workshops work Podcast

UPDATE: The Workshops Work Podcast Has Its Own Feed Again

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:00:00 +0200

Sometimes the best decisions only reveal themselves after we’ve made them.

Six months ago, I merged my new podcast, Unprofessionalism, with the existing Workshops Work feed. It felt like the right move at the time. But the download statistics told a different story.

Many listeners searching for Workshops Work kept finding only the episode titled “The Final Episode of Workshops Work” and understandably assumed the podcast had disappeared.

In this short episode, I share why I decided to separate the two podcasts again—and why both shows now have their own dedicated homes.

If you’re interested in facilitation, workshop design, group dynamics, and the philosophy behind meaningful conversations, you’re in the right place.

If you’re looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast, you’ll find it here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

355 - The Final Episode of Workshops Work with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

And that’s a wrap, folks! After 355 brilliant, beautiful, mind-opening conversations about facilitation, life, and everything in between, I can now confidently say that I have found the magic ingredients that make workshops work.

Join me, myself, and I for a final farewell episode of Workshops Work, before I retire this guise of the podcast from the airwaves. I reflect on the beautiful journey of almost 7 years, where my curiosity has led me, and why it’s now time for the start of something new.

Next week, Workshop Works shapeshifts into a new chapter, a new direction, a new podcast! Unprofessionalism is set to air on the 7th January, as I begin to explore the real stories, shadows, and inspirations that can help us to celebrate our most human, unguarded selves.

But for now, a wholehearted thank you for being a part of this journey with me.

Find out about:

The evolution of the Workshops Works podcast
Why my curiosity has shifted from that of the facilitator, to that of the participant
The new Unprofessionalism podcast – what it’s about, and what you can expect
The podcast club that I am hosting, to deepen our facilitation learnings together

Connect with me:

Join the Podcast Club on Substack by subscribing to the workshops work Substack: https://substack.com/@myriamhadnes/posts

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

353 - How to Facilitate Constructive Discomfort through Brave Spaces with Dr. Dauv Evans

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0100

Brave work is messy work. It’s an invitation into the dōjō – to be humbled, to get vulnerable, and leave behind what you thought you knew.

Life-long learner, executive coach, culture consultant and facilitator, Dr. Dauv Evans joins me this week to journey beyond safety into the brave space arena. Together, we explore what it takes to build these spaces: the intentionality, the rules of engagement, and the assumptions we must leave at the door to have courageous conversations.

From power imbalances, to conversations on race, Dauv shares his work in helping people to grow together and exist outside of their comfort zone, with generosity and passion. A rich, practical conversation about how leaders can show up with humility when it’s needed most.

Find out about:

What braves spaces are – and why people must be invited into them
How constructive discomfort can facilitate deeper connection, meaningful learning, and cultural change within organisations
Why leaders must navigate people’s varying levels of risk tolerance with care
How to use power positively to facilitate a brave conversation for the better

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Dauv Evans:

Brave Space Leadership Cohort Interest Form

Website

LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

352 - Less Thinking, More Sensing: Embodiment in Facilitation with Mirjam Leunissen

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Take a moment to tune into your body. Do your muscles feel tense, is your heartbeat slow and steady, is your jaw clamped tight?

Embodiment coach and one-week-old facilitator, my fiancée Mirjam Leunissen joins me this week for a podcast first! As a scientist in a past life, Mirjam spent her days distilling data points – and she continues to do so under a new guise, now recognising patterns in the body, in emotions, and how people show up.

We explore how embodiment can be a gateway to changing perspective and mastering our own comfort, as Mirjam shares practical tips for making sense of our bodies. A beautiful invitation to think a little less, sense a lot more, and come back to being a whole human being!

Find out about:

How embodiment can shape how we think and feel, helping us to regulate our nervous system, and respond with greater clarity
Why emotional awareness begins in the body first, when we tune into our physical sensations
Why facilitating with lightness, play, and curiosity can foster psychological safety
The importance of using tangible, factual terms about our physiology to bridge understanding
Why shifting our posture can positively transform the way that we think

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Connect to Mirjam Leunissen:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

351 - The Fierce Compassion of Facilitation with Shireen Naqvi

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

From a childhood imaginary classroom, to the moments before a traffic light turns green, Shireen Naqvi has been viewing the world as a beautiful facilitation opportunity her whole life.

Guided by the divine belief that humans are the best creatures in the universe, Shireen has made it her mission to help others realise the power that lies within them. She joins me this week to share stories from her life in Pakistan, her strategies for enabling self-empowerment in others, and why anger is the perfect ammunition for change.

A wise and inspiring conversation rich with Shireen’s passion, as we explore professionalism, injustice, the female experience, cultural nuances, and everything in between!

Find out about:

Why we should pay attention to our angers in order to understand our personal values
Women’s rights in Pakistan, and Shireen’s experience as a female trainer and entrepreneur
How Shireen uses play and authenticity to break the barrier of professionalism in the boardroom
How the concept of professionalism differs across cultures and countries

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Shireen Naqvi:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

350 - Workshops Without Words: Learning from the Clown with Suzanne Dietz

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Not all clowns hide sadness behind a painted smile. Some wear their emotions on their sleeve, with earnest, overt authenticity, and deep self-awareness!

After taking a sign language course, Suzanne Dietz discovered how freeing it was to express herself through non-verbal communication – and it soon changed the course of her life. Hanging up her traditional facilitation hat and swapping it for a red nose, she now brings joy to the lives of asylum seekers and the elderly as a talented care clown.

Together, we unravel the wondrous world of non-verbal facilitation: from improvisation and silent connection, to letting go of performance, and developing a sharpened sense for the unspoken.

Find out about:

The unexpected similarities between facilitators and clowns
The non-verbal craft of clowning, the cues, and the communication form
How Suzanne expresses and plays with emotions with authenticity
How clowning can sharpen our intuition, and reveal emotional clarity in both ourselves and others

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Connect to Suzanne Dietz:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

349 - Facilitation in Japan: Silence, Safety, and Subtlety with Yuko Gendo

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Silence is a virtue, and nowhere is this more deeply understood than in Japan. A pause rich with meaning, where thoughts are carefully explored, emotions are quiet, and things are said, without any words at all.

So, how do facilitators hold space amidst the subtlety? Facilitator, workshop designer, and coach, Yuko Gendo invites us into the beautifully unique world of Japanese facilitation this week, as a practice shaped by deep respect, harmony, and quiet reflection.

She shares how non-verbal cues can soften emotional expression, how consensus forms through alignment, not debate, and together we compare our cultural experiences as two facilitators from opposite sides of the world. Join us!

