:03] A recent experience of mine has been to ask what I can do less of – to reduce and delegate.LinksJimbo's Business: box.innogreat.com Connect to Jimbo:On LinkedIn 

Circles are everywhere: in nature, our biology, our art. There's something sacred and special about them. So what happens when we introduce them to our facilitation practice?This week, I dive into ‘circle' facilitation with Jonathan Hefter, the Head of Experience Design, Facilitation, & Training at Circl.es.We start by setting a mutual understanding of great facilitation; before diving into the complexities of holding judgements, learning to listen and centre others, and the physical and metaphysical power of gathering in circles; before coming full circle to the tools and tricks great facilitators can use to explore circle workshops.We cover a lot of deep and challenging topics, but Jonathan has a way with words that makes the entire conversation feel easy and accessible. It's no wonder he's finding so much success with Circl.es!Find out about: ●       Defining facilitation and what best practice looks like in circle workshops●       What it means to measure and balance energy and flow in a workshop●       How to help participants own their experiences rather than framing their best-guesses as informed advice●       Why circles – as a physical arrangement and a facilitation practice – can be so effective at unlocking deep connection and conversation●       The impact technology can have on our conversations without us realising●       What the difference is between vulnerability and openness Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[Part 2][00:54] What is it about the circle that facilitates deeper trust, connection, and conversation?[05:26] Can you speak to the power of the literal physical arrangement of the circle, as well as the method?[07:54] How can technology impact our conversations – intentionally and unintentionally?[09:27] What's the online equivalent of changing the temperature or lighting in a room?[11:20] How do you use music and video to create the atmosphere you want?[15:57] Can you explain this ‘U-shaped agenda' in more detail?[21:54] Planning how to start a session in the right way.[23:32] Pulling apart vulnerability and openness and understanding their differences.[27:14] Do you reflect on your own work with the same compassion and curiosity you ask of your participants?[29:01] What makes a workshop fail?[33:08] What exercise would you recommend to someone who wants to try circle conversations?[33:57] And what makes a good prompt?[37:58] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksVideo Platform Circl.es 

Circles are everywhere: in nature, our biology, our art. There's something sacred and special about them. So what happens when we introduce them to our facilitation practice?This week, I dive into ‘circle' facilitation with Jonathan Hefter, the Head of Experience Design, Facilitation, & Training at Circl.es.We start by setting a mutual understanding of great facilitation; before diving into the complexities of holding judgements, learning to listen and centre others, and the physical and metaphysical power of gathering in circles; before coming full circle to the tools and tricks great facilitators can use to explore circle workshops.We cover a lot of deep and challenging topics, but Jonathan has a way with words that makes the entire conversation feel easy and accessible. It's no wonder he's finding so much success with Circl.es!Find out about:●       Defining facilitation and what best practice looks like in circle workshops●       What it means to measure and balance energy and flow in a workshop●       How to help participants own their experiences rather than framing their best-guesses as informed advice●       Why circles – as a physical arrangement and a facilitation practice – can be so effective at unlocking deep connection and conversation●       The impact technology can have on our conversations without us realising●       What the difference is between vulnerability and openness Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[Part 1][01:14] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[02:11] What's the difference between a facilitator, a moderator, a consultant, and a guide?[06:29] What are the key skills that make a good facilitator?[08:29] How do you distinguish “energy” and “flow”?[16:45] How can we work on ourselves to avoid judging the group for, say, a lack of creativity?[21:45] Why people struggle to take the risk of making conversations not about themselves.[26:08] How can we address and reframe unwarranted advice-giving?[30:20] What was it about your first wilderness experience that changed you as a listener?[33:17] Learning to step out of thinking there are ‘right' and ‘wrong' things to share.LinksVideo Platform Circl.es 

Meg Bolger is a perfect example of facilitation for good, founding and leading multiple organisations focused on promoting DEI and LGBTQ justice, awareness, and allyship.On top of their incredible work towards facilitating a fairer, kinder world, Meg also has plenty of entrepreneurial spark, being the brains behind the wildly successful and much-loved Facilitator Cards. Meg is a true facilitation geek.Our conversation basically became a survival guide for new facilitators and a booster shot for more experienced facilitators. Unmissable.This episode is part 1 of 3, divided as such because our conversation was simply so expansive and interesting that we spoke for far longer than a normal episode of the show.In this section, we explore the foundations of facilitation through education, development, and practice. Meg shares their thoughts on the different mediums for learning facilitation, the merits (and otherwise) of certification, and the key characteristics and behaviours that separate ‘good' and ‘bad' facilitators.Find out about:●       The merits and shortcomings of qualifications and certifications in facilitation●       What the common causes of ‘good' and ‘bad' facilitation are●       Why a ‘failed' workshop isn't always a universal failure●       Meg's favourite exercises, tools, and DIY fixes to common problems●       How to debrief yourself at the end of a workshop●       How and why to shape your workshops according to the energy levels in the roomDon't miss Part 2 and 3: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:23] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator – and when did you become a facilitation geek?[04:55] Did you read books and train as a facilitator or was it learning by doing?[12:41] Can I facilitator be too ‘close', too engaged, to the content they are facilitating that they can unintentionally manipulate the group and their outcomes?[20:40] Are books the best way to learn about facilitation?[27:35] Do you believe in certification?[36:32] How would you distinguish a good facilitator from a bad one?[41:52] How important is self-awareness to being a good facilitator? Where does character come into it?Special Discount for WorkshopsWork listenersGet the 3-pack of wet-erase markers that pair with the cards on us with the code WORKSHOPSWORK when purchasing the facilitator cards with this link:  https://shop.facilitator.cards/discount/WORKSHOPSWORK  LinksMeg's Business pageFacilitator self-feedback formArticle on ‘Watching your game tape'Emergent Facilitation videoUnlocking the Magic of FacilitationMeg's facilitator hat (watch the video version of the show on YouTube to understand!)

Fun, connection, acting without inhibition – it's all part of the joy of being human… and it's the subject of Jacques Martiquet's extensive research.I should stress, Jacques goes by another name: Jacques the Party Scientist!Jacques made it his mission to foster moments of deep human connection in public spaces, to bring strangers together in vulnerability and happiness. You might not be surprised to hear that facilitation is at the heart of its successful implementation!Join me and Jacques in this conversation as we explore the mechanics of human connection, the softer side of herd mentality, and what we can do to help people open themselves up to shared experiences of joy and connection.Find out about:Why synchronicity is fuel to the fire of public joyThe steps Jacques follows to facilitate joy in publicWhat an FIQ is and why lowering the barrier to participation can lie in raising the standardWhy the success of a workshop hinges on the way we engage with disengagementHow incremental, progressive actions can unify a group towards a shared experience they wouldn't have thought possibleThe surprising impact physicality has on our self-knowledge, openness, and moodDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:40] Would you call yourself a facilitator?[02:40] What triggered you to become a ‘party scientist' and facilitating human connection?[04:52] So what does it take to create human connection when we take away social crutches like alcohol?[09:08] What do you do in public spaces to create a container for people? Is it different to how you'd work with corporate clients?[17:10] How do we move from an individual moment of joy to a collective one?[22:25] What makes a workshop fail?[25:47] What would be your advice for someone working with a disengaged group?[32:08] What is an exercise you use to celebrate participants?[34:29] How do you move a group from understanding the purpose of a workshop to sharing a party together at the end?[38:16] What's your favourite game?[42:05] What would your advice be to someone who wants to bring more joy and ease to their workshops, but doesn't know where to start?[48:34] Where do you get the confidence from to decide to play a song in your workshops?[50:54] What's your ritual to slip into a parasympathetic, positive state of mind?[52:46] What's next for you? What's your vision?[54:02] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksThe Party Scientist's Lab: a newsletter and podcast for 1052 human connectionprofessionalsThe Fun Intelligence Quotient: learn how to embody and facilitate funConnect to Jacques:On LinkedInOn Instagram 

After a year and a half of panicked, rushed remote and hybrid work, we are long overdue a calm presence - a voice of reason. Someone to steer the ship and settle the stormy waters, to help us see sense and chart a path towards a more successful, enjoyable, and thriving hybrid work environment.We need Cliff Pollan!Cliff's been navigating the depths of hybrid and remote work for decades – having penned articles about video calls before Zoom was even a noun and worked in hybrid-first companies before the internet even existed!I invited Cliff to hold a conversation about hybrid work, what we need to take on (and leave behind) to make it succeed, and the role of facilitation in that success.This conversation truly opened up a world of possibilities, perspectives, and positive ideas for me – I hope it will do the same for you!Find out about:The deeper-than-expected roots of hybrid workExamining and overcoming the linguistic traps in “remote work”Why agency is at the heart of successful hybrid teamsUnderstanding hybrid work as a space, rather than just a collection of toolsNavigating the ‘laws' of video calls, visibility, and presenceFacilitation as an essential professional and life skillWhy we need to abandon the idea that the physical space is ‘the centre of the universe'Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.  Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:02] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator, if you do?[01:33] How would you describe the ‘craft' of facilitation?[03:15] What makes a workshop fail?[05:41] Can you explain a little about Welo, the tool you've developed?[11:00] How did you perceive and experience hybrid work pre-pandemic?[16:29] What role does agency play in making hybrid work succeed?[20:13] How do ‘office hours' work in a virtual space?[27:17] Do you have a favourite icebreaker or interaction-promoting exercise?[32:27] What role does video play in hybrid work?[35:58] Did we need to collectively experience ‘Zoom fatigue' to find the right frequency for video calls?[40:23] How important is it to share your reason for having your camera off?[43:44] What does it take to equip people with the skills to facilitate better, more equitable discussions?[46:31] Why have we not yet had the watershed moment of widespread facilitation training?[52:22] What merit is there in having on-site staff share the same space in a hybrid meeting?[55:48] What is it about sharing a physical space that feels special?[58:28] If your team sits across time zones, how can you account for the impact on group dynamics?[59:36] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksWELO - Cliff's companyConnect to Cliff:On LinkedIn 

123 episodes later, we return to where it all started.In truth, I believe I could have recorded 124 episodes exclusively with Patrick Cowden and we'd still have another 124 episodes' worth of discussion in us.Anyone who has met Patrick - whether in our monthly NeverDoneBeore ‘spa' sessions, in a client setting, or in passing - can attest to his warmth, vision, and energy.We sat down to explore his much-loved and much-lauded method for establishing human connection - his ‘interaction protocol'. We also explore why appreciation is the universal building block and how we can understand the domino effect of interaction, connection, and collaboration.And, if that wasn't enough, you can hear us practice the interaction protocol ‘live' on the show! Find out about:●     What it means to embody ‘beyond' in life and work●     The magical 90 second protocol that helps people find themselves and each other in a conversation●     A live enactment of Patrick's interaction protocol – between the two of us!●     What Patrick has learned from over 3,000 sessions using his protocol●     Why Patrick prioritises appreciation over listening and reacting●     The fatal tension that Patrick sees in our push for hybrid work●     Patrick's advice for anyone who wants to start using the interaction protocolDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.Click here to watch the conversation on Youtube And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail! Questions and Answers[01:35] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator – if, in fact, you do?[03:08] When did you start calling yourself a ‘beyonder' and what does it take to move from facilitator to beyonder?[05:58] Are there some key skills or mindsets that we should practice to help groups go ‘beyond'?[09:29] What does it take to have your curiosity? How do you get there?[12:51] What happens in the 60 to 90 seconds of your interaction protocol?[20:50] How do you create the space or people to follow the interaction protocol? How do you articulate the invitation to speak this way with each other?[27:04] What have you learned about the protocol, about people, and about yourself after 3,000 sessions?[36:36] Why is the three-minute (90s each) window so powerful – what does it permit us?[44:11] Why are we seeing such a push towards hybrid working right now?[01:00:58] What would your advice be to anyone who wants to take the first step towards practicing the interaction protocol?LinksPatrick's company pageThe NeverDoneBefore Facilitation FestivalConnect to PatrickLinkedin

It took me nearly one year to arrange this interview, due to just how popular, committed, and focused Quanita Roberson is.But I would have happily waited a decade for the value, kindness, and wonder she imparts in conversation. Quanita is the founder of Nzuzu Consulting and focuses on the deep, fun, and easy flow of energy to address embedded trauma.Her insights into the human condition, our experiences, and the role we play as facilitators are genuinely groundbreaking.We talk about grief, faith, community, privilege, slowing down, divine order, and lots of things that aren't technically to do with facilitation but, really, are fundamental to our work.This is a special episode and one I hope will stay with you for a long time. Find out about:●     Getting out of our own way so we can get out of our participants' way●     Why we need to ‘clear the decks' in the room before we begin a session●     How we can see fear as in invitation, not a warning●     Why grief underlies a lot of the ‘bad' things we feel (e.g. shame or guilt)●     Learning to grieve – alone and together – and how we can facilitate this●     Understanding ourselves and our communities as part of nature and the divine●     Why, in the Information Age, embodiment is more important than everDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!Questions and Answers[01:28] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:47] What makes someone a facilitator and what makes someone a trainer?[04:47] How can one be present and absent at the same time?[06:13] Do you and Tenneson Woolf have a routine for ‘clearing the decks' when you work together?[09:39] What has your journey of inner work looked like?[13:25] How do you translate and transfer the lessons from your own inner journey into a group setting, to help the participants in their own journey?[15:59] What is the role of the group when you are guiding them through their journeys?[18:55] To help a group through feelings of shame or guilt, then, do we first need to help them realise they're actually dealing with grief?[22:20] How do you open the space to discuss grief in a ‘professional' environment?[23:49] How can we learn to grieve?[26:54] How do you think the pandemic affected us and our relationship with grief?[35:00] What does it take to create a community for grieving in a professional space?[41:22] What does the Circle practice mean for you and for groups?[44:43] How do you catch yourself focusing on the methodology rather than the experience?[47:11] Can we grow into embodiment?[50:50] If somebody wanted to begin a journey towards the perspectives you've shared, how would you advise they start?[52:15] What keeps you grounded and aware in times of crisis?[55:11] Was there anything you wanted to discuss that we haven't spoken about yet?[57:45] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this conversation?LinksNzuzu Consulting, Quanita's websiteFire and Water Leadership, Quanita's Rite of Passage coursehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/527006851373739