Find out about:

The cultural values of silence, hierarchy and emotional restraint, and their role in Japanese facilitation
How Yuko navigates the tension between group harmony and individual expression
The use of indirect expressions through cards, visuals and metaphor, in place of direct speach
What Western facilitators can learn from their Japanese counterparts

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Yuko Gendo:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

348 - Reclaiming Indigenous Wisdom in Facilitation with Katerina Kupenga

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Carrying the wisdom of five generations before her, Katerina Kupenga inherited a special legacy from her ancestral namesake: the gift of Māori facilitation.

And as a proud wahine Māori from Ngāti Porou, Katerina joins me to share this rich wisdom with us all. She guides us through the sacred welcoming rituals of the Pōwhiri, the complexities of tribal relations, the spiritual intimacy of exchanging breath, and the energy work that takes place as people, ancestors, emotions, and tension are invited into being.

This is a truly special conversation about what it means to be Māori, and the unique indigenous methods that acknowledge the Māori people of the land.

Find out about:

The traditional Māori rituals, chants, and the guidance of the gods that take place during workshops
Katerina’s journey to relearning the wisdom and culture of her people
The importance of honouring Māori practices and language – free of Western agendas, structures and timeframes
Facilitating conversations and tensions around intergenerational, ancestral traumas
The unconscious biases that exist in the facilitation sector, and the alternative perspectives we need

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Katerina Kupenga:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

347 - When 100 People Feel Like One Team: Crafting Connection Online with Perle Laouenan-Catchpole

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Gathering hundreds of people is most facilitators’ worst nightmare – but for Perle Laouenan-Catchpole, it’s her dream.

With her signature feminine energy and warmth, Perle connects large online groups as one, cohesive team, creating a sense of belonging that sends ripples of impact throughout the group. Her secret? Comfort must always come before safety, simplicity will always triumph over complexity, and facilitating true connection begins with understanding yourself first.

This is a beautiful, passionate conversation for anyone that wants to step into their superpower, and learn the art of online, human connection.

Find out about:

How to design workshops that connect hundreds of people as part of one team
Why you should tell people what you do, rather than what you are
How to foster a sense of belonging amongst hundreds of participants
The power of speaking out your needs, to invite others to do the same
The value of multilingual breakouts, allowing participants to engage in their mother tongue

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Perle Laouenan-Catchpole:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

346 - Power, Confidence and the Courage to Speak Up with Matthew Hill

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Do you dare to be powerful and confident? Matthew Hill, leadership trainer, conflict mediator, and intercultural facilitator has spent years guiding executives into their inner strength – but his approach might just surprise you.

He invites us to reconsider power not as the most dominant voice in the room, but rather a calm, curious presence, and confidence not as something we muster up once, but a daily practice of small, intentional acts.

From meeting difference with meaningful dialogue, and digging a little deeper beneath the surface of our interactions, to reclaiming our voice – episode 346 is for anyone ready to remove the obstacles standing in the way of their self-belief.

Find out about:

The cultural nuances of facilitation and learning
How to build confidence through daily micromoments, such as ‘adding one sentence’
How to approach opposing views with curiosity, genuine dialogue, and a desire to learn
How facilitators can use language to foster inclusivity, rather than widen divides

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to GUEST:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

345 - From Borders to Bridges: A Chaplain’s Journey with Deb Hansen

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Reverend Deb Hansen received a metaphorical message in a bottle, urging her to go to the US-Mexico border – a life calling that she followed all the way to El Paso.

As a facilitator-chaplain and quilter of the human experience, Deb has been there for people at the most painful and tender times of their lives – helping to understand their stories, and stitch back together the fragments of a broken, polarised world.

She brings beautiful stories about migration, spirituality, identity, and historical trauma with life-affirming reverence, she reads us a passage from her book Borderlands, and shows us all how to navigate vulnerability with grace.

A rich and important conversation about what it means to be human.

Find out about:

Deb’s soul work with communities in a divisive, disconnected world
Navigating vulnerable conversations with an open heart, and learning to sit with discomfort to honour growth
Why authenticity is a lived practice that we manifest through words, body, and intention
How to hold space for belonging, collective trauma, and grief in painful times

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Deb Hansen:

Website

Book

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

344 - From Fear to Calm: Facilitating in an Age of Overload with Mike Parker

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Does an empty cup have nothing in it? Possibilitarian Mike Parker, believes not in its nothingness, but in its potential. Because when we pour our thoughts, feelings, assumptions and beliefs out of the cup, setting everything free, we create a container of emptiness – to make space for what we need.

Mike returns to the show with his signature calming presence to share his brilliant, beautiful thoughts on nervous system regulation in our age of overwhelm – and why guided relaxation could be the balm we are all missing.

From hypnotic anaesthetics, to neural networks, REM sleep, and the wondrous world of metaphor, episode 344 is for slowing down, tuning in, and returning to yourself. And at 59:36, Mike leads us all through a special, guided relaxation to do exactly that!

Find out about:

How to facilitate space for creative calm, so that thoughts and feelings can emerge
The crucial role of the facilitator’s nervous system in regulating others’
How guided relaxation can help the subconscious mind to process stress, forge creativity, and find insight
Why corporate mindfulness can shift toxic responsibility onto the individual

And if you enjoy today’s guided relaxation, Mike hosts monthly group sessions over at Liminal Lounge, where you can experience more of his wonderful work – as well as short guided relaxations on his website.

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Mike Parker:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

343 - The Paradox of Professional Facilitation with Vinay Kumar

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0200

If a facilitator goes unseen, are they any less present?

This is the beautiful paradox of facilitation: as we grow more adept in our craft, our presence in the room becomes less noticeable – less needed – because we’ve subtly set the magic of facilitation into motion.

Master of his craft Vinay Kumar knows this only too well. When you relinquish control, place your trust in the group, and set the stage for emergence to unfold, the space begins to hold itself – sometimes in unexpected ways. Join us as we go meta on facilitation and Vinay shares the stories and life lessons he’s learnt with generous warmth and wisdom.

Find out about:

How to become the invisible facilitator that lets go of control and trusts the group
The polarity of facilitation: why you have to do facilitation to become facilitation
What makes a professional facilitator, when everyone can call themselves one?
The impact of sustained, collaborative facilitation that lasts beyond the first workshop

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Vinay Kumar:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

342 - Trust, Values and Change: A Facilitator’s Dialogue with AI with Holger Nauheimer

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Can an AI bot really become a co-facilitator? Returning to the show with a new book co-authored by artificial intelligence and an AI sidekick named Nyx, is Holgar Nauheimer.

After 30 years building a facilitation legacy, Holgar shares a glimpse into his latest phase of life: his companionship with his sparring sidekick Nyx. Shaped by hundreds of questions, facilitation musings, and workshop challenges, she’s become his creative consultant and trusted confidante – freeing him to become a better facilitator. Present, attentive, and fully connected to the people!

If you think AI is making us lazy, this conversation might just change your mind.

Find out about:

The impact of AI on facilitation, the risks, the opportunities and the benefits
How Holger has trained his AI co-collaborator Nyx to support his ways of working
How AI has the ability to learn and reflect our values as facilitators
How to outsource routine tasks to AI to conserve your energy for where it counts

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Holger Nauheimer:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

341 - Driving Sustainable Change through Motivational Interviewing with Jeff Wetherhold

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0200

As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. And master of change Jeff Wetherhold is no stranger to this.

He helps teams and leaders to create long-lasting, sustainable change not by plans, great intentions, or illusions of control, but through the beautiful simplicity of conversation!

He joins me in the podcast chair to share his 20 years of motivational interviewing wisdom: from having the courage of your conviction, to asking open-ended questions, listening deeply, and understanding the signals that people are ready to change.

If you’re feeling fatigued from plans that keep falling flat, an hour with Jeff is everything you need to feel inspired and start leading intentional change that lasts!

Find out about:

Why 88% of change initiatives fail in organisations – and what to do about it
The ambivalence of change, and why facilitators can use it to their advantage
How to plan for conversations about change
The ingredients of motivational interviews: open questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries, and sharing information with consent

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Jeff Wetherhold:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

340 - From Archetypes to Authenticity in Leadership with Sarah Budd

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Are we all just cosplaying as leaders? Donning a mask or a costume that helps us better play the role we think we should be playing?

Helping leaders to show up with truth in a world that never stays still, is leadership psychologist and executive coach Sarah Budd. This week, she invites us to reflect upon who we are as leaders, as we examine the tensions between our authentic selves and the façades we use to cloak our wounds, to belong, and to feel safe.

From illusions of control, to leadership imitation, and why Beyoncé is an iconic example of cosplay, this is a fascinating conversation for every leader in search of deeper self-alignment.

Find out about:

The cosplaying, archetypal leader vs the new, adaptable leader
Why inauthentic leadership can be damaging to both the self and the team
How to lead authentically in a world that’s complex and constantly changing
The role of AI and professionalism in both facilitation and leadership

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Sarah Budd:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

339 - 1-Page Plans and the Discipline to Stay the Course with David Greer

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Fuzzy goals, misaligned cultural values, and the allure of shiny object syndrome holds even the best entrepreneurs back. So what’s the secret to success?

David Greer’s strategic one-page plans! Coach and facilitator of strategic planning, David coaches high-performing business owners to get unstuck, rekindle the joy of their business, and get crystal-clear on their goals. Backward-engineered from the future, the plans become a comforting quarterly rhythm that keeps business owners fully focused on their dreams.

We explore his one-page plans, how to set better goals, and why David’s 16 years of sobriety is his single biggest achievement in life. A daily commitment to show up in presence and honesty, and a beautiful reminder of what’s possible when we stick to the plan!

Find out about:

What one-page strategic plans are and why every business owner needs one
How to set crystal-clear goals that are tangible and measurable
The power of aligning and attracting a team on shared cultural values
Why niching down in your facilitation field amplifies impact and attracts the right clients

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to David Greer:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

338 - Trust, Nerves and Group Dynamics at 2,000 Feet with Josie White

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Bringing her childhood dream to life is Josie White, the hot air balloon pilot. From an early obsession with their magical, multi-coloured domes, to a fully-fledged pilot, Josie now flies and facilitates passengers 2000 feet up in the air over Australian soil.

But when nerves naturally start to run high in a small, floating basket, and fear manifests in a multitude of ways, reading the room to regulate passenger emotions is mission-critical to a successful flight.

Josie shares how she guides her groups with calm authority, ensuring that everyone feels safe, reassured and present, all while piloting the balloon! A special conversation with plenty of fascinating and unexpected on-the-ground facilitation learnings, from up high in the clouds.

Find out about:

What facilitation looks like up to 4000 feat up in the air
Why reading body language is so critical for a successful flight
The importance of Josie regulating her emotions, to help regulate her passengers
What facilitators can learn about the pre-flight checks, planning and preparation

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Josie White:

Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

337 - From Webinar to Workshop: Rethink Corporate Training with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Corporate training, we all know the drill. The tonedeaf PowerPoint karaoke begins in the background, regurgitating slide content word for word, as you absentmindedly reply to an email…your mind still lingering in your last meeting.

If episode 337 can do just one thing, I hope it can save you from ever having to sit through another training session like it! After running hundreds of workshops for multinational companies, I thought it was about time I shared my secrets.

Join me, myself and I, as we explore the anatomy of engaging, co-created training sessions that not only pique curiosity, but bridge hierarchies, timezones and departments, and gets everyone out of their inbox, and back into the room. It’s time to close your tabs, stretch your bodies, and get present!

What’s inherently wrong with corporate training – and why it’s so often a wasted opportunity
My tips for connecting participants to the present moment, and to each other
How to design a workshop to ensure participants retain the content and apply what they’ve learned
How to scale training with local relevance, dynamic learning, and cultural insights at its heart
Why naming the elephant in the room can help to overcome any awkwardness

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Myriam Hadnes:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

336 - Facilitating from the Middle: Holding Space Without Taking Over with Julia Slay

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0200

How do you teach facilitators to hold a group, master that crucial first 15-minutes of a workshop, and show them that they already have all the answers, without giving any away?

As a researcher by nature, and a facilitator – at first by accident – Julia Slay learnt everything she knows about the craft by teaching it. She now helps bright, budding facilitators to build confidence, find their voice, and discover their learning edges in Facilitation 101.

We unravel the layers of holding just the right amount of space, as part facilitator, part coach, part trainer and part consultant, all rolled happily into one: from managing difficult characters with curiosity, to trusting yourself to stay present – even when the plan falls apart!

Julia shares lots of practical strategies, tips and anecdotes from her 15-year facilitation journey, from the Mayor of London’s office, to her work today. Enjoy!