Group dynamics are always present in the room, whether or not we choose to acknowledge them.What can we do to understand and manage group dynamics - and our place within them?As an organisational psychologist, vastly experienced facilitator, and insightful thinker, Grace Lau is the perfect person to answer this complicated question.Tune into this episode to get a stronger grasp on group dynamics, explore organisational psychology, and to hear the surprising reason Grace why locks herself in the bathroom during workshop breaks!Find out about:How and why people's characters flex and flow in different groupsWhy it's okay to interfere with a group's dynamic for the sake of the workshop's objectiveWhy we should reconsider the unnatural (and impossible) idea of neutralityHow changes in dynamics are often the result of patterns, not single eventsStories from Grace's experience of facilitating workshops on group dynamicsHow social cues have (and have not) translated to online tools, adjusting group dynamics without us realisingWhat impact hybrid workshops will have on group dynamicsDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:04] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:34] How do you apply your background in organisational psychology to your facilitation practice?[05:38] How do you approach psychological safety?[11:39] How do you account for the fact that different personalities have more impact than others in a group?[15:32] Where does a facilitator's responsibility for group dynamics start and end?[18:12] Can one truly be neutral and facilitate oneself out of unconscious biases?[24:18] When something changes in a group's dynamic, can we point to the cause?[30:37] In this example of a workshop that the group sees as a ‘tick box' exercise, how would you add a little friction and interest to proceedings?[34:06] Does the majority of the work that goes into a session happen before the group arrives?[37:08] What makes a workshop fail?[41:08] Is it easier to sense or handle group online?[49:26] Can individual people or moments change a group's rules – without even necessarily noticing?[53:03] How can we manage two separate conversational spaces (e.g. a video call with a chat function)?[54:53] What should facilitators pay attention to with group dynamics in the hybrid space?[59:53] What is your favourite exercise?[01:04:11] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksCompany site: www.atrain-apac.com HSD site: https://www.hsdinstitute.org/resources/inquiry-is-the-answer-covid-19-recordings.html Connect to Grace:LinkedIn 

Penny Pullan was talking about virtual leadership and running virtual events long before it was fashionable - now that the rest of the world has caught up, she's leading the way in making virtual and hybrid events (which are surely the future) not just possible, but powerful. Most people at work have sat through interminable Zoom meetings over the last 18 months, few of us have experienced the kind of energy and engagement that Penny can bring. In this conversation she reveals some of the techniques she uses to inject vitality into virtual and also some of the potential pitfalls - it's all too easy to subtly exclude members of remote teams.  She also talks about her own approach to writing - highly visual and voice-based - and explains why her engineering background helps her see things differently in business.  Making Workshops Work was the winner of the very first 10-day Business Book Proposal Challenge, over 5 years ago: it's been a long time coming, but it turns out to be the right book at exactly the right moment. 

Aleksandra (Ola) Potrykus-Majewska knows the struggle of finding a great external facilitator when stuck in a corporate procurement system. But she also knows what it's like to set out and find work as a solo facilitator.That's why she cofounded WeWent, a kind of matchmaking service for facilitators and companies.Combining her deep knowledge in both sides of the collaboration, and now with several years of experience with WeWent, Ola is perfectly-placed to help facilitators understand how they can better appeal to their clients and vice versa.This episode is not to be missed if you are serious about offering facilitation as a service.Find out about: What 10 years in corporate HR taught Ola and how it led to her co-founding WeWentWhy procurement processes can limit the quality of workshopsWhy cultural fit is as important as professional expertise when hiring a facilitatorThe skills and certifications that are most in demand with Ola's clientsOla's thoughts on the different ways to promote yourself as a solo facilitatorWhy being rigid with methodologies and language can alienate potential clientsOla's thoughts on pricing, based on her own experience and the facilitators she works withDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; why not explore it in more detail now?Questions and Answers[01:06] Do you call yourself a facilitator? If so, when did you start?[03:14] What's the difference between your work now and your work in corporate HR?[07:53] Can you explain what WeWent is? Why is it so important? What problem are you solving?[12:55] How do you categorise and filter facilitators on WeWent?[15:20] Are the most successful matches down to expertise or personality and chemistry?[18:42] How do you assess the quality of a facilitator?[21:57] What would be a red flag from a facilitator?[25:35] Do you expect certifications from facilitators?[29:08] How do you measure the quality and validity of certifications – can you?[30:20] How can facilitators promote themselves?[35:10] Have you ever had a facilitator turn down a potential client on your platform?[36:54] What makes a workshop fail?[41:51] Do you have guidelines for facilitators in preparing for a session?[43:23] What determines the price that a corporate is willing to pay for a workshop?[49:52] Have you seen more requests for tech hosts/co-facilitators in the last year?[52:58] Do you have a favourite exercise?[55:33] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksWeWent websiteConnect to Ola:LinkedIn 

What can educators and facilitators learn from each other to benefit their practice? And where do the two crossover? These are wide-ranging questions and the kind that open up rabbit holes of complexity… but this is exactly why I wanted to explore them with Bjarne Holmes. Bjarne is a Professor of Psychology at Champlain College, a relationships expert, and a researcher for the remote video conferencing tool InSpace. His experience of both facilitation and education, with the added factor of developing a remote learning tool, made him the perfect person to explore this topic. Find out about: Identifying the microcultures of each individual workshop and lessonThe perils of overpreparing and how to balance our need for safety with the group's need for self-determinationThe power in peer learning and handing participants and learners the reinsWhy experiential education should be our priority and why the lecture format is the fastest way to lose a roomExploring collective consciousness and group intelligenceThe merits of online, asynchronous learning (and its drawbacks)Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summaryA huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:13] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator – do you at all?[03:48] Do you find yourself applying the same skills in teaching as you did in mountaineering?[06:53] When participants are key to the success of a workshop, does that remove the concept of a ‘leader'?[09:45] How did you get rid of your ego?[10:49] How do you create learning experiences for your students?[13:03] Why do people overprepare?[18:25] How can educators challenge the default status of being on a pedestal and breaking the concept of ‘the person teaching and the people learning'?[24:06] Is it the educator or the student's responsibility if a student zones out?[29:45] You mentioned that your classes take breaks every 20 minutes?[30:51] Does the fact we talk about collaboration, rather than lecturing, show that our education system has developed recently?[38:26] What have you learned from your research into relationships that helped you become a better educator and facilitator?[42:13] What makes a workshop fail?[43:06] Is it easier to facilitate experiential learning in an online environment?[56:58] Do you think teachers are hesitant to adopt new tools because they don't want to risk ‘not knowing'?[01:02:41] Can we create digital tools that enhance learning experiences, rather than just replicate them?[01:07:55] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksBjarne's ProfileInSpaceBjane's podcast: Relationship MattersConnect to Bjarne:LinkedIn 

100 episodes. (More than) 100 guests. Thousands of listeners. You, here, reading this and listening to this landmark episode.To mark this milestone, I turned the microphone towards the workshops work audience and asked if anyone would like to share the moment that has stuck with them most from these first 100 episodes.I've received 14 beautiful responses that, when taken together, form a bigger picture of the landscape of facilitation. You might be surprised at the varied scenery it captures!Thank you for supporting workshops work, for helping to make this show what it is, and for listening – whether this is your first time or your hundredth.Find out about:The moments that made listeners stop, think, reflect, and grow, including…Understanding the ground rules of facilitationHow to develop a facilitator's mindsetThe essentials of workshop designWhat we can learn from other disciplines to improve our facilitation skillsDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryAnd if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail! A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners! Questions and Answers[00:48] Robin: the summary for each episode![02:27] Anamaria: when Thomas Lahntahler, in episode 39, explained how curiosity and attention can foster psychological safety[04:10] Laure: the fourfold process of hosting, shared by Mary Alice Arthur in episode 58[06:05] Richard: realising that facilitators are like researchers, as I explored in episode 18[07:36] Gabriel: how experiences can create change but challenges help us solve problems, prompted by episode 91 with Shayne Smart[10:08] Annie: when Rein Sevenstern highlighted the importance of making time for reflection, in episode 20[11:32] Júlio: the core truth of facilitation that appears wherever and however we use our skills, taken from many episodes![13:33] Martijn: that Agile is a mindset, not a framework, as shared by Nisaar in episode 59[16:30] Sonja: that we need to stop having meetings on autopilot and, if we can't, we need to cancel them, shared powerfully by Gustavo in episode 26[18:22] Joe: learning to Unflatten and find new perspectives on the same problem, thanks to Nick Sousanis in episode 69[20:19] Samantha: why improv can improve our facilitation as much as any study programme or course, shared by Tamar in episode 16[22:02] Nadia: that how we meet matters and that the right setting can be transformational, prompted by Roumayne in episode 88[23:18] Ana: the concept of ‘the third facilitator' and how visual notetaking is more than ‘just' a tool, thanks to Céline in episode 49[26:30] Lucie: when I admitted that I might not have created NeverDoneBefore if I had known quite how much work it would take![28:12] My thanks to you and an open invitationLinksMy eBook, containing the summaries of the first 60 episodes!NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Festival E39 - Thomas Lahntahler E7 - Jeremy Akers E58 - Mary Alice Arthur 

Agile can be hugely effective in many environments, but from the outside, it can be daunting. The language, its origins in tech, and its overzealous cheerleaders can make it seem inaccessible and only applicable in specific situations.If that sounds like a familiar pain, Judith Mills is just the medicine you need!Not only is Judith an expert in applying Agile in everywhere from software to gardening, but she explains it all with easy-going charm, clarity, and simplicity.You can hear it for yourself in this episode, in which Judith decodes and demystifies Agile – bringing it back to its roots and explaining it as a mindset, not a process.If you've ever had an interest in Agile, you should consider this essential listening!Find out about: How to apply Agile in any field, not just softwareWhy Agile is more a communication tool than a project management processThe importance of protecting your time from ‘unplanned work'Why the time it takes to do a task is an unreliable measure of your workloadHow Judith uses facilitation skills to help teams understand AgileWhy empowering the individuals in a team strengthens the collectiveThe secret to effective retrospectives Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryA huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[00:57] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[01:58] What's the difference between a facilitator and an Agile coach?[03:16] How did you get into Agile and what does it mean to you?[08:08] What's the difference between “just delivering something every two weeks” and Agile?[11:32] Can Agile be applied to non-software teams? And does all of an Organisation need to be Agile?[16:29] What's the process for calculating a team's ‘velocity' and how can you know what is objectively the most important task to be done?[22:08] Is measuring by time a trap? And how can you create the safety for a team to move past measuring tasks by time?[26:23] Can you talk a little more about safety?[34:51] Do you think managers can get caught in the illusion of control?[37:24] How do you handle someone who just doesn't want to do any hard work?[39:46] How can retrospectives help bring unity to teams?[44:07] What makes a workshop fail?[47:27] Do you have a silver bullet exercise to raise people's interest in a workshop?[49:38] Could Agile genuinely be applied to something like gardening?[55:33] What would you recommend as the best way for someone to try Agile for the first time?[59:09] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksJudith's websiteEsther Derby and Diana Larsen's ‘Agile Retrospectives'Michael Wilkinson's ‘The Secrets of Facilitation'Connect to Judith: LinkedInTwitter 

As a former Board member of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF), and co-Founder of the Digital Collaboration Academy, there are few people better placed to discuss where our industry is and where it's going than Paul Nunesdea.We certainly captured some fascinating predictions and provocations in our wide-ranging conversation in this episode.A central focus was the importance - and limitations – of the IAF's stated ‘core competencies' for facilitators. We also explored the role AI might play in the future of facilitation, why neutrality can never be the aim, and how facilitators and clients can each make sure they're choosing the right collaborator.This episode is your opportunity to hear many opinions from the very top of facilitation's leading professional body. It's not every day I get to say that!Find out about:Why spirituality might be the missing dimension in facilitationWhy individuality and a lack of neutrality are actually key to our effectivenessWhat Paul believes is the most important core competency of facilitatorsWhy it helps to have different versions of the same consensus across communitiesWhat Paul considers his biggest discovery in 2020How Paul pictures the future of facilitation – including the strengths and limitations of facilitation by AIUnderstanding collaboration architecture and how it appears in workplacesDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryA huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:17] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[04:12] What are the core competencies of a facilitator and how do they separate us from consultants?[06:10] What do you mean by “a spiritual dimension”?[07:55] What motivated you to join the International Association of Facilitators?[12:23] How can a client select the right facilitator?[16:14] What is the benefit of being an accredited facilitator?[16:59] Can you share some examples of the core competencies of facilitation?[19:25] Can there be a true ‘standard' of facilitation when we have so many subgroups and specialisms?[21:07] Have the core competencies changed as we've moved to online meetings?[24:57] What makes a workshop fail?[27:57] What's been your biggest technological discovery in the last year?[30:57] Do successful workshops really require us all to be in the same room?[33:03] What is the future of facilitation, from your perspective?[37:26] Would the introduction of AI remove innovation and nuance from facilitation?[38:53] What is a key characteristic of a good humaniser?[40:19] Would you recommend an exercise to bring spirituality into workshops?[43:49] What damages facilitators' reputations?[45:31] What is “collaboration architecture”?[48:28] What makes collaboration stick?[51:36] Are there red flags to look for when it comes to ‘difficult' clients?[55:04] What is the one thing that you would like listeners to take away from this episode?Links:Paul's booksDigital Collaboration Academy, co-founded by Paul in 2020Connect to Paul:

Exploring the overlap between facilitation and leadership was an exciting proposition to me, but I didn't expect it to encompass everything from architecture and dance to mountaineering and collaging.But such is the journey when John Varney gets into his eloquent stride!John has been involved in leadership, facilitation, and the grey space between them for over 30 years and his Centre for Management Creativity serves as a bastion for clear-thinking and change-making for companies worldwide.Join us in this episode as we search for the common ancestor of leadership and facilitation.The opportunity to join John in conversation is one that everyone – no matter what title you give yourself – will benefit from. This is an opportunity you'd be wise to claim with both hands.Find out aboutHow teams can find their flow state by aligning on their purposeWhy it's important to focus on purpose, not short-termismWhy play, creativity, and co-creation are the cornerstones of alignmentHow to respond when your workshop uncovers a deeper issue that needs addressingWhere facilitation and leadership overlapThe important distinction between leaders and leadershipWhat John's learned about leadership from facilitating so many leadership teamsDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryA huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions & Answers01:07 When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?02:13 What's the difference between a facilitator and a consultant?04:54 What did you learn from this experience – did it shape your view of facilitation at all?06:03 How do we draw the line between being our authentic selves and being the facilitator participants need?12:20 Do you think you can bring more of yourself to a life design workshop than a managerial one?15:53 Can you explain more about what the Stanford Life Design Lab is?18:02 How much do you life design to your personal and professional life?19:19 How can you tell when the right moment is to step outside your comfort zone?24:01 Is there a perfect time to redesign your life?26:43 Life design asks us to be both facilitator and participant. Is this possible?36:40 Can facilitators actually facilitate their own life?39:55 What is your experience with co-facilitating meetings with managers?44:46 What is something you've learned from the life design process that you think can apply to managers right now?51:37 If we could workshop the worldwide transition out of the pandemic, what would it look like?53:10 What makes a workshop fail?LinksThe Centre for Management Creativity, John's businessHigh Trenhouse, John's management workshop and retreat venueJohn's book, Leadership as Meaning MakingConnect to John on LinkedIn

When Gabrielle Santa-Donato said, “we need to be intentional about this transition”, she wasn't talking about virtual workshops or exploring a workshop challenge.She was talking about creating a post-pandemic world.We've grown used to adjusting – to remote work, to lockdowns, to loss. What if we've become so adjusted to adjusting that we risk moving out of the pandemic without intention?Gabrielle knows this better than most, having taken a role at Airbnb facilitating the adaptation to remote work. That alone is a worth a podcast episode, but so is her fascinating experience at the Stanford Life Design Lab.This episode is a wonderful walk-through Gabrielle's career, where we are now, and what we can all do to redesign our lives in trying times.Find out about: Why showing up as your authentic self isn't always the best thing for your workshopsWhat life design is and Gabrielle's fascinating journey in the fieldWhy reframing our constraints can open up a world of possibilityHow to know when to prototype beyond your comfort zone and when to take smaller stepsHow Gabrielle has shifted from teaching and facilitating life design to facilitating Airbnb's managersHow we could workshop our transition out of the pandemic Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryA huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers [01:35] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[04:03] What's the signal that says you guided a group successfully?[07:15] How do we draw the line between being our authentic selves and being the facilitator participants need?[08:42] Do you think you can bring more of yourself to a life design workshop than a managerial one?[13:31] Can you explain more about what the Stanford Life Design Lab is?[16:10] How much do you life design to your personal and professional life?[19:19] How can you tell when the right moment is to step outside your comfort zone?[22:52] Is there a perfect time to redesign your life?[27:18] Life design asks us to be both facilitator and participant. Is this possible?[38:07] Can facilitators actually facilitate their own life?[42:47] What is your experience with co-facilitating meetings with managers?[48:27] What is something you've learned from the life design process that you think can apply to managers right now?[52:13] If we could workshop the worldwide transition out of the pandemic, what would it look like?[57:42] What makes a workshop fail?[59:16] What's your favourite way to trigger transformations in a workshop?[1:04:14] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this conversation? LinksVisit Gabrielle's websiteListen to Gabrielle on “The Everyday Worker”Watch Gabrielle's life design webinar for the Harvard Alumni AssociationLearn more about the Life Design Lab at StanfordWatch Gabrielle's

Jeroen Frumau has had a remarkable career – from working at the arrowhead of innovation in senior roles at Phillips Design to founding and co-founding multiple non-profits. The threads that stitch these experiences together are design thinking and design sprints.Jeroen joined me on the podcast to share the universal truths he's found about the application of design thinking across private, public, and non-profit ventures – including this summer's incredible 4better2morrow virtual Summer Camp project.Join us in this episode as we weave our way through history, perspectives, philosophy, and more to uncover the truths of how everyone can benefit from more design thinking in their lives and work. Don't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryFeeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own – take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions & Answers01:41 When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?03:02 Where did you learn the skills of facilitation? 05:44 What does failure mean to you in the context of workshops? 08:21 What have you learned from your almost-20-years of experience leading Phillips Design?10:05 Is Design Thinking a method or a mindset?12:10 In what contexts have you used Design Thinking since starting your own business?15:21 What kind of skillsets do you need to introduce to public sector employees to help them integrate more design thinking in their work?16:29 How can we become more open to ‘failing forward'?17:37 How would you define a prototype?22:05 How can we help people see the value in the process, rather than just achieving their desired outcomes and outputs?30:15 How can facilitators help a group work cohesively when there are differences in the level of access (e.g. poor WiFi)?35:11 What's the point at which you know you need to reschedule a workshop?40:07 How can you apply Design Thinking to such a risk-averse process as recruitment?45:18 How do hiring managers react to such a vulnerable process?46:36 How do you flatten the room when there is such a clearly established hierarchical structure as in recruitment?51:03 What's your favourite exercise?55:57 An example of Design Thinking in the hiring process from Latin America57:47 How do you apply design sprints in 4better2morrow?01:07:20 What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksRead Jeroen's articles on Medium.Learn more about The Talent-Sprint.Follow the 4better2morrow (4B2M) journey.Learn more about the Global Virtual Design Sprint or, listen to episode 085 with Robert SkrobeConnect Jeroen's LinkedIn

I thought I'd bring you a festive episode this week! Host of the Workshops Work podcast, Dr Myriam Hadnes put a call out to previous guests on her show and invited us to facilitate a #neverdonebefore virtual workshop experience for the #neverdonebefore 24 hour, global festival. The idea I landed on for my workshop was this: What would it be like, to run a serendipitous group podcast interview, where I had no idea who would show up? I've never done a group interview before, and never not prepped before an interview!  This episode is only edited lightly, I wanted you to hear what it was like on the call: My participants (who were now podcast guests) had different audio levels, different internet speeds, different voices and ideas. What I loved when I re-listened to this, was hearing how much more comfortable we are in the conversation, as it continues along. My guests today are: Anna from Sweden, Stefan from Luxembourg, Shayne from Sydney (living in Amsterdam), Anna Maria from Germany (who dialled in from Romania), Grace from Hong Kong, Kaushiek from India and Lily from France! We riff on all things related to delivering a successful workshop, how to manage your energy (which leads to a deep conversation on what you put into your body), challenging workshop experiences and dream mentors. It was awesome having such a diverse guest list on today's episode. Click here for show notes Join The Flipchart facilitator community on Facebook Shhh... I'm releasing 5 secret podcast episodes over 5 days to help you book out your facilitation business, BUT you need to register to get access.Head on over to bookedoutfacilitator.comSupport the show (https://buymeacoffee.com/leannehughes)

Online meetings have risen in popularity since the COVID-19 outbreak, but they must cover more than ticking boxes from the agenda list. Creating stronger bonds and giving people that human connection they've lost from in-person meetings is so important. After all, we're all in this together. The more we can be there for each other, the better.Kevon Cheung is the Co-Founder and CEO of Toasty.ai, a new video conferencing tool that simplifies the process of meeting facilitation so that participants can express and collaborate freely. I was so happy to have him join me in this episode of workshops work because I wanted to know how Toasty works and how it combines facilitation exercises with a shared Google drive, amongst other things.I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. I hope it helps you see how you can bring the human element back into your meetings, conferences, and workshops.In this episode, find out about:How and why Kevon launched Toasty.aiHow to change the dynamics of an online meetingWhat Toasty is and how facilitators can use it to create engaging meetingsWhy participants need to open up and how to make people feel comfortable to do soHow to stop participants from getting distractedWhy you must have a plan but also the freedom to adjust according to the flow of the sessionHow to stimulate a group's creativity using fun exercisesDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryA huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:45] Would you call yourself a facilitator [05:08] What is the hashtag you would give yourself?[07:30] How did you come up with the idea of putting a new video conferencing tool out there?[09:34] What changes the dynamic of a meeting?[11:33] What have you learned from your conversations with facilitators?[14:53] How do you minimise the awkward feeling of when the first participants join the call?[16:10] How did you change your own team meetings since learning about the art of facilitation?[20:40] What has been the most surprising thing that happened in one of these calls?[23:44] What would you recommend to someone who still hosts these boring meetings where they talk a lot, and feel frustrated at the end?[26:09] Why do you think it takes longer in the virtual space than in the physical?[27:31] How can you decide whether you're overdoing it and then it feels awkward, or whether you're reluctant because of habit?[29:54] What are the biggest challenges when translating solutions to problems to the software?[32:50] Why did it take so long to have more competitors to platforms like Zoom?[35:13] What are the prerequisites for these platforms to stay or leave?[38:06] What makes a workshop fail?[42:43] After all of your experience with online meetings, what did you learn about offline meetings?[44:55] Is there anything you would like to share that we haven't touched upon?[47:32] What is the main takeaway you would like listeners to take from our conversation?LinksToasty.aiConnect to Kevon CheungKevon's LinkedIn

Sticky notes, tennis balls, and other objects can be used to create engaging and productive online meetings and workshops. How do I know this to be true?Well, Jacinta Cubis, an incredible facilitator, mentor, author, and speaker, shared many fascinating insights like this to help get “your workshops humming” on this week's episode of workshops work. She reveals how you can facilitate difficult conversations, so they're less like scratching a blackboard and more like skiing down a smooth slope. Jacinta has an amazing gift to draw out people's best thinking. Hearing how she uses analogue prompts to facilitate conversations online and have better meetings was genuinely fascinating. I've come away from this conversation with so many ideas to blend face-to-face and online facilitation techniques, and I know you will have many new ideas of your own after listening to my wonderful interview with Jacinta!Find out about:How and why Jacinta decided to write her e-book, “Hum”Why many online meetings are bad replicates of bad offline meetings – and how to avoid this from happening!How to use analogue prompts to communicate better with an online groupHow to avoid wasting time in breakout groupsHow to use your time more efficiently by nominating time keepersTips for getting participants to use both parts of their brainsWhy poor facilitation is one of the biggest reasons why workshops failDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryFeeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own – take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:17] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[05:47] Where does the name, “Hum,” come from and what triggered you to write this book?[10:35] What made your “bad meetings,” bad? And, how do you combine humming with having difficult conversations?[19:13] What can we do as facilitators and participators to structure, facilitate, and avoid difficult meetings?[25:45] How can we do this in a gentle way?[35:47] How can facilitators use a timer or keep discussions timed efficiently?[40:14] What is the difference between guiding through a difficult conversation online and offline?[43:11] What can you do when you feel like the energy of the online meeting isn't quite right?[46:07] What's your favourite exercise?[49:08] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksJacinta's websiteRead Jacinta's e-book “Hum”Connect to Jacinta CubisJacinta's LinkedInJacinta's FacebookJacinta's Instagram

Are you still searching for your message? The terminology we use as facilitators may seem confusing for some of our clients. We must discover and use the right language that our audience understands, and this starts by considering the big picture of a brand.I'm so excited for you to listen to this episode of workshops work because I'm joined by the incredible Ingrid Lill, a top brand strategist who helps coaches and consultants turn “confusing lingo into a clear message” that their client can understand.Together, we talk about creative ways that you can better understand your clients and vice versa. We also discuss how you can use a “thinking pen” to help visualize a brand's story and find your message.Find out about:What a brand strategist does and how they facilitateWhy you need to put yourself in your client's shoesHow to gain a better understanding of your clientsHow to use the “thinking pen” to find your messageWhy you should avoid using technical language in your messagingA fun exercise to help you better understand your clientsDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryFeeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own – take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:34] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[02:24] What does a brand strategist do?[08:31] What is it that we don't understand in our approach to better understanding our clients?[10:23[ Why do you draw the brand message instead of discussing it?[16:11] What did you learn from your time as a graphic facilitator about hearing what really matters to your clients? [17:55] How can we speak better to our clients, potential leads, and the sponsors of our workshops?[18:54] How can we find out what we should be communicating with clients?[21:48] Do you think that it's different gaining a connection with your clients in-person vs. a video conference? [23:59] What do we get wrong about user-centricity?[26:39] How can we really differentiate ourselves?[28:15] What makes a workshop fail?[31:39] What is the difference in communication between those who signed up and paid themselves and those who were signed up by someone else?[32:37] How can we get better at putting ourselves into the shoes of our client?[37:54] When you put yourself into the shoes of these facilitators who might listen to the podcast, what is the one piece of advice that you would like to give them?[39:44] What is the key takeaway from our conversation?LinksIngrid's websiteDrawing classesConnect to IngridLinkedIn