Find out about:

The art of asking a powerful, open question at the right time
How to navigate power dynamics of seniority in groups
Why ‘advice is theft’ – and the detriment of offering a solution to the group too soon
How to approach dominant characters without creating collective tension
The intersection of facilitation and coaching – and what it means to facilitate like a coach

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Julia Slay:

Website

Use code TASTER10 to receive 10% off Facilitation 101: Fundamentals, Masterclass, Intensive, and Self-Paced course when you sign up on Julia’s website.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

335 - Beyond Competence: Facilitating Uncertain Spaces with Rebecca Hopkins

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0200

How can you know yourself more? What would you tell your younger self? And what are you going to do with this life?

Born with a microphone in her hand, and asking all of life’s big, juicy questions, leadership facilitator & coach Rebecca Hopkins brings her effervescent, thoughtful facilitation musings to the show in spades this week.

Going beyond the cushions of competence, we explore the many spaces between grief, healthy feedback cultures, safe space declarations, and all the joyful, messy emotions that come with being human. We geek out, we get vulnerable, and we go deep into the complex, beautiful nature of our craft, as Rebecca takes us on a journey to being a more grounded and self-compassionate facilitator.

A conversation I’ve been looking forward to for 335 episodes! I hope you love it as much as I do.

Find out about:

How facilitators can stay grounded amidst emotional complexity, self-doubt, and evolving practices and technologies
Why presence, humility, and grace will always triumph over polished techniques
The importance of breaking free of familiar spaces where competence comes naturally, to create opportunities for expansion
How to build a healthy feedback culture rooted in nuance, meaning, and thoughtfulness
And why we all need to be a little kinder to ourselves!

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Download Rebecca's 1-pager on giving positive feedback

Connect to Rebecca Hopkins:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

334 - Before You Call the Lawyer: Reimagining Conflict with Ursula Taylor

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Friday night card game clash, or shareholder dispute – at its core, all conflict is the same.

Ursula Taylor has seen time and time again, from the court room, to the board room, that every conflict is created and perpetuated from unprocessed human emotion.

From litigation attorney, to conflict consultant, she now helps leaders and teams turn conflict into opportunity. By transmuting the infectious, emotionally-charged energy of shame, fear or distrust – softer, more grounded energy can take its place, clearing the path to resolution.

Ursula shares stories from her legal days, and the learnings we can all apply to our daily lives to do conflict better – as leaders, facilitators, and most of all, humans.

Find out about:

Why Ursula believes conflict isn’t inherently bad, but rather an opportunity
Conflict learnings from litigation we can apply to facilitation – and life
Recognising the emotional energies that arise, and re-tuning them into clarity, rational decisions and resolution
Why the unprocessed emotions of fear, shame and distrust are the true source of conflict
Why successful transformation doesn’t always require both conflicting parties to agree

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Ursula Taylor:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

333 - Facilitating with Fabric, Feeling, and Freedom with Paula Short

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0200

A Mary Poppins’ bag of glitter, a big beating drum, a lump of clay, and a shiny gold crown. Bringing her wonderful, precious collection of props to the show, is the brilliant Paula Short.

As a personal development psychotherapist, talented actress, and the founder of a 1997 youth centre, facilitation has been a guiding constant in Paula’s life and work. Now as a self-exploration retreat host, she facilitates deep transformation through the expressive arts, helping people to welcome unchartered emotions without shame.

We explore how donning the cloak of the villain in a fictional story can become an embodied breakthrough, why the collective support of the group can be liquid gold, and why Paula has such an issue with tissues.

A special, heartfelt conversation – join us!

Find out about:

How roleplay, costumes and props can help us to access buried feelings and emotions
The importance of letting emotions free-flow without interruption, or ‘tidying’ them away
How Paula create safe containers for self-exploration through play
Navigating our trauma responses, and why we must learn to trust our own vulnerabilities
Normalising say ‘no’ – and why doing so gives us autonomy, helps us reconnect to our boundaries, and signals emotional safety to others

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Paula Short:

Website

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332 - From Corporate Slides to Human Connection with Emanuele Mazzanti

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

We are human beings, not human doings! So how did we find ourselves doing more, more, more, when all we’ve ever needed exists here within us?

Emanuele Mazzanti is here to remind us of this. As a facilitator alchemist for EY and an energy-giver at heart, he carves out space for authentic human experience, playfulness, and emotional depth, in a highly results-driven, corporate world.

His approach is simple: connection before content, curiosity before questions, and presence before perfection, as he shows leaders how to show up in new, deeply connecting ways.

So if you’re ready to swap the PPT for something that feels a little more personal, this one’s for you!

Find out about:

How to make more space to just be, in a culture obsessed with doing
How to foster emotional presence in corporate settings to enhance performance, decision-making and meaningful depth
Resisting the facilitative urge to fill workshops with content, tools and structure
And why real transformation comes from simple, stripped back, human moments
The mindset leaders must nurture to show up with empathy and curiosity

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Emanuele Mazzanti:

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331 - Performing to Teach: The Power of Wonder and Magic with Dr Ben Levy

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Bitten by the magic bug at a bar mitzvah when he was 12-years old, and led on a lifelong journey from teacher, to coach, to psychologist and magician, is Dr Ben Levy. Now the founder of Magic Lessons, he’s on a mission to make learning feel exactly that – magical!

Blending magic and psychology, Ben teaches a five-ingredient secret formula for high achievement in the classroom and the boardroom, all in 20 minutes! A magic trick that shows participants that with a little bit of belief, and a momentary relinquishing of control, they too can achieve brilliant, unexpected things.

Ben invites us into his magic circle, as he shares his special ABC ME framework, and why surprise, awe, and play really do work wonders for deep learning.

Find out about:

How magic can facilitate curiosity, insight, deep learning, and skills acquisition
The two-way exchange of magic performances, from projection to introjection
The five-part ABC ME (Ability, Belief, Clarity, Motivation, Environment) framework
How to understand and manage responses, when magic takes away participant control

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Coaching Survey - Feel free to complete to identify where to focus, in order to achieve your priority goals.

Connect to Ben:

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330 - Difficult Conversations: From Avoidance to Alignment with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The conversations we dread, the ones we avoid, and the ones that hold so much emotional weight – are often the ones we wish we’d had sooner. So why do we fear them so much?

As a recovering people-pleaser, I know the drill all too well: the bubbling resentment, the unmet needs, and the stories we fabricate in our minds. But rather than run from the difficult conversations in my life, I’ve learnt how to build the bridges that will carry me to a better outcome.

This solo episode is for my fellow people-pleasers, facilitators, leaders, and anyone with a hard conversation on the horizon. So join me, myself and I, as I share my tried-and-tested approach to mastering them with confidence and care!