How can you, as a facilitator, create new and exciting possibilities for your workshop participants?The answer lies in provoking your audience to listen to each other and feel heard. Provocation is a strategic tactic to make workshop participants feel uncomfortable – but in a good way. It drives them out of their comfort zones and allows them to break free from their shells so they can take action and evoke new thoughts and ideas that may have been left uncovered.We know that provocation can have many positive benefits, but how can facilitators use provocation to amplify their workshop? You'll discover the answer on this episode of workshops work, where I'm joined by Diana Ying Liu and Kandis O'Brien from The SIX, an innovation and strategy consultancy that helps “leaders and their teams get their groove on.”We deep dive into how you can provoke compelling conversations in your workshop sessions, why you need to have the right executive sponsor in the room, and so much more!Find out about:How Diana and Kandis define the role of a facilitator vs a consultantHow to use provocation to create friction and encourage people to step outside of their comfort zonesThe different levels of provocationExercises to help people ‘loosen up'How to make people feel comfortable and safe enough to shareThe importance of understanding the culture of the organisation and the problem statement of the sessionThe advantages of having pre-interviews before the workshopDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryFeeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own – take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:13] Diana, when did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:50] Do you bring in your own facilitators to your sessions?[10:16] How do you use provocation as a tool to create friction?[14:04] How do you define the right degree of provocation that is relevant and absurd at the same time?[18:15] How would you react when/if the leadership disregards a team member's idea?[39:14] What makes a workshop fail from the perspective of a consultant vs a facilitator?[46:09] Do the pre-interviews create a level of trust or do you still need another layer of trust creation at the start of the workshop to play around with provocation?[53:16] What would be your golden nugget about provocation from our discussion?LinksThe SIX websiteFollow The SIX on InstagramConnect to Diana Ying Liu and Kandis O'Brien:Diana's LinkedInKandis' LinkedIn

Whether you're hosting a physical or virtual meeting, the last thing you want to do is put the audience to sleep! If you want to keep people engaged during meetings, you've got to unleash your inner creative genius.Melissa Dinwiddie is a Creativity Instigator who teaches people how to turn their creative taps on so they can live a life full of colour and intrigue. I couldn't wait to talk to Melissa about all things creative.In this episode, I take full advantage of having such a creative guest on and ask her all the questions I know you want to hear the answers to. We cover everything from how to lead non-boring virtual meetings to defeating the comparison gremlin! I hope you enjoy this colourful interview as much as I did!Find out about:Why online meetings can be boring and what to do about it!How to be a good leaderHow to avoid falling into the “comparison trap”A useful mirroring exercise for leadership and listeningHow to keep people engagedThe ‘golden formula' to everything goodClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:23] Will you share when you started to call yourself a facilitator?[04:16] How do you define creativity and what does it mean to be stuck on the creativity path?[12:27] Do you think it's a matter of age and maturity, or is it a matter of the craft?[16:11] What do you tell your clients when they fall into the comparison trap and self-sabotage their creativity?[23:14] Do you think there are more gremlins when working online in this working from home environment?[26:34] Why do most of online meetings suck?[29:05] What is your favourite exercise?[32:13] Who determines whether it is right or wrong?[34:18] What makes a bad workshop?[34:43] How can you keep people engaged without making it stressful?[35:47] Can you give an example of a time when you de-brief with the group about what they have learned?[39:54] with the upcoming Zoom option of building circles, is it really about the circle or it the magic that happens when you're sitting in a circle?[41:51] What does a full day online workshop look like?[44:15] To what extent have you received feedback that it's awkward to see each other working on a virtual meeting?[47:22] What is the definition of a creative facilitator?[48:14] If you could give one piece of advice for getting unstuck and start having non-boring online meetings, what would it be?[51:06] What is the key takeaway from our conversation?LinksMelissa's websiteThe Creative Sandbox Way by Melissa DinwiddieThe Creative Sandbox Way PodcastPlaying Big by Tara MohrConnect to MelissaFacebook@a_creative_lifeInstagram

We've reached a time when more people than ever are working remotely, and this includes facilitators.Tracy Cosgrove, Founder of PTSM, is passionate about sharing knowledge and facilitating as an avatar in the virtual world. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to talk to Tracy about her experience and expertise around avatars, setting up a virtual office, and bringing teams together despite being thousands of miles (and oceans) apart.Learning how to facilitate as an avatar in the virtual space is so important right now, which is why I'm so excited to share this conversation with you so that you can be better equipped and prepared to rule the virtual world.Find out about:What inspired Tracy to move from the physical to the virtual word of facilitatingHow to set up a virtual officeThe importance of doing your research as a facilitatorCostly mistakes to avoid when choosing a platform to help you host virtual workshopsWhat to consider when renting a virtual office spaceHelpful and creative team building exercises you can use virtuallyClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers:[01:35] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:17] What made you move to the virtual world?[06:58] If you were a hashtag, what would it be?[08:18] How was it for you to transition to suddenly not meeting people and communicating with avatars?[16:22] Do you think that there's a difference in terms of how you facilitate whether you're in the persona of an avatar versus zoom training with video?[17:45] In terms of the facilitation skills and how you communicate with the people and the exercises, do you see a difference?[19:13] What doesn't work in the VR world?[20:52] As an avatar facilitator, how do you create a space where they can be present and open?[23:00] How did you find your virtual office space?[26:52] What would you recommend someone who's exploring options to work as an avatar?[31:35] What is the investment you need to set up a virtual VR office?[33:32] What is wrong about the platform?[34:33] What is the one thing that people must take care of or must watch out for in order to choose the right platform?[38:01] What makes a workshop fail?[39:47] What is your favourite exercise?[47:55] What is the sequence of taking breaks when sitting in front of Zoom for 8 hours? [52:24] What is the key takeaway that captures the essence of our conversation?LinksPassport to Success Myanmar (PTSM)Connect to Tracy CosgroveEmail Tracy at Tracy@passporttosuccessmyanmar.comFacebook 

We put so much emphasis on how we look and how we use body language to communicate with our audience that we often neglect to consider our voices. It's not just about what we say, it's how we say it.The way we use our voices can really impact the audience. If used correctly, our voices can carry so much more than our words. Our voices can inspire, motivate, and captivate the audience…but how can we learn to use our voice for better impact?Joep Hegger is a remarkable voice coach who teaches us how our voice can be used to facilitate workshops along with us. He is passionate about helping others learn how to treat their voice with more care and leverage it with more power.Listen to the episode to find out:Why we need to consider how we use our voices and transform our voice to suit a particular occasionHow to identify a ‘pressed voice' and the value of incorporating hearing exercises during voice training sessionsTips to help train your voice and use your voice for better impactWhat ‘vocal health' is and why it is so importantHow to gain better control and awareness of your voiceClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:16] What got you into the voice coach profession?[03:45] What is the key struggle when we use our voice?[05:47] Can you as a vocal coach read someone's voice as others can read someone's body language?[07:13] What makes the difference in your effectiveness of communication?[08:37] What is the circumstance where we have this ‘press voice'?[12:35] What is your favourite exercise to help your clients?[15:41] When I want to be a convincing facilitator, what is it about the voice that adds the appearance of competence?[18:10] Is our natural voice something we need to train to develop the best voice we can have?[22:15] When you say, ‘vocal health', what exactly do you mean?[23:16] What can we do to avoid harming our voice health?[24:58] Do you think it's a matter of genetics or do you think that massaging the voice with the tube before, in the middle, or after the workshop will help?[27:08] Is our voice better when we stand up?[30:49] Would you advise a different tone of voice depending on whether you speak to an audience In the physical space as compared to through a microphone and a third screen?[33:29] What is your advice on how to speak louder without getting higher pitched?[37:26] What would you recommend to me as a podcaster? How can I use my voice differently?[40:29] What tip do you have to help add emphasis to our voice?[42:47] Why can we tell by someone's voice whether they are smiling or not?[45:20] What makes a workshop fail?[49:53] What key lesson do you want listeners to take away from this episode?LinksThe Vocal CoachConnect to JoepOn LinkedInOn InstagramOn Facebook

Knowledge is one of the universal currencies with which we trade – we enrich each other with the knowledge we share and facilitate, but what are the secrets of truly effective knowledge sharing?I have wanted to speak to Júlio Maria Muhorro for a long time, and this topic felt like the perfect opportunity to do so. Júlio is a man of so many talents and roles, it's hard to summarise him and his career as a trainer. One of the best ways to introduce Júlio is that he is the only Mozambican listed in 2019's 100 Most Influential Young Africans.Hopefully that gives you an idea of how esteemed Júlio is as a trainer, leader, and person!Listen to find out:How Júlio adapted after being named one of the 100 Most Influential Young AfricansWhy personal experience and relatability is essential if we want learning to stickWhat learners and trainers can do to strengthen knowledge retentionWhy time for reflection is one of the most powerful tools any facilitator can haveWhat the three goals are that trainers should aim to achieve for a successful workshopClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:27] What got you into training and when did you call yourself a facilitator?[04:32] Is it about the groups sharing knowledge with each other or is it a movement where you share knowledge with the world?[05:23] What is it about knowledge sharing that becomes different when it's within one group as opposed to knowledge sharing travelling from the US to Africa and vice versa?[14:32] You were nominated as one of the 100 most influential young people in Africa, what is the story behind that?[18:15] What was the impact of this achievement on your mission to share knowledge?[21:04] In times where knowledge is available online, what is the value that you deliver in-person?[23:48] What can you (as a 25-year-old) teach me about strategy?[31:15] What is getting in the way of knowledge sharing?[35:51] What are you doing in your training to make sure that the emotional knowledge gain remains after the workshop?[41:12] What is your favourite exercise for a group?[43:59] What makes a workshop fail?[52:17] Is there anything we have not touched upon that you would like to share?LinksSharing Knowledge International on LinkedInThe story of Julio's inclusion in the 100 Most Influential Young Africans listConnect to JúlioLinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook

Throughout lockdown, I and many other facilitators, have loved watching and participating in Backstage Pass – the virtual workshops held by digital workspace platform, MURAL.That meant the opportunity to speak to Hailey Temple, their Learning Experience Lead, was especially exciting for me! And I hope it will be for listeners of workshops work.Hailey has done a fantastic job of adapting to the demands of virtual facilitation and her reflections on the last few months will help so many facilitators as we continue to tread the uncertain path of the pandemic.Listen to the episode to learn:How Hailey came to facilitation by way of design thinking and human-centred designHow MURAL have created virtual workshops to help their customersWhat Hailey does to engage and involve a passive audience (by design)What makes a good co-facilitatorWhat to do when technology goes wrong (because it always will!)Click here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:33] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[04:41] What do you wish you had known about facilitation, hosting, and meetings at the start of your career?[07:38] What is human-centred design all about?[10:55] What is Backstage Pass?[14:34] How do you serve your audience when they are not active in your workshop?[19:18] What is the skillset that you need to successfully manage a live, virtual workshop?[22:59] Is there a secret to engaging an audience in a webinar?[26:33] What is your favourite exercise?[32:05] What makes a good co-facilitator and how have you mastered the art?[42:44] What is the key thing to do if technology fails?[44:10] What makes a workshop fail?[49:17] Do you have a hashtag for yourself?[51:03] What is the one key learning you have from running Mural Backstage Pass?[54:05] What is one thing you would like listeners to takeaway from this episode?LinksMURAL websiteMural Backstage Pass on YouTubeSign up for Backstage PassConnect to HaileyOn LinkedInOn InstagramOn Twitter

Competitive spirits, high stakes, cut-throat attitudes… Boardrooms and changing rooms have more in common than we might first think.Tim Harkness, one of the world's preeminent sports psychologists and author of the fantastic book 10 Rules for Talking, joins me to share the lessons he's learned from the top sports teams around the world – and how we might apply them to teams in corporate environments.Hearing about Tim's experiences at the very top of various professional sports was fascinating and I found the opportunity to explore and cross-pollinate these ideas with examples and experiences from facilitation was immensely valuable.I am sure you will find it to be the same.Find out about:How Tim became one of the leading experts in the fieldThe differences between one-on-one and group conversationsHow we can all have better conversationsWhat facilitators can learn from the biggest sports teams on the biggest stagesTips for creating better conversations with challenging interlocutorsClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[00:49] When did you first become interested in conversations?[04:41] Do different rules apply with one-on-one and group conversations?[09:43] What makes it easy or difficult to follow the process of an effective conversation?[12:46] How do I know what the accurate response will be?[20:57] How would you recommend we have better conversations?[24:22] What have you observed from sports teams that can apply to businesses?[30:35] How do you help groups to communicate better using your rules for talking?[37:06] What is the best way to deal with someone who dominates conversations?[40:57] What makes a workshop fail?[46:13] How do you create psychological safety in such highly competitive individuals?[51:53] What is your favourite exercise?[59:55] What is the one thing you would like listeners to takeaway from this episode?Links10 Rules for TalkingCrucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving InConnect to TimTim's LinkedIn

The world is changing and we are in a new moment of equality and anti-racism.Strategic designer, and design educator by trade, Hina Shahid is at the forefront of this movement, through her work with Project Pluralist – a youth movement that is tackling prejudice and hate.Facilitating deep inner work – the kind that requires us to look at the parts of ourselves that we hide or don't acknowledge – is not an easy task. Learning how Hina does this with Project Pluralist was fascinating.This kind of work is essential for all of us, so the opportunity to learn how Hina facilitates this kind of powerful change felt like an important moment for me. I hope it will feel the same for you.Find out about:The uniqueness of facilitating a youth movement and how Hina startedWhat the nuances of bias, prejudice, and hate are and why they are importantWhy being not-racist and not-prejudiced isn't enoughWhat is harder and easier about facilitating young people, compared to professionals in a corporate environmentWhy curiosity and honesty are at the heart of work towards ending hateClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:33] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[02:45] How did you begin facilitating a youth movement?[05:14] What is the aim of your project?[06:10] What does it mean to educate pluralist citizens and how do you facilitate that?[10:35] How do you help young people understand and define the difference between bias and prejudice?[13:48] What kind of conversations do you need to have that to facilitate significant revelations about bias and prejudice?[16:37] How do you find co-facilitating with educators?[21:31] What mindset shift needs to happen in education in order to let students explore ideas independently?[25:12] What kind of skillsets would you include in training for educators?[29:18] How can we help people get out of their social media bubbles and embrace curiosity?[37:36] From what you have learned now, what would you like to have known when you were working for corporates?[40:18] What can adults learn from your teenage participants?[44:13] What makes a workshop fail?[47:11] What is your favourite activity?[51:18] What is one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksProject Pluralist's websiteProject Pluralist on Instagram Project Pluralist on TwitterProject Pluralist on LinkedInConnect to HinaHina's LinkedInHina's Twitter

Why would I invite “the exact opposite of an Executive Coach” and, as her clients describe her, “a witch” to speak on workshops work?Because Laura Beckingham is a beautifully clear-minded thinker who has provided me with more provocation, intrigue, and inspiration than most people I have known in life!As a highly-experienced Systemic Coach, Laura uses constellations (and many other practices) to create space for reflection and change for Executive teams and leaders.If some, or all, of those words are unclear to you, Laura has an enviable talent for explaining the complexities of Systemic coaching with perfect clarity and nuance.What I am absolutely clear on is the fact you will find a lot of value in this episode of workshops work. I can't wait for you to hear it!Find out about:What Systemic coaching isHow families and businesses share some similaritiesWhy long-term change has to be holistic and made within the context of a person's entire lifeWhy Systemic Coaches – and facilitators in general – are a constant work in progressHow alchemy, physicality, and incrementality combine to create great coachingClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:29] What is the difference between a guided coach and a facilitator?[04:26] What inspired you to run your own business?[05:30] What is systemic coaching and how did you get started in it?[08:19] How do you differentiate the ‘constellation' part and the ‘coaching' part?[10:27] What do you mean when you say “respecting the orders of time”?[13:35] What similarities do families and businesses share?[18:41] Can you talk more about constellations?[25:17] What does it take to be an effective systemic coach?[31:52] How do you manage the responsibility that comes with ‘unblocking' things and providing closure to your clients?[39:32] How do you build trust with people so they let you in as their guide and coach?[44:14] If you don't work with questions, what is the alternative?[46:44] What makes a workshop fail?[48:26] Do you have a favourite exercise?[51:56] How do you demonstrate that everything is welcome in the room?[58:19] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?[58:56] Is there anything else you wanted to bring to the conversation?[01:00:45] What is the one thing you'd like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksConnect to LauraLaura's LinkedInLaura's website

Forum Theatre is a unique approach to facilitation – creating space for change and reflection through creativity, play, and certainly some bravery (to begin with!)Though the concept fascinates me, I have not had the chance to explore it in as much detail as I would have liked to. To have Pernille Jacobsen, a brilliant facilitator and Forum Theatre practitioner, join me on workshops work gave me the opportunity to change that – and I was not left disappointed.Forum Theatre and facilitation share many similarities but cast the other in new lights when considered as two halves of a ‘whole'.In this episode, you will find out about: What makes Forum Theatre unique and so impactfulHow Forum Theatre works on a practical level, and how Pernille uses it in a facilitative settingWhat Forum Theatre has taught Pernille as a facilitator, and what facilitation has taught her as a Forum Theatre practitionerHow, if at all, Forum Theatre can be translated into a virtual environmentWhat facilitation and Forum Theatre might look like in the futureClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:11] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:03] What would your hashtag be?[05:47] Can you explain more about Forum Theatre?[09:19] Are participants actively involved in scenes from the beginning, or do you take the lead on the performance and bring them in afterwards?[18:38] Do participants play themselves or put themselves in others' shoes?[21:00] How do you debrief in Forum Theatre?[24:09] Do you combine Forum Theatre with other types of facilitation?[25:21] What have you learned about facilitation from Forum Theatre, and vice versa?[29:00] How do you brief a group before starting a Forum Theatre workshop?[38:02] What makes workshops fail?[42:32] How do you translate Forum Theatre into a virtual environment?[45:08] Are participants more willing or reluctant online?[48:44] What is your vision for Forum Theatre in 2021?[52:42] What one thing would you like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksKlods-Hans for Viderekomne - Pernille's Forum Theatre venture Forum TheatreSnapstories - Pernille's conversational gameAugusto Boal – the inventor of Forum Theatre/theatre of the oppressedKatrin Byreus – Pernille's biggest role model when it comes to Forum Theatre and facilitation Connect to PernillePernille's LinkedInPernille's website 

Questions are the lifeblood of communication. Without questions, we only have statements – cold, certain, absolute. If there is no room for curiosity, there is no room for growth or change.But not all questions are created equal and, sometimes, a question can do more harm than good.This week, Elke Wiss – trainer, speaker, facilitator, author of Socrates in Sneakers, and self-styled ‘Thinking Doctor'– joins me on workshops work to explore how we can ask better questions. We cover so much, from Socratic Philosophy and psychological safety to lattes vs. cappuccinos.Join us in this episode and find out:What separates good and bad questionsWhy “why” questions can be simultaneously revelatory and destructiveWhether we can train our curiosity to be childlike againHow to create spaces in which you can ask questions that might usually feel unsafeHow we can all start asking better questionsClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:25] Do you call yourself a facilitator?[02:03] Where did your fascination with questions come from?[06:46] Do you have a set of questions to inspire your creative process?[11:30] What makes a good question?[13:00] Can one learn to be curious?[17:00] What is it about “why” questions that makes them feel so sharp?[20:25] How do you create a space that feels safe for asking questions?[25:48] What makes us shift away from the curiosity of childhood?[30:56] What makes a workshop fail?[32:02] How can we invite groups to ask questions?[33:27] What is your favourite question?[34:48] What would be your hashtag?[37:19] How can we end the process of questioning?[38:48] Is it more dangerous to ask the wrong question, or to take the first answer you receive?[40:58] What makes a bad question?[46:57] Is there anything else you wanted to highlight?LinksBrené Brown's TED talkElke's Book - Socrates in Sneakers (with an English preview of the book to download!)Connect to ElkeElke's LinkedInThe Think ForgeElke's personal website

workshops work is a podcast for facilitators, by a facilitator, about facilitation… so why have I invited Assistant Professor of Humanities and Liberal Studies at San Francisco State University and comic book artist Nick Sousanis to join me in this episode?I read Nick's remarkable work ‘Unflattening' recently and immediately knew that the world of facilitation needed to know about it. I was delighted when he accepted my invitation!What followed was a beautiful exchange of ideas and reflections from two distant fields, worlds that do not normally collide but have more in common than you might first think. This is a very special episode of workshops work – and one that I think could change our practice in a deep and powerful way. Listen to find out: Why trying to think outside of the boxes we are in isn't necessarily a good ideaThe most important question Nick believes we need to answer in this moment in timeWhy unflattening is a journey, not a destinationWhy images aren't simply aesthetic, but communicative in novel and detailed waysHow creative constraints and limits help us learn, grow, and unflatten Click here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners! Questions and Answers[01:44] Is it correct that Unflattening was your dissertation?[02:33] What prompted you to draw your dissertation?[05:25] Where was the idea of Unflattening born?[08:58] How does Unflattening relate to ‘thinking outside the box'?[12:47] Did you create Unflattening to intentionally remove as many of these ‘boxes' as possible?[17:47] What is the magic ingredient for hearing each other's arguments?[22:27] Is Unflattening a journey, a philosophy, a destination?[27:51] How can we practice Unflattening when it comes to emotive topics?[31:50] What can pictures teach us that words cannot?[36:21] How do you encourage people to follow the path of your writing without being too explicitly directional?[45:05] – What makes a workshop – or a class – fail?[01:02:13] – What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?LinksNick's websiteAn excerpt of Nick's book, UnflatteningConnect to NickOn TwitterOn Facebook

Sarah McVanel is a recognition expert, a public speaker, a facilitator… and she thinks that we are “mutts”.Put your pitchforks down, this is a good thing – and she explains herself beautifully!Sarah's perspective on the transferable skills in facilitation will leave you feeling empowered and inspired. You might even be happy to call yourself a mutt!Sarah has successfully pivoted to work as a public speaker (as well continuing as a facilitator and recognition expert) and believes that facilitators are uniquely placed to transfer into other fields.Listen to the episode to find out:Why facilitators are ‘mutts' – and why that is a wonderful thing!Why recognition is a superpower we all have without knowing itHow facilitators have some amazing transferable skills for public speakingWhat Sarah believes facilitators can learn from public speakersWhat it means to ‘FROG' and some examples of how Sarah practices this beautiful actClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:27] When did you first call yourself a facilitator?[06:29] What is a ‘savvy facilitator'?[08:47] What would your hashtag be?[14:21] What is a recognition expert?[18:11] How can we better recognise others – and how do you teach this when you speak on stage?[31:22] How did you get into speaking from facilitation?[36:55] Did your facilitation skills make you a better public speaker, or vice versa?[45:26] What do you wish you had known before you started a career in speaking?[51:50] What makes a workshop fail?[56:38] What is the one thing you want listeners to take away?Connect to Sarah McVanelSarah's websiteSarah's LinkedIn

Everyone has their strengths, but not everyone gets to work in a way that is congruent with them. Well, that is unless they attend one of Murray Guest's workshops.Murray is a strengths-based facilitator with a litany of qualifications and a lifetime of experience in helping teams work to their individual and collective strengths, facilitating lasting change in organisations of all shapes and sizes.But strengths-based facilitation is a nuanced practice and isn't what some people might believe it to be. I wanted to dive deeper into what this practice looks like and uncover the lessons we can all take from it to enhance our own work.In this episode, find out about:What strengths-based facilitation is and how Murray practices itWhy strengths-based workshops are at their best when they are flexible and responsiveWhy embedding learning is the only way to truly deliver lasting resultsHow enforced remote work is helping and harming teams, and what we can do to shape a new normal that is healthy and productive for everyoneWhy challenges and care are interlinked, and are blunted without each otherClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:42] When did you first call yourself a facilitator?[07:21] How can we manage our energy as facilitators to prevent our participants feeling discomfort?[11:23] What does strengths-based facilitation mean?[21:43] Would you design a workshop around the participants' strengths?[22:34] How do you use strength-finding tools to drive outcomes?[26:41] How can we take some of the communication skills and practices we have learned in remote work back to our offices?[33:27] Why are certain conversations harder in virtual spaces?[39:03] What makes a workshop fail?[42:29] What is your favourite exercise?[49:13] Is there anything else you wanted to share?[52:26] What is the one takeaway you want listeners to have?LinksMurray Guest's business pageCliffton Strength Framework“Fremdscham”Helium Sticks ExerciseConnect to Murray GuestMurray's LinkedIn

Teeth gnashing, fists waving, pulses racing… Conflict conjures up a certain image in many people's minds.But it doesn't have to be that way.In fact, conflict can be one of the most powerful tools we have to drive meaningful change.In this episode of workshops work, I speak with Marcus Crow, co-founder of 10,000 HOURS and specialist in high stakes facilitation,  about his brilliant approach to diving headfirst into conflict in a way that puts safety and growth at the heart of the discussion.Whether you're the kind of facilitator who avoids conflict at all costs or loves to embrace it, Marcus shares such a breadth of great ideas and insights from his own facilitation practice that there is something in this episode for everyone.Why the dominant narrative in management prevents meaningful changeHow Marcus helps teams face up to their conflicts whilst fostering an environment of safetyWhat we can learn from ‘low stakes' conflicts and how we can use these situations as practice for bigger conflictsHow Marcus helps his clients ‘depathologise' conflictWhy Marcus believes a ‘Royal College of Facilitation' would help advance our industryClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners! Questions and Answers[01:11] When did you first start calling yourself a facilitator?[02:55] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?[05:03] How do you help groups benefit from their collective intelligence?[07:43] Can managers be facilitators for their own teams?[10:40] Do we need 10,000 hours to become a facilitator?[14:29] How do you prepare yourself for ‘high stakes' facilitation in settings with lots of localised context?[21:04] What is the difference between standing at the front of the room and being in the room?[26:00] How do you confront the group and its conflict?[28:48] What does it mean to conflict safely?[31:29] Do you see replicable patterns between high stakes and low stakes conflict?[38:48] What makes a workshop fail?[45:24] What about the facilitation ‘industry' are you opposed to?[52:28] If someone fell asleep at the start of our conversation, what is the one thing you'd like them to take away?Connect to Marcus Crow10,000 Hours' websiteMarcus' LinkedIn