Find out about:

The cost of avoiding challenging conversations – and the reward in embracing them
Tuning into our bodily signals to understand what’s happening beneath the emotion
Getting clear on the assumptions vs. the facts before a challenging conversation
Why we must acknowledge that challenging conversations starts with us first
Finding a common way forward without mutual agreement or violent language
Why sharing boundaries transparently can foster respect

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

HBR Article: The Right Way to Prepare for a High-Stakes Conversation
Deviate: The Science of Seeing Differently by Beau Lotto
SBI Feedback Model (Situation–Behavior–Impact)
Let Them: The Art of Detaching From Judgment by Mel Robbins
Difficult Conversations by Stone, Patton and Heen
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson

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329 - Listening is the Gateway to Asking Better Questions with Chedva Ludmir

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

When we stop looking for the perfect question, when we choose to reflect rather than react, and when we wait and listen, for just a little while longer – it can change everything.

Public speaker, serial entrepreneur and owner of Consider, Chedva Ludmir has made it her mission to help others embrace curiosity, listen deeply, and make friends with uncertainty.

Together, we explore the power of asking thoughtful questions in all of life’s moments – from time-restricted workshops, to orthodox religions, and scary career crossroads. And why when big decisions did loom, Chedva didn’t ask herself should I do this? but rather started to ask, when it’s time, will I know it?

Find out about:

How to stay present and curious in conversations, without leaping into question-asking
The importance and humility in asking gentle, gateway questions
The tension between certainty and curiosity, and why it's okay not to know
What it means to hold space for ourselves, and others, to discover truth
The power of fictional characters or novels to explore sensitive topics or emotions

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Chedva Ludmir:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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328 - Healing the Boardroom: Insights from the Inner Child with Jason Perelson

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Leaders, who’s really running the business? Is it you, or is it your inner child in the boardroom chair, with all of your messy, unresolved childhood patterns, triggers, and attachment styles running the show?

Here to help us find the healed, playful inner child is Jason Perelso! He has spent the past quarter of a century helping brilliantly flawed humans to better understand themselves, destigmatize their triggers, step into vulnerability, and become emotionally mature, self-aware leaders.

Together we explore how to heal the boardroom, learn from our inner child, and make leadership decisions without them calling the shots!

Find out about:

The role of unresolved childhood patterns and emotional regulation in leadership
And why leaders so often make decisions from a place of childhood experience
How to gain awareness of our triggers in order to destigmatize them
The relationship between attachment theories and leadership styles
How to become the healed, playful inner child with innovation at the heart

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Jason Perelson:

Jason's website

Daring Waters

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327 - Building Facilitation from the Inside Out with Matt Homann

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Stale, stuffy boardrooms, awkwardly arranged furniture, and scratchy marker-pens that have nearly run dry. A facilitator’s lament – and perhaps, our worst enemy.

Tired of the constant shapeshifting to squeeze into spaces that were never meant for facilitation, Matt Homann moved into the business of hosting people – in his own space. He built Filament, a facilitation space with a codified approach at its core, to help people to meet, think and learn better, freeing creativity from logistical limitations, and making sure a terrible workshop never has to happen again.

We talk about how space liberates us, the structures that spark the best conversations, and why simplicity always wins over complexity. Join us!

Find out about:

The role of environment in facilitation – and why it’s your most powerful tool
Why owning your own facilitation space allows you to experiment, ideate quickly, shift group dynamics, and design for interaction
Why facilitation tools and frameworks need to be simple and memorable
Why the best facilitators often don’t carry the title

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Matt Homann:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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326 - When Leaders Listen: The Shift Towards Facilitative Leadership with Rob Lion

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

One of the greatest paradoxes of leadership is that to lead well, you must learn to let go. To get comfortable with not having all the answers! To release your grip, relinquish control, and know that the wisdom already exists in everyone around you.

Professor, coach and facilitator to the next generation of leaders, Rob Lion has spent the last 20 years fostering self-leading workplace cultures that truly listen to their people, building leaders that are facilitators at heart.

Because the best leaders? They’ve taken off the stabilisers of delegation, left their ego at the door, and learnt the delicate dance of stepping back, to invite others to step in.

Find out about:

The intersection of leadership and facilitation – and what it takes to be a facilitative leader
Why we should think with our whole bodies, rather than just listen to our gut
The complex, nuanced role of surrender and control
Why leadership micromanagement and delegation are safety mechanisms
Why great leaders and facilitators must learn to confront their own triggers

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Rob Lion:

Website

Blog

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325 - From Activation to Realisation: Learning through Play with Mohsin Memon

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Context is everything. But when we remove ourselves from the tried-and-tested playing board of our work environment, to rewrite the rules and become new characters on fresh, unchartered ground? Everything changes.

On a mission to create a world where people play to learn, Mohsin Memon returns to the show, now as the mastermind of Evivve. His new multiplayer, leadership strategy simulation immerses teams in safe, fictional worlds rooted in neuroscience – designed to create powerful learning opportunities and realisations rooted in truth.

A conversation filled with lightbulb moments, rich insights and lots of learnings for leaders and facilitators alike. Press play!

Find out about:

The AFFER model that underpins Mohsin’s work in behavioural change
The five behavioural learning cycle stages of activation, forecasting, experimentation, realisation and reflection
Why the most effective leaders are those who can make sense of complexity
How simulation can democratise an organisation, without hierarchy or expectation
The biggest data learnings from Evivve’s 20,000 game containers

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Mohsin Memon:

Website

More information about AFERR

More information about EVIVVE

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324 - Facilitating Reflections: Beyond Tools and Into Ourselves with Thomas Lahnthaler

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

If facilitation was a mirror, what would you see? Would there be frameworks propping you up, a lingering desire to be liked, or insecurities sat atop your shoulder, quietly whispering in your ear?

In his new book Facilitating Reflections, the one and only Thomas Lahnthaler holds up this mirror for us all. He invites us to go inward, to step out of the buzzword charade, to close the theory books, and to rethink what we know – because the best facilitation isn’t found in a textbook, but when we can see ourselves a little clearer.

Together, we journey through two decades worth of Thomas’ facilitation learnings, exploring chapters, ideas, stories, and the rich spaces between facilitation and self. What a joy!

Find out about:

The art of self-exploration, and why it’s so necessary for facilitators to master
Navigating the desire to be liked, belonging, and falling in love with the group
Why facilitation, by default, is disruptive and therefore a threat to psychological safety
The binary of good vs. bad facilitation – can it really exist?
The important role that context, values and presence plays in facilitation

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Thomas Lahnthaler's Books

Connect to Thomas Lahnthaler:

Website

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323 - The Art of Curation in an Age of Overload with Bruno Giussani

Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Curation is far more than an artistic act – it is a political one! It’s what’s to leave in, what to take out, what to filter and what to frame. And through this sense-making assembly, it becomes an invitation: to pay attention, to expand our minds, and to stumble into serendipitous encounters.

And nothing masters this quite like TED. Curator of ideas, and a 20-year shaper of the TED conferences, Bruno Giussani helped make the cultural institution what it is today – he joins me to dissect the art and science of facilitation’s dear cousin, and why now, more than ever, curation is so necessary.

Hear the creative workings of the Ted stage, the evolution of TedX, and why Bruno believes ‘content’ is a wrecking ball to culture. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Find out about:

The cultural responsibility of curation in our desensitised age of information
The polarities of algorithmic filters, and real-life, intimate, theatrical curation
How to curate engagement with care, while gently bursting the filter bubble
How the TED stage was built to blend intimacy with visual impact
The use of music to primes new moods, neutralise tastebuds and signal art as part of the conversation

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Bruno Giussani:

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322 - The Courage to Facilitate Without Fixing with Parker J. Palmer

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Hailing from Quaker circles and Berkeley’s grassroots community movements in the 1960s, is the sagacious Parker J. Palmer – activist, facilitator, teacher and author. His unconventional entry into facilitation was piqued by a fascination with circle-work, which inspired a 30+ year career spent holding space for the mutable truth to emerge.

This is a wise, thoughtful conversation grounded in a lifetime of Parker’s lived experiences. From authoring your own life, to questioning the truth with kindness, being aware of hubris and approaching facilitation with fresh curiosity every day.

There’s an incredible amount to learn from Parker in our conversation alone, and I hope you’re as inspired as I was!

Find out about:

The confluence of facilitation, writing and teaching
Why safe spaces are an on-going practice, requiring facilitator’s to protect individuals from judgement and criticism
Understanding the concept of ‘truth’ amongst a group of different perspectives
The importance of allowing groups to sit in reflection, before rushing to problem-solve
Why every group workshop must be approached with fresh eyes

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Center for Courage and Renewal

Living the Questions with Parker J. Palmer

Parker J Palmer Publications

Connect to Parker J. Palmer:

Website

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321 - Resting in Complexity: The Inner Work of Modern Leadership with Marco Valente

Wed, 14 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

How do we host ourselves as facilitators – and how do we host others? How do we grow bigger minds to meet the complexity out there, and then rest in it without needing to know the answers?

Marco Valente joins me for a big, juicy and mind-opening conversation as we navigate the inner workings of the growing self – and the leader – to better understand the messy, unpredictable complexities of our world. It’s about walking up to our mind’s balcony in search of self-awareness and inner presence, it’s about getting vulnerable in our wrongness, and getting comfortable with the unknown.

Marco shares his thoughts, leadership advice and hosting tips with beautiful eloquence and I invite every leader, facilitator and sense-maker to press play to this wonderful episode.

Find out about:

The mind trap of identity, ego and feedback
The evolutionary pulls of fear - how much helps or hinders us?
Why KPIs can harm the collective, rather than help with long-term growth
The paradox of learning more facilitation methods, in order to detach ourselves from them
The balancing act of structure and emergence to accurately address group needs

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Marco Valente:

Website

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320 - Facilitating with the Brain in Mind with Amanda Cookson

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Helping people to do their best thinking, is Amanda Cookson. A coach, facilitator and all-round neuroscience whizz, she’s made it her mission to help leaders better understand what it means to be human.

And it all starts with our own thinking-feeling, wildly brilliant, untamed brain! She guides us through its inner workings with effervescence and passion, showing us how to work with it – rather than against it – steer pulse-quickening conversations towards oxytocin, and design experiences that help rewire the brain for real, lasting change.

An energising, thoughtful conversation, full of golden mind-training nuggets to try in both facilitation, and life!

Find out about:

Why the discomfort of cognitive dissonance can lead to richer learnings
The power of asking great questions in search of answers that ignite deep thinking
Amanda’s feelings-based ground rules of presence, curiosity and generosity
Friends vs Foe: how to turn self-fulfilling prophecies into human connection
How to facilitate with the brain in mind, for insight, rather than information

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Amanda Cookson:

Website

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319 - The System Behind Scalable Creativity with Amy Climer

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The greatest myth of creativity? It doesn't fall from the sky into our laps like Isaac Newton’s apple! Creativity is far from that romantic, eureka moment, but rather it is messy, cultivated, and curiosity made manifest.

Luckily for us, Amy Climer has created a system to go about finding this elusive, but valuable novelty with intention – consistently and at scale. A TEDx speaker, trainer and author of the book ‘Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results’, Amy’s work is a creative panacea for leaders, managers and facilitators in search of better ideas.

From positive feedback fertilisers, to creative learnings from Thomas Edison, she shares her process and the ingredients you’ll need to succeed.

Find out about:

The three pillars of creative teams: purpose, dynamics and process
Why conflict is a necessary means to recognise and embrace difference
Why leaders must intentionally design for collaboration, or risk jeopardising the collective
How to cultivate the internal team conditions to allow for creativity

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Deliberate Creative Teams Book: climerconsulting.com/book

Climer cards

Connect to Amy Climer:

Website

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318 - From Ritual to Results: Designing Intelligent Teams with Daniel Susser

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

When you think of an intelligent person, who do you imagine? Perhaps they’re scholarly, quick-thinking, or possess a rare ability to seemingly know all that there is to know.

But intelligence is infinitely more than this! As Daniel Susser teaches us this week, intelligence is greater than the sum of our cognitive parts: it is bodily, inter-connected and contextual. It is a tapestry of inherited, micro influences that makes us each see the macro world in different ways.

So if intelligence is collective, how can leaders unlock it from the organisational organism? Daniel shares all in this fascinating, wordly conversation that dances so beautifully between science, religion and ritual.

It will stretch your thinking and leave you with a whole host of practical tips to extract, celebrate and journey into the intelligence of your organisation!

Find out about:

What it means to be an Intelligent Team - and how we can create them
Why organisations must reject their implicit assumptions about what ‘intelligence’ means
What macrocognition means in organisations
Introducing organisational rituals for collaboration, belonging and shared purpose
How leaders can identify imbalances in their organisations using opponent processing

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Daniel Susser:

find out how to work with Daniel embodiedagility.co.uk

Read more about intelligent teams intelligentteams.substack.com

A good starting point is this blog https://intelligentteams.substack.com/p/the-intelligent-teams-manifesto

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317 - Radical Honesty: The Art of Saying What You Mean with Pete Jordan & Tuulia Syvänen

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

For every word we swallow, every moment we dilute ourselves, and every time we say ‘yes’ when really, we want to say ‘no’, we collect a pebble into our backpack of life.

The fantastic duo that is Pete Jordan and Tuulia Syvänen from Honesty Europe join us this week to help us offload these pebbles: showing us the way to live lightly, freely, and in a radical act of resistance, to be ourselves! We explore honesty as a practice of presence, we dig at the roots of interpersonal triggers, and most important of all - we learn how to ask for what we want, when we’ve been conditioned not to - even if it means dancing in the face of rejection.

If you’re a chronic people pleaser perpetually in search of the peace, this conversation is for you!

Find out about:

Learning to ask people to meet our needs - whether the answer is yes, or no
The act of expressing suppressed emotions, to clear space for deeper connection
How to tune into bodily sensations and remain present, during vulnerable interactions or boundary setting
Why a little discomfort is the price we must pay to be true to ourselves
How to acknowledge personal judgements in a way that diffuses their power

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Pete and Tuulia:

www.youtube.com/c/HonestyEurope

www.facebook.com/honestyeurope/

Tuulia’s LinkedIn

Website

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316 - Walking Your Story: A Somatic Path to Connection and Purpose with Jimmie White

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

What does facilitation have in common with quantum physics? What do organisations have to do with molecules? And why when you ask a question, are you playing around with someone’s mind?

All will be revealed this week with Jimmie White! A seven-times best-selling author, an indomitable facilitator that has trained The Peace Corps and supported NASA with somatic integration, and in a past life, a teacher of ballroom dancing.

It’s perhaps not surprising then, that Jimmie’s facilitation is alive with somatic movement, storytelling - and even neuroscience. It’s something Jimmie calls ‘Walking Your Story’: a physical navigating of group narratives, helping us to rewrite our stories, explore multiple outcomes, and bond with others in the steps we take.

Press play for an incredible, expansive conversation!

Find out about:

Jimmie’s ‘Walking Your Story’ method, and how it can foster deep reflection, transformation and connection
The Observer Effect of Quantum Physics and what it means for facilitation
How physical movement can change our relationship with past stories
The methods of somatic storytelling and socratic thinking
The importance of fostering psychological safety in personal storytelling

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Jimmie White:

Website

"Designing & Leading Life-Changing Workshops: Creating the Conditions for Transformation in Your Groups, Trainings, and Retreats" by Ken Nelson, Lesli Lang, David Ronka, Korabek-Emerson and Jim White

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315 - Beyond the Quick Fix: Holding Space for What Wants to Emerge with Quanita Roberson

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Sometimes, just sometimes, you meet someone who is a balm to the soul, who speak words of wisdom, magic, and nurturing depth. Quanita Roberson has this gift - and she returns to the show to share it with us once again!

Mingling spiritual intelligence with raw human experience, Quanita guides us generously through the messy yet beautiful terrain of healing, as we trace emotions back to their source and learn how to step away from adolescent adulthood.

She brings us into the heart of questions like: how do we grieve? What does courage really mean? And why do people find it easier to talk about gender than race?

Find out about:

Why shame, blame and guilt are not emotions, but rather where we go to hide from them
The initiations of our life, and why we must embrace crumbling to make space for the new
The importance of going inwards to find our wisdom to help the world
Why there aren’t different ways to grieve, but rather different ways to avoid it
The importance of embodying our emotions, allowing them to move through us

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Quanita Roberson:

Website

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314 - Connection Before Content: A New Approach to Museum Learning with Claire Bown

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100

A pair of flimsy plastic headphones, a voice in your ears bombarding you with dates, names and historical periods, and a momentary pause at each work of art as you side-step the seemingly disinterested guided tour.

If this sounds familiar, then museum facilitator and author Claire Bown is here to bring the museum alive for you! She reimagines the experience by making space for curiosity, conversation and participant-led interaction, turning passive presentations and fleeting glances into a treasure trove of stories, deep connection and meaning.

Join Claire to slow down, welcome in a little more wondering, and discover what museum exploration can teach us about the art of participation.

Find out about:

The role of the museum environment in facilitating the experience
Strategies for engagement, from visual thinking to slow looking
Why we must give space for observation, before jumping into explanation
How to achieve equal participation by re-designing group formation
How to acknowledge and invite in existing knowledge from the group

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Claire Bown:

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313 - Digging into the Future: The Art of Future Archaeology with Markus Iofecea

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Can we explore the future as if it were an archaeological site? Instead of predicting trends or following hype cycles, future archaeologist Markus Iofcea uncovers artifacts - fragments of possible futures - that help us rethink what’s to come.

Future archaeologist, co-author of the book Zurück zur Zukunft, and all-round inspiring mind, Markus Iofcea, is here to tell us that yes, the future can be ours to create! He digs in the future to see what treasures he can find in its vast archeological site - except his artefacts aren’t the rare remnants of a civilisation gone-by, but rather inventions we are yet to make. Inventions that could change the world!

From there, he hypothesises his discoveries infinitely - helping organisations to philosophically explore contexts, variations and parameters to test if an innovation will work well beyond our current, limiting reality.

This was one of those rare, fascinating conversations that you won’t want to miss - thank you for setting my mind alight, Markus!

Find out about:

What future archaeology is and how Markus explores the possibilities of the future
Future artefacts: what they are, how to dig them out, and how to innovate them
The importance of removing an artefact from our current context to prepare for the unknown
Why we must ‘dig’ at an innovation for as long as possible, interrogating its logical components
How Markus helps the corporate world to excavate innovations, free from limitations and predictions

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Link to his book

Connect to Markus Iofcea:

Website

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👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

312 - From Mapping to Meaning: Co-Creation Through Jobs to Be Done with Jim Kalbach

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Facilitation isn’t just about guiding a process—it’s about creating meaning. And in this episode, Jim Kalbach, author of The Jobs To Be Done: Align Your Markets, Organization, and Strategy Around Customer Needs, shares how facilitation and Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) go hand in hand.

We dive into the art of moving from insight to action, exploring how facilitators and leaders can use JTBD to break through assumptions, foster collaboration, and design experiences that truly serve the people they’re meant for.

Jim shares his own journey—from journey mapping to facilitation—revealing how shifting the focus from solutions to human needs changes everything.