A workshop that goes exactly to plan is a workshop that exists in our dreams.The unexpected isn't something we should be afraid of – fantastic ideas and outcomes can come from the moments we don't see coming (and can never plan for) – but being prepared to adjust to the whim of the room is a vital skill for effective facilitation.But what do we need to learn – and unlearn – if we want to become adaptive, Nimble Facilitators?Rebecca Sutherns is the author of Nimble: A Coaching Guide for Responsive Facilitation and she joins me in this episode of workshops work to share the secrets of holding onto our plans a little more loosely. Find out about:• Why being Nimble is proving to be just as essential in virtual spaces as it is in on-site settings• What the sweet spot of preparation looks like and how to find yours• Why inner work is the foundation of growth, change, and progress• How to balance the needs and requirements of your client, your group, and yourself• How to strengthen your decision-making musclesClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners! Questions and Answers[01:11] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[05:43] What is the story behind Nimble Facilitation and why did you write this book?[07:51] What is the core skill for Nimble Facilitation?[13:55] How do you manage clients who require a lot of detail and structure?[19:55] How do you close sessions to synchronise everyone's takeaways?[25:34] Have you found it is harder to be Nimble in virtual workshops?[31:40] How will what we've learned from virtual workshops influence our future on-site workshops?[41:02] What makes a workshop fail, and is the answer different for virtual workshops?[47:14] What's your favourite exercise?[49:55] Is there anything you wanted to mention that we haven't touched upon yet?[55:36] What is the one thing you want listeners to take away from this show?Links· Nimble: A Coaching Guide for Responsive Facilitation· Collaborative Planning to Make Wiser Decisions Faster (Video) Connect to Rebecca· Rebecca's website· Rebecca's Twitter· Rebecca's LinkedIn

Stories are far more than books we bury our noses in; they are the fabric of our culture and history, and the foundations of our progress. A world without stories is no world at all.Storytelling is such an innate feature of the human condition, from the way we understand ourselves to the world we live in. If we can harness this powerful tool to design our workshops, the results can potentially be transformative.Bastian Küntzel is one of the best people to learn from if you are interested in the power of storytelling – especially in the context of workshop design. Sharing lessons from his book, The Learner's Journey, Bastian joins me on this episode of workshops work to explain how storytelling can be utilised as a design tool to facilitate change that sticks.Find out about:How Bastian got started as a facilitator and his early experience of intercultural communication helped him understand deeper commonalities in participantsWhy storytelling is such a powerful design principle for workshopsWhat the eight steps to story design areHow to apply the eight steps to workshops – at both the design and output stagesWhy storytelling is one of the easiest design principles to incorporate into any workshopClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:21] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:00] What is the difference between a facilitator and a trainer?[04:19] What is the difference between an educator and a trainer?[06:11] How did you find the transition from working with young people to corporations?[09:35] How did your experience of intercultural communication help you get started in facilitation?[11:48] How did you get into storytelling?[15:36] Can you guide us through the 8 step storytelling process and how it applies to workshops?[47:52] What makes a workshop fail?[48:59] What is the one takeaway you want the audience to have?Links to checkHero's JourneyThe Hero with a Thousand FacesJoseph CampbellDan HarmonDan Harmon's Story Structure 101: Super Basic ShitBastian's bookA webinar Bastian delivered about The Learner's JourneyConnect with BastianBastian's website

When I first read about AI and facilitation, I was worried the robots were coming for my job… but then I spoke with Laure Cohen van Delft and realised AI is a most welcome addition to our profession!This is because AI, in this context, refers to Appreciative Inquiry – a framework and approach that facilitates purposeful change in organisations. The approach is centred on outcomes that grow in value (Appreciate) and a curious mindset (Inquiry).AI encompasses many facets of other facilitative approaches that are joined together by the belief that every living system has potential for growth.Laure's explanation of AI is fascinating – a truly unique perspective – and every facilitator can learn something from her.Find out about:How Laure utilises LEGO Serious Play within her workshopsWhat Appreciative Inquiry (AI) isHow AI can be practiced in workshopsWhy AI can be so effectiveThe outcomes made possible by designing a workshop around AIClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:44] When did you first call yourself a facilitator?[03:06] What does facilitation mean to you?[06:08] What have you learned from LEGO Serious Play?[09:55] How do you define Appreciative Inquiry (AI)?[14:34] Is there a specific structure to AI?[24:05] How do we put the principles of AI together in a workshop?[38:08] What is your favourite question to ask in a workshop?[42:06] What makes a workshop fail?[48:10] What is one thing you want listeners to take away from this episode?Links to checkDavid L. Cooperrider Center for Appreciative InquiryAI CommonsThe 5 principles of AI Essentials of Appreciative Inquiry by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney and Jacqueline Stavros, 2008Encyclopedia of Positive Questions second edition by Diana Whitney, Amanda Trosten-Bloom, David Cooperrider and Brian S. Kaplin, 2014Connect with LaureLaure's websiteFacebookTwitterLinkedIn

Workshops are arranged for many different reasons, but so often there is something more beneath the surface – a deeper question that needs to be answered or a problem that the client cannot yet articulate.Clients are ‘inside' the problem, so it is understandable that they might not be able to truly define and understand it.So, how do we cut through the noise and get to the real purpose of our workshops?Britt Andreatta has been asking this question for a long time and has developed a brilliant participant-focused strategy to identify the real topic of workshops that remains true to the client's needs.Listen in to learn:What Britt believes are key differences between virtual and physical workshopsBritt's strategy for helping clients define the real purpose of their workshopHow designing psychological safety for the group and for the leader differHow Britt ensures the right people are in the roomWhy asking diagnostic questions at every stage of your workshops will improve themBritt is also offering Workshops Work listeners a free chapter of her book, Wired to Grow. Get your free chapter!Click here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:42] How did you get started in facilitation?[03:49] What are the differences between designing a virtual and a physical workshop?[07:32] How do you help clients identify the real purpose of their workshop?[13:37] What are the differences between designing psychological safety for groups and leaders?[22:21] How do you ensure the right people are in the room?[24:14] What makes a workshop fail?[32:46] How would you describe the future of facilitation?[41:06] What hashtag would you give yourself?[41:48] What do you wish you had known when you started your career in facilitation?[45:19] What is the one thing listeners should take away from this?Links to checkBritt's business pageBook chapter “Wired to Grow” 30 days LinkedIn learning trialConnect with BrittBritt's websiteLinkedInTwitterInstagramYouTube

Imagine turning up to a workshop to find there is no agenda.You haven't walked into a nightmare – quite the opposite, in fact! No Agenda is an innovative approach that Nadja champions to great success.If you want to know how to encourage groups to own their own responsibility to connect, create, and change, then you'll want to hear more about running workshops with no agendas from Nadja.Find out about:Nadja's journey to facilitation and the experiences that have shaped her practiceWhy identifying the group's “why” is the starting point of a meaningful workshopHow to effectively run a workshop with no agendaHow Nadja is navigating the shift to virtual workshopsHow to take the BarCamp structure and apply it in corporate settingsClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[00:52] What's on your mind right now?[02:36] What helps facilitators cope in a pandemic?[04:39] What have you consciously unlearned from your early facilitation training?[07:13] How do you structure outputs in a workshop with no agenda?[11:47] Do you prepare groups for this?[13:23] How do you make sure every voice is heard?[18:03] What is your favourite exercise to help bring structure to complexity?[21:39] What would your advice be to facilitators who are interested in running workshops with no agenda?[24:38] What makes a workshop fail?[28:10] How have No Agenda workshops coped with moving online during the pandemic?[31:35] Can you explain what a BarCamp is?[34:41] What is the difference between a BarCamp and a world café in corporate settings?[38:29] How do your clients react if you tell them there is no agenda?[40:44] Is there anything else you want to bring up?[42:46] Would you create another version of your WonderCards for virtual facilitation?[46:46] What is one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?Links to checkWondercardsWondercards LinkedInWeekly facilitators remote caféWondercards on SessionLabOpen SpaceBarCampWorld caféConnect with NadjaWebsite Twitter LinkedIn 

How can we facilitate meaningful change in a sector that is infamous for being rigid and slow-moving? (Though I am not sure I agree with that position!)Sara Huang is the person to ask – so that's exactly what I did! Sara is an expert in facilitation within the public sector and governmental organisations.Join me in this episode of Workshops Work, in which Sara and I discuss the differences in facilitation within the public sector, the secrets to success in this field, and what all of us can learn from this unique perspective.Find out about:What it means to ‘twist' in the public sector and why it produces great resultsThe importance of play if we want to create movement and possibilityHow to encourage creativity and open-mindednessWhen transparency can be useful (and not)How to flatten the room in an organisation with strict hierarchiesClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:21] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:44] What's the difference between being a facilitator and an advisor, and where does neutrality come into it?[06:23] Can you explain the name of your company?[08:02] How does your vision of ‘twisting' fit into working in the public sector?[10:39] What do you mean by ‘play'?[12:25] Do you work with visual facilitators?[14:25] How do you encourage a workshop mindset in a rigid public sector environment?[18:24] Is it true that, in government, people like to conform and, if it is, how do you challenge that to encourage new ideas?[21:19] How do you encourage people to assess every side of an argument?[27:14] How do you facilitate when there are so many layers to decision making processes in the public sector?[30:02] How transparent are you about the limitations within an organisation?[31:19] What is your favourite exercise?[34:19] How do you flatten the room in a patently hierarchical organisation?[37:19] What makes a workshop fail?[43:12] Is there anything else you wanted to share today?Links to checkSara's websiteMastermindConnect with SaraSara's TwitterSara's InstagramSara's LinkedIn

It is my pleasure to bring you this episode of Workshops Work, featuring Nisaar Jagroep. Nisaar is a master of Agile (though is too humble to call himself that!), and a leading proponent of Conscious Leadership.In his interview on Workshops Work, we dive into the details of Agile workshop design, the importance of having “the right people” in the room, and what Conscious Leadership looks like in organisations and hierarchies.It was a real delight to learn more about these topics. I hope you will feel the same by the time the episode is over.Find out about:Nisaar's journey to facilitation via coaching and Agile, and how the three intermingle in his practice todayWhy making processes small makes change more achievableHow to flatten the room, with an Agile twistWhat Conscious Leadership is, how we can apply it in organisations, and why it's so importantWhat Nisaar believes the future of facilitation isClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:17] Did you call yourself a coach or a facilitator first?[03:39] What do you understand by ‘Agile'?[05:44] How do you make work “as small as possible”?[09:20] How do you use Agile to design a workshop?[11:33] What is your favourite tool or exercise?[19:28] How would you design a workshop when you have big differences in hierarchy?[23:56] What makes a workshop fail?[26:50] Who are “the right people” to have in a workshop and how do you make sure they are in the room?[31:19] Can you explain Conscious Leadership?[41:24] What is the future of facilitation?[43:44] How would meetings change if every participant had an awareness of facilitation?Links to check Patrick Cowden on episode 001The Workshops Work Virtual MastermindAgileScrumConscious LeadershipConscious FacilitatingAgile Coaching Connect with Nisaar Nisaar's LinkedIn

The Art of Hosting is a beautiful embodiment of many of the features of facilitation, combined with its own set of unique approaches and concepts. Mary Alice Arthur is an international steward of the Art of Hosting network and a person whose input I value hugely.Mary Alice joined me for this episode of Workshops Work to talk about the Art of Hosting in general, but also about how we can apply it amid our current circumstances of lockdown and social distancing.Our conversation was packed with curiosity and “aha” moments, and it felt like we connected a lot of dots together. I hope it will be the same for you. In this episode, find out about: The art of hosting yourself and others in normal circumstances, and during crisesWhy our individual and collective stories hold so much powerHow to use challenges and potentially destructive tools to inspire great changeWhy Mary Alice values resonant learning and collective wisdomHow to direct our energy away from fear and towards excitement Click here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:15] What makes the mindset of a facilitator?[05:58] How do you balance the two meanings of the word ‘fire'?[10:40] How do balance making the process easy with making the struggle easy?[17:03] How do you bring people to the same point in their shared story in a workshop?[23:17] Why is it so important to hear other perspectives, even if you are an expert?[26:13] Why do some virtual meetings thrive and others struggle?[28:05] How can we create and tell the story?[31:06] What are the opportunities in virtual meetings?[35:36] What makes a workshop fail?[40:43] What is the one point you'd like people to take away from this conversation?    Connect with Mary AliceMary Alice's websiteMary Alice's FacebookMary Alice's TwitterMary Alice's InstagramMary Alice's LinkedIn

We can find inspiration for our work as facilitators in the most surprising places. I would have said that game design is one of those surprising sources, but after speaking to Coline Pannier, the similarities and interconnections were abundantly clear.Game design is the path to mastery in a controlled environment.While we might look for convenience and facilitate in a way that creates ease, game designers approach tasks from another angle. They create interesting challenges that help players to develop a skill. In a workshop environment these challenges are small frictions or imaginary environments that make it interesting for the group to solve a problem together.Learn about: What video game design and workshop design have in commonWhy humility is essential for facilitatorsThe power of frustration and challenges, and why we should embrace them in workshopsHow restriction boosts creativityWhat facilitators are responsible for, what they can control, and what they should leave behindClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:28] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:03] How do you combine enjoyment of creating with enjoyment of facilitation?[04:23] What do you think other educators can learn from facilitation?[06:16] How does humility fit into education?[08:24] What from game design can we apply to workshop design?[10:23] Can facilitators purposefully introduce challenges to our workshops?[15:23] How can we use obstacles that already exist for participants?[17:17] How do you define, as a game designer, the right amount of challenge?[19:50] Would you reframe existing challenges in a new way?[22:58] What would be a nice, meaningful obstacle that you would create in a workshop?[26:39] Can you give an example of creating a loop between ‘levels' in a workshop?[30:28] What can we learn about sprints from game design?[34:02] How do you know that you ‘went in the wrong direction' outside the game environment?[36:42] Do you share with the group if you feel something has gone wrong in a workshop?[38:04] What would the signs be that a group is getting a process wrong?[39:18] What is a failed workshop?[41:43] Can you give an example of taking on a job for the wrong reasons?[44:08] Is it possible to use game design to structure an organisation?[51:19] What is your favourite exercise?[54:48] Is there anything else you would like to mention that you haven't already?[56:37] What is your view of gamification?[1:03:31] If someone fell asleep after minute one what would the one thing you want them to take away?Links to checkCodesign-It

Prototyping is a mainstay of the tech world, but nothing exists in a vacuum anymore. Disciplines are increasingly cross-pollinating and useful strategies from disparate fields are finding new life in places we may not have expected.Prototypes are one of those strategies, and my guest on this week's podcast can attest to that. Douglas Ferguson sits at the intersection of tech users and tech teams, with the workshops he leads creating positive outcomes and outputs for both parties.But how does he integrate prototypes into workshops and what can we, as facilitators, learn from this traditionally tech-focused technique?Start prototyping your understanding and dive into this fascinating episode of Workshops Work!Learn about:The prototyping mindset and how almost anything can be prototypedHow the interface between users and tech vs. teams and workshops share similaritiesWhy you need to embrace either fidelity or ambiguityHow to spot and manage typical issues that arise in prototypingWhat designing for frustration and managing expectations looks likeWhy labelling emotions build connection and empathy in a roomClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:40] What led you write your book, Beyond the Prototype, and would you call yourself a facilitator?[05:29] What do you understand by the word prototype? Is there something you cannot prototype?[09:36] Are there prototypes that are prone to fail? How would you characterise them?[16:36] Would you say you work at the interface between the user and a workshop?[19:20] Can you give an example of a low resolution prototype?[23:20] What are the minimum requirements for a prototype to survive the ‘beyond' phase?[28:54] How do you rebuild or maintain the excitement after the first prototype, especially if it is not well-received?[32:43] Are expectation management and careful design the key factors in reducing frustration for teams developing prototypes?[39:09] How would you distinguish the need for facilitative leadership versus the need for an external facilitator?[42:06] At what point do you hand over your Design Sprint to the in-house leader?[44:57] What are the key ingredients to help organisations keep momentum and move beyond the prototype?[49:36] At what point do you craft the design narrative and how do you do it?[50:38] What would be the strategy you use to design the narrative?[52:16] Do you build a narrative with the entire group or subgroups? And how do you bring it together?[55:04] What makes a workshop fail?[56:44] If someone fell asleep after the first minute and doesn't have time to relisten to this episode, what is the one takeaway you want them to have?Links to checkDouglas' company, Voltage Control Douglas' book, Beyond the PrototypeConnect to Douglas FergusonOn LinkedInOn Twitter

As part of the Virtual Collaboration Campus 2020, we invited all participants to join an inclusive Fishbowl conversation (similar to the one for Episode 50) around the question “What makes virtual workshops work?”.A total number of 73 participants joined the Zoom call and we covered many topics around virtual workshops and virtual collaboration: What works and what doesn't? What are our best practices?The questions we asked and answered: What makes virtual workshops work?  What are your opinions on showing your personal space or having an artificial background? What kind of workshops can we only do in the analogue world that we cannot do in the virtual space? What can we learn from this crisis that would help us to have a better future? How can we use our facilitation skills to help to navigate the crisis? What rules do we need to make a “global society” instead of a “global economy” work?  Although I highly recommend keeping a pen and paper at hand to take notes, you can also just download mine!And, don't miss the next show: Subscribe to my newsletter and check your favourite podcast player to subscribe to the show. A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Links to checkThe Workshops Work "Virtual Mastermind"The Virtual Collaboration Network

Beauty appears in different ways – with our intention or entirely without provocation – but how can we purposefully create beauty in our workshops, and what effect can it have on the outcomes of our practice?Eike Niclas Schmidt believes beauty is an essential component of a successful workshop, and that it can be encouraged and created in simpler ways than you might imagine.As an Art of Hosting specialist, Eike is acutely aware of the impact our spaces and presence have on the people we share them with. The perfect person for me to speak to, then, in my investigation into beauty and its role in making workshops work.In this episode, find out about:How the Art of Hosting and facilitation have combined perfectly for Eike's practiceWhat it takes to hold space as a facilitatorHow to make people shineWhether it is possible to facilitate beautyWhere in our work it is most important to curate and encourage beautyClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers [01:27] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[02:42] Is there a difference between holding space for children and adults?[03:20] Do you recall a mistake you made early on that taught you a lot?[05:48] What was it that made you feel at home when you found the Art of Hosting tribe?[07:24] What does it take to hold space as a facilitator?[10:23] What does it mean to make people shine, and how do you facilitate that?[13:00] Are there ways of creating connectedness, or shine, without physical contact?[18:10] What does it mean to create a beautiful space to you?[22:53] Is beauty something we can facilitate?[24:36] What does the Art of Hosting mean?[27:24] How do you make outcomes visible?[31:06] How important is the beauty of the tangible materials we use (such as flip charts, notes, or recordings)?[34:29] What is it about circles that makes magical connections?[37:02] What makes a workshop fail?[40:30] What is your favourite exercise?[42:11] How do you think facilitation can contribute to planting seeds for the future?[45:27] If someone fell asleep after the first minute of this podcast and has just awoken, what would you like them to take away?Links to checkEpisode 047 with Tim Ferguson on Outputs and OutcomesEpisode 049 with Sunny on the Third Facilitator in the RoomChristina Baldwin and Ann Linnea: The circle Way: A Leader in Every ChairConnect to Eike Niclas SchmidtEike's LinkedInEike's profile on the Art of Hosting online community

As facilitators, change is our business, our livelihood, our North Star.Eugenio Moliní has spent his life thinking about change. He's chased it, avoided it, and now he is accepting it. Perhaps more accurately, he has found that it is only by accepting our truths that we can truly find change.As you might expect from someone with such depth of thought and consideration for the process of change, Eugenio is fascinating to speak with and listen to.His thoughts on self-acceptance, anxiety, and conflict are astonishing and gave me great cause for reflection. I hope they will do the same for you too.In this episode, find out about:What helped Eugenio decide to work as an external change agent, rather than an internal oneWhat Eugenio has learned about facilitation from the most unexpected sourcesHow we can identify anxiety and hold it in our shared spacesWhy solving conflicts isn't often necessary or helpfulWhy self-acceptance is the root of all changeClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:44] When did you start to call yourself a facilitator?[02:55] What changed that meant you began to receive payment for your services?[04:47] Can you talk about your background in conflict resolution?[07:53] How does inner peace impact your practice as a changemaker?[10:23] What can we learn from silence that we cannot learn from words?[10:52] Do you use silence in your sessions?[15:22] Can you explain “the only science you believe in is your own experience” further?[20:06] How do you define neutrality and how that can work in situations of conflict?[22:12] What happened that made you take the decision to not work with conflict?[25:54] Can you explain the paradox of change, and why it is you only believe in change that comes from within the company?[31:02] What changes when you get the room to state the truth and accept themselves?[36:04] Can you share an example of working with an organisation in which people want change but not the company?[39:39] Would you have done anything differently in that difficult situation?[40:27] How did the ‘oak table' story end?[43:20] What makes a workshop fail?[49:51] If somebody fell asleep just after starting this episode and has just woken up, what is the one thing you would like them to take away?Links to checkLisa Feldman Barrett's Ted Talk on anxietyNora BatesonConnect to Eugenio MoliníEugenio's websiteEugenio's LinkedIn

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 As facilitators, we are used to holding physical and mental space for groups – but what changes when we do this virtually and how can we facilitate effective collaboration in digital spaces?The Virtual Collaboration Campus is a community of 35 facilitators who are coming together (virtually, of course!) to discuss and teach the ways we can effectively organise and conduct virtual meetings and work.Storytelling, collaborating, space sharing, understanding, and listening remain the same in virtual spaces, but they can take on different forms, require different approaches, and have their own idiosyncrasies.In preparation for the Virtual Collaboration Campus, some of the contributors join me on Workshops Work to discuss their thoughts on virtual collaboration.In this episode, hear Yannis Angelis, Tanja Murphy-Ilibasic, Tina Meckel-Wille, and Mary Alice discuss their specialisms and get a taste of the content that will be delivered in the Virtual Collaboration Campus.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:53] What has Tanja Murphy-Ilibasic learned from being a translator that she can apply to her work as a facilitator?[02:49] How does Tanja apply Conversational Intelligence to a workshop space?[08:43] Does Tanya have a favourite exercise to help a group understand the power of words?[12:01] Why does Tina Meckel-Wille feel we undervalue virtual collaboration?[13:27] What does Tina believe makes a good virtual conversation?[16:14] How does Tina create a safe space where vulnerable, deep, and intimate conversation can take place through a screen?[24:08] Does Tina have a favourite exercise to conduct in virtual workshops?[25:26] What does Tina believe makes a virtual workshop fail?[29:47] How does Mary Alice Arthur believe we can bring the mentality of the Art of Hosting and the campfire conversation into the virtual world?[35:59] How does Mary Alice believe we can control the physical space or use physical communication in the virtual space?[39:32] When did Yannis Angelis start calling himself a facilitator?[42:26] What did Yannis learn from being a mediator that he can apply to being a facilitator?[43:17] How would Yannis translate the stage in a virtual space?[44:28] How does Yannis use storytelling to guide the group?[46:47] How does Yannis use storytelling to make workshops work?[48:34] How does Yannis think we can become better story-listeners?[50:14] What does Yannis think makes workshops fail?[51:42] What word would Yannis use to describe the experience of being in a virtual network of facilitators?Links to CheckVirtual Collaboration CampusJudith E. Glaeser: Conversational IntelligenceSponsor: www.workshops.work/mastermind     

Heleen Kuiper is an expert in the practice of holacracy – a system for shifting organisations and teams towards self-management, helping them to focus on purpose, responsibilities, and getting work done. So, who better to talk to about holacracy than Heleen herself?It is a fascinating take on facilitation and there are lessons every facilitator can learn from it, regardless of whether they entirely agree with it. In this episode, we discuss:How personal development and organisational development are connectedHow to create team spirit in holacratic systemsWhat the differences are between holacratic and traditional facilitationClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:36] What led you to facilitation and holacracy?[02:24] Would you call yourself a facilitator?[03:21] What are the key things you teach people how to facilitate meetings?[08:05] What is holacracy and what does a meeting look like in a holacratic structure?[10:25] How do employees in managerial roles react in holacratic meetings?[13:34] What does an organisation need to commit to in order to work with you?[17:39] How do employees in managerial roles react if you are helping an organisation move from a hierarchical to a holacratic structure?[21:48] How do you create warmth and a safe space in a holacratic system?[26:53] How do you handle trust issues in holacratic meetings?[29:28] If an employee raised that they felt overworked, how would this be addressed?[33:43] Does holacracy find its way into your personal life?[37:17] How do you balance the art of hosting with holacracy?[38:37] What is your favourite exercise or practice?[40:28] How do check-ins and holacracy work together?[43:14] What makes a workshop fail?[45:00] What do you do if a client has told you their expectations, but the group does not want to work to achieve it?[50:13] If a listener fell asleep at the start of this episode and has just awoken, what is one thing you would like them to takeaway?Links to CheckHolacracy Tactical Meeting Structure (pdf)Deep DemocracyEmpowerment Dynamic vs Drama Triangle: powerofted.comArt of Hosting Theory USabotage Line (Dutch only): deepdemocracy.nl/over-deep-democracy/tools-en-methodiekConnect to HeleenHeleen's websiteTwitterLinkedInPodcast – Reinventing Organizations in Nederland

There is a fascinating intersection between Agile and facilitation.With experience of integrating Agile into both marketing and HR teams, Eoin Cannon has a unique perspective on why certain approaches prove fruitful and others fall short.In this episode of Workshops Work, Eoin shares how Agile can help to shape smarter, more effective teams in any department to be better equipped to overcome problems.There are dozens of points that Eoin picks out that hold huge value, so if you want to learn about the application of Agile in workshops (and vice versa), advice for how you might apply those principles in your workshops, and deeper interrogations of what Agile, HR, and facilitation really mean – this is the episode for you!In this episode, we discuss:Eoin's move from marketing to HR by way of facilitationWhy it can be so impactful to make leaders co-facilitatorsHow behavioural change creates cultural changeWhat HR really meansAdvice for first-time experience mappingAn explanation of the Agile HR processClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:15] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:08] What is the difference between a workshop in marketing and a workshop in HR?[05:25] How do you get marketing teams to open up and participate more in a sharing culture?[10:00] What does Agile HR mean?[11:58] Can you share an example of how Agile works with, not against, human behaviour and psychology?[14:11] What got you into Agile HR and how do you apply it?[17:22] How would you start a project and workshop for the topic of changing or removing a company's bonus system?[22:46] How do you facilitate ‘downloading' in a workshop whilst preserving the participants' own opinions and contributions?[25:48] Would you let participants design personas?[29:21] How do participants differentiate between Agile vs. non-Agile coaching and training?[32:28] How does an Agile HR professional operate differently to a non-Agile one?[34:27] When do you think the mindset shift from non-Agile to Agile occurs?[35:51] What is your favourite exercise?[43:15] What makes a workshop fail?[49:32] Is there anything else you would like to discuss?[50:06] What does the term ‘agile facilitation' mean to you?[52:29] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?Links to CheckEpisode 50 of Workshops WorkAgile ManifestoAgile origins: Mindset not processes:  principles on how to work in Agile                Behaviours: Article on BehavioursScrum: Scrum mindsetScrum process videoDetailed explanation of framework: Scrum book video explanation