Find out about:

Why facilitation isn’t just about neutrality—it’s about shaping meaningful outcomes
The power of customer journey maps as tools for conversation and sense-making
How Jobs to Be Done helps teams focus on real human needs, not just solutions
Why co-creation leads to better collaboration, alignment, and decision-making
How to avoid “workshop amnesia” and keep momentum alive after a session
Practical ways to embed customer-centric thinking into everyday work

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Jobs to be Done Toolkit

Connect to GUEST:

Jim on Amazon

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Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

311 - Facilitating Courage: A Deeper Look at Psychological Safety with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100

It’s an art form, but it’s not rocket science. It’s courageous, but it’s not not cushy or comforting. And it’s saying no in meaningful ways, rather than saying yes to everything.

Psychological safety is as much about what it’s not, as what it is. It’s a phenomenon that’s nuanced, ephemeral and often misconceived, asking all of us - facilitator and participant - to hold out our arms to discomfort, take risks, make mistakes and dance in our humanness.

But to achieve it, and then keep it alive for everyone, takes great self-awareness, emotional regulation - and for us facilitators to feel safe first. Join me for a special solo episode - an hour dedicated entirely to the art of psychological safety!

Find out about:

My 4 practical tips for leaders to create psychological safety around you
And 4 ways leaders can build psychological safety for themselves
Beyond the buzzword, what does it really mean to achieve psychological safety?
Why small mistakes can evolve into bigger risks when safety is absent
Making every voice count, and feel safe, with the power of using “Yes, and ___”
The importance of cultivating your own emotional literacy and setting boundaries

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Myriam Hadnes:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

310 - Listening Deeper: Finding the Questions That Need to Be Asked with Akshay Kapur

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

As executive coach Akshay Kapur will tell you, silence isn’t just a pause - but spaciousness that allows for someone to jump into its still, shiny waters.

And our conversation this week was a celebration of these gorgeous, ripe spaces in between. The moments before asking the right question, the invitation that comes before an answer, and the needs that reveal themselves when we listen deeply, and lean in with full, unbridled curiosity.

Akshay brings beautiful, articulate thoughts to some facilitation truths, sharing how he steps from coach to facilitator, and finds his wisdom from the unknown.

Find out about:

Where facilitation and coaching meet, and where they depart
How to create space for participants to reflect and engage in thoughtful dialogue
The importance of asking the right question, by interrogating the need behind the need and being prepared for a potential trauma response
Why facilitation can teach us something about ourselves every time we leave the room
Tuning into the different energetic requirement of in-person and online facilitation

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Akshay Kapur:

Linkedn

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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309 - Resourcing the Room: The Art of Holding Space for Healing with Louise Marra

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Bringing beautiful indigenous wisdom to the complexities of trauma-resolution is Louise Marra. A facilitator and occasional human-fielder, Louise joins me for a conversation about finding our way back: to a healed state, to the earth, to ourselves.

Louise opens up her trauma first aid kit in episode 309: what to do when trauma arises in group dynamics, how to resource yourself, how to reroot the fields of organisational trauma, and what to do in a state of freeze.

Once we can unlearn our patterns, we can begin to repair our ruptures, and return to the healed place we once inhabited. What a treat it was to have this important, life-affirming conversation with Louise!

Find out about:

The different types of inherited trauma that can affect group work - and how facilitators can hold space for participants
The paradox of psychological safety, from confrontation to weaponisation
Constellation work: what it is and how you can use it to access fields of intelligence
The process of ‘rupture and repair’ to retune the muscles of trauma
What organisational trauma means and how we can supports its healing
How to work with our own triggers in order to grow

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Louise Marra:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

308 - Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Facilitation with Kerri Price

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The journey of the facilitator is rarely linear. It’s often happily accidental, a little squiggly, and punctuated with moments of imposter as we take it from the side-hustle shadows, to big centre-stage business.

And Kerri Price can attest to this - after facilitating for what felt like a lifetime, she found herself pressing pause - only to return to the facilitation world with fresh, mindful clarity.

Kerri joins us to generously share her facilitation story, the lessons she’s learnt in business, and the beauty she found in breaking away to rebalance her priorities. From finding our facilitation happy place, to finding our way through the seasons of life, episode 308 is all about the bits that bring us joy!

Find out about:

The common misconceptions about facilitation and starting a business
The importance of asking: what is the most generous thing I can do for the group right now?
Why facilitators must embrace acceptance and learn to be ok with the unexpected
How to navigate the energetic demands of facilitation - and life’s seasons
The importance of setting the right emotional tone for the group

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Kerri Price:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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307 - From Sober Raves to Corporate Joy: Facilitating Connection Across Contexts with Jacques The Party Scientist

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

If joy was an episode, then it would be episode 307. Welcome back, for the third time, to Jacques The Party Scientist, sober rave host, and social norm disruptor!

I’ve witnessed Jacques’ journey for quite some years now as he’s facilitated joy, spread his natural antidepressants, and created experiences that unite people through the hedonism of human connection.

He joins us with a party bag of life-affirming, inspiring ideas; from the natural forces of neuroscience, to taking social risks, and being misunderstood - but doing it anyway. Feel the flood of neurochemicals with Jacques, as he brings his goofy, gorgeous, full-of-life self.

Find out about:

How Jacques facilitates joy and creates the mental health tonic of human connection
The 3 Cs of Joy: Cultivate physiological state, Celebrate social risks and Co-create community
Expressing our needs through the liberating act of Radical Honesty
How Jacques designs psychologically safe spaces that allow people to push past fear
Sober raves, consensual hugging and platonic intimacy

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Jacques Martiquet:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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306 - Creating Psychological Safety in Psychedelic Work with Kacey Cardin

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This week we take a hiatus from the ‘usual’ facilitation content, to journey into the wonders of the psychedelic with Kacey Cardin, as she introduces us to its sacred, healing powers.

Working with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA and Ketamine as her co-facilitators, Kacey safely guides people - from public figures to leaders - into a state of therapeutic self-discovery, where the unconscious mind becomes conscious, and deep expansion can start to take place.

Step into this fascinating world with us, as Kacey shares the miraculous possibilities of neuroplasticity, somatic integration, and listening to callings from the universe.

Find out about:

The ancient wisdom of psychedelics and plant medicine
The importance of establishing psychological safety through energy and environment
Kacey’s process of integration: from somatic work, to talking, and post-therapeutic journaling
Kacey's approach to the work, using a blend of intuition, experience, and emotional & physical health evaluation
The healing of the nervous system and the emergence of neuroplasticity

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Kacey Cardin:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

305 - From Limiting Beliefs to Inclusive Leadership with Aim-on Wongsaparn

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

How often do you tell yourself that you can’t do something? We all have a habit of collecting