50 episodes of Workshops Work – wow! What a joy every episode has been. Thank you for joining me on this journey – whether this is your first or fiftieth time listening.To mark this milestone, I brought together ten Workshops Work alumni for a fishbowl discussion about facilitation.We covered a range of topics in such detail, it's a struggle to summarise it in these show notes. If you are interested in hearing what a room of facilitators has to say about the complexities, joys, and novelties of our profession, I am very happy to present to you this episode.Thank you again for helping me on my journey to 50 episodes. Here's to the next milestone…In this episode, we discuss:The different roles in workshopsWhy it's so important to give participants and their discussions spaceWhether neutrality should be the facilitator's goal – and whether it is even possibleHow best to tease out conflict in a safe and healthy mannerOur experiences of our discussion – from excitement to discomfortClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers [03:23] How do you ensure everyone in the room has the same understanding? Do you do so before or during a workshop? [08:08] How do you make sure everyone has a role? [11:51] What is your experience of wanting to act as a facilitator but knowing that you should not? [13:10] How do you deal with having assumptions about participants? [14:41] Neutrality and conflict [21:52] How do you make space for people in a fair and balanced way? [25:39] Neutrality, readiness, and being present [30:51] Reflecting on the experience of the fishbowl [40:54] What brings you the most joy from the transformation in the room of your workshops? [41:56] Coming back to discomfort [49:21] What do you do to limit yourself and avoid taking too much space when speaking? [51:54] Do you have any short lines you use to transfer power in the room? [53:11] Checking in on the participant's experiences of the discussionLinks to Check007 – Mindset Management – with Jeremy Akers011 – How to design brainstorming sessions for huge groups – with Frans Scheepens020 – Create experiences for your audience to achieve results – with Rein Sevenstern021 – How to use Liberating Structures to translate the purpose into a process – with Max Brouwer030 – The day after! How to effectively document to achieve results – with Mireille Beumer037 – How to facilitate group decisions in 4 easy steps – with Marjolijn de Graaf041 – Presence, Mindfulness and Facilitation – with Amaranatho Robey

Can an object – a passive actor – be considered a facilitator?That's what Sunny BenBelkacem and I came to agree in this episode of Workshops Work. As a graphic recorder and communication artist, Sunny brings workshops to life by visualising the discussions that take place.The work produced by a graphic recorder can become a facilitator in itself – sparking discussion, pulling at threads, and creating meaningful connection and change.Sunny has been helping facilitators to capture their workshops in visual form for over 20 years and, as you might expect, has some amazing ideas to share about the ways facilitators and graphic recorders can work together.If you're curious to know more about graphic recorders, Sunny's experience of facilitation, or would just like to listen to an engaging and enthusiastic speaker, you will surely enjoy this episode.You can hear Sunny discuss:Why you might want a graphic recorder in your workshopsHow graphic recorders and facilitators work togetherHow she translates buzzwords and jargon into something of depthWhether the skills required to be a graphic recorder can be taught or are innateWhat changes in a room when you have your back to its occupantsHow imagery differs between culturesClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers [01:29] How did you get into visual facilitation? [03:49] How was it to realise that a hobby and interest of yours was actually a profession? [04:59] Why would a client pay for a graphic recorder? [09:08] How can facilitators and graphic recorders help each other? [12:05] How do you translate buzzwords into something of depth? [14:23] Can you learn to be a graphic recorder or is it a natural talent? [20:33] As you draw with your back to the room, do you hear hierarchies and patterns emerging in groups? [22:07] Do you communicate with the facilitator if you feel something important has gone unexplored? [23:54] How do you balance creating an honest representation of the discussion with creating something the clients will be happy to see? [27:34] Is there a difference between the way you visualise things in different cultural settings? [32:46] Who is the ‘third facilitator'? [36:28] Does the chart/drawing take on ‘afterlife' once the facilitator(s) has left the room? [40:30] What makes a workshop fail and can you see a workshop's success (or failure) in a visualisation? [46:18] Are you ever asked to add anything after the workshop is finished? [47:36] What is your favourite facilitation exercise? [53:31] Is there anything else you would like to say to the listeners?Links to CheckSunny's websiteInternational Forum of Visual PractitionersOne-page episode summaryJanine Underhill, of IDEA360Anthony Weeks, of The Public Listener

No two facilitators are the same in the way they run their workshops – or in who they are outside of being a facilitator. For Markus Püttmann, the interplay of his other interests and skills have helped to develop an effective and unique approach to workshops.What if you used your skills and interests to create a better workshop experience for your participants?That's what Markus has achieved by integrating photography and facilitation.His fascinating approach to workshop facilitation has inspired me to analyse where I could introduce unique elements of myself into my workshops in a way that is non-intrusive and organic to the process we are working through.If you would like to explore how you might introduce your skills and interests to your workshops or are simply interested to learn how Markus integrates photography and facilitation in his, this episode will leave you with lots to reflect on.Markus shares his thoughts on:How photography and facilitation are both tied to the art of translationHow to combine photography and facilitation in workshopsWhat he does to help his groups relinquish control and tensionWhen and why he will change his plans according to each groupThe things photography and facilitation have in commonHow photography shows us things and helps us tell stories we cannot articulateClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:30] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[03:47] How do you see the role of a facilitator stopping projects from failing?[05:06] How do you understand the role of photography in facilitation?[08:43] What is the role of photography in your workshops?[11:09] Do you use photography before, during, or after the workshop?[13:21] What are the pros and cons of using photography in workshops?[15:24] Is there a difference between using photography and other visual prompts (like image cards, abstract art, emoticons)?[16:28] What is an example of a question you would ask along with using a picture?[18:03] How do you know when to change your approach when you meet a group?[20:07] How do you help a group become more relaxed and open-minded?[23:30] What have you learned about facilitation through being a photographer?[29:17] What have you learned about photography through being a facilitator?[31:35] If you had a hashtag, what would it be?[32:59] Do you ever interview or survey your participants before a workshop?[36:55] What is your favourite exercise?[39:01] Have you ever asked participants to bring their own photographs to the workshop?[39:20] What is the funniest item a participant has brought to a workshop?[40:32] What does a failed workshop look like to you?[42:17] Can you think of an analogy between photography and workshops?[46:09] Is there anything else you want to mention before the end of this conversation?[47:24] What is one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?Links to CheckMarkus' websiteMarkus' image cards

What does it really mean to have a successful workshop, meeting, or event?The answer lies with the end result. What do people gain when they attend your workshop or event? Do they walk away with a tangible output (e.g. plans or decisions)? Or, do they leave with an outcome (e.g. a feeling or vision) instead? Tim Ferguson is the CEO of Audience, a creative and strategic agency specialising in live meetings and internal communications. Tim joins me on this episode of the podcast to talk about outcomes and outputs in more detail. We discuss the importance of understanding your audience, knowing our boundaries as facilitators, setting priorities, and so much more.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:55] – When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?[08:49] – What is the difference between a trainer and a facilitator?[11:05] – Would you rather refer to yourself as a trainer, facilitator, or coach?[12:50] – What hashtag would you give yourself with all these hats that you're wearing?[15:30] – What is the advantage of having a new leader joining a workshop, as opposed to a meeting where everyone can also contribute?[17:41] - What would be your tools to drive a meaningful outcome and a meaningful output in a workshop or in a meeting?[22:16] – What are the consequences of each priority? And, how would you facilitate this process?[26:33] - What does it take to create trust and how do you make sure that trust develops?[31:14] – Does it always need to be the leader to break this vicious circle of distrust and dishonesty?[35:08] – Would you rather coach a leader who is a wolf in sheep's clothing…or would you find another facilitator?[38:44] - Is it possible to achieve a sustainable output without having the outcomes that go along with it?[40:11] - What is the perfect recipe to fail a workshop?[41:51] - Why is it important to have a chapter on facilitation in a corporate presenter's handbook?[45:07] – What would you like the audience to take away from this discussion?Links to CheckLeanne Hughes' Interview with MyriamEpisode 033 – How to hear the unsaid in the workshop space – with Oscar TrimboliEpisode 034 – All you need to know about Billboard Design Thinking – with Sean McGuireConnect to Tim FergusonAudienceLinkedIn

Holger Nauheimer is one of the leading voices in change management and the founder of Berlin Change Days, a conference for facilitators and change makers – attracting 150 participants from all continents to Berlin. With over 30 years of facilitation experience, Holger is uniquely placed to talk about our passions and profession. So much so, in fact, that he has developed a reputation for facilitating other facilitators!That's why I was so happy to have him join me for this episode of Workshops Work. We talked about such a variety of topics, but the focus of this episode was facilitating facilitators.Holger shares his thoughts on:What it means to be a good facilitatorIntentionalityMindset managementHow he started Berlin Change Days and the lessons he has learnedThe role of controlWhat failure really means.I'm amazed by how much we managed to discuss!Click here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.Questions and Answers02:13 – When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?04:13 – What does it take to be a good facilitator?05:29 – What does facilitation mean to you?06:41 – If you had to give yourself a hashtag, what would it be?09:27 – Is intention part of the foundations of your work as a host, facilitator, and consultant?12:41 – What would your advice be to a facilitator who finds themselves triggered by difficult moments in their workshops?16:51 – How did you come up with the idea for Berlin Change Days?19:32 – Why is 150 attendees the “magic number” for Berlin Change Days?20:38 – What is the biggest lesson you have learned after 11 years of Berlin Change Days?23:38 – Do events need a different design based on their audience?26:13 – How do you find the balance between emotional and too emotional?28:38 – Do you redesign the flow of a conference?30:58 – Have you experienced facilitators trying to “co-facilitate” your workshops?34:22 – Does the fact that facilitators understand facilitation make the workshop more difficult?37:13 – What is your favourite exercise to push your participants out of their comfort zone?40:05 – Do facilitators jump into activities more readily in workshops?41:25 – What would be the worst way to introduce a warm-up exercise?43:09 – Do facilitators struggle to give up control when they are not in charge?48:10 – How do you select Head Facilitators for Berlin Change Days?48:52 – What do you think makes a workshop fail?51:31 – What is the first thing an aspiring facilitator should learn?Links to CheckDays of Change podcastBerlin Change DaysEpisode 28 of Workshops Work, with Pam HamiltonNick Chater, author of The Mind is FlatStephen GilliganDon't Just Do Something, Stand ThereConnect to Holger Nauheimer

On episode 045 I speak with Leanne Hughes, my "(nearly) facilitation twin", public speaker, trainer and, fellow podcast host. We cover a lot of ground and speak about the habits of facilitators and our mindsets, we speak about the meaning of showing up (as opposed to showing off). Leanne shares what she has learned from instructional design and now applies to her workshop design. Click here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners! Questions and Answers [1:53] How did you get into facilitation and podcasting? [4:20] Do you recall the moment when you called yourself a facilitator for the first time?[6:16] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?[6:32] What does it mean to you to show up?[9:33] What have you learned from 100 episodes on the First Time Facilitator podcast?[12:38] What's your advice to a first-time facilitator?[15:20] What would you consider your own uniqueness as a facilitator?[17:27] Who did you get feedback to improve your facilitation skills? [19:11] What do you mean by “contrast”?   [22:33] Would you design for contrast or use the contrast that exists already in the room?[23:38] What is your strategy to bring the spark of energy back into the room?[25:43] How do you prepare for contrast in a workshop that you facilitate abroad?[29:55] How would you prepare for a workshop where a large hierarchical difference will be present?[32:57] How much “training" would you allow a facilitator during a workshop?[34:57] What's your silver bullet exercise?[43:14] What is it that your clients hire you for?[48:14] What makes a workshop fail?[50:47] How would you deal with such a situation today?[52:03] Would you facilitate workshops that were designed by someone else? Links to checkLeanne's business page: Leannehughes.comLeanne's podcast "First Time Facilitator" and our episode 89 Atomic Habits by James ClearClifton Strength Assessment It's never crowded along the extra mile by Wayne W. DeyerWhat is "Instructional Design"FTF Podcast with Mark BowdenOur sponsor Session Lab - Get your first 2 months for free!  Connect to Leanneon LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram @leannehughes  

On episode 035, I speak to Wayne Turmel, expert of virtual facilitation and co-founder of the Remote Leadership Institute about the struggles and challenges when it comes to virtual workshops. Wayne explains clearly what it takes to make the transition from the physical into the virtual space successful and what many of us still get wrong.You will learn what mistakes to avoid, how to practice and what features to use so that your next virtual meeting becomes as engaging and effective as if participants were physically present.   Don't miss the part when Wayne explains why hybrid meetings (when some participants join virtually) should be forbidden and how you can still make them work using the right techniques and toolsClick here to download the free 1-page summaryDon't miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group. Questions and Answers [2:24] What is the magic skill a facilitator needs to master virtual workshops?[5:09] What would be your advice to get out of our own head and over that hump?[12:08] According to you, which is the most underused feature?[17:44] We spoke about virtual classrooms and meetings until now, to what extent are things different when we talk about virtual team meetings or workshops?[25:05] What is your favourite virtual workshop exercise to engage participants? [30:08] How can you create meaningful connections among the participants in a virtual space? [32:57] How can you facilitate this process? How can we make it easier for the participants? [35:11] How would you deal with workshops where only some participants join virtually? [38:27] How do you document a virtual workshop? [45:16] What ground rules do you set for a workshop and which do you consider most important? [47:35] What do you do if participants are late? [48:01] What are the ground rules you would define in session one? [49:40] What is the minimum equipment one would need to start an online workshop?   Links to checkWayne's business page https://www.remoteleadershipinstitute.com/Remote leadership certificate seriesWayne's book: Meet like you mean itOur sponsor Session Lab - An online agenda builder and exercise libraryOther episodes we mentionedEpisode 028 with Pam Hamilton on breakout roomsEpisode 030 with Mireille Beumer on workshop documentation Connect to Wayneon LinkedIn

Do your team workshops deliver the results you hope for? What if you could keep the momentum of your meetings and get everyone to follow-up even weeks later? It is my mission to help fellow facilitators, team leaders and managers deliver workshops that drive sustainable results. My guests are professional facilitators, trainers and coaches with whom I discuss our lessons learned. Together, we explore what makes workshops work and share our best practices in a way that our audience can directly apply it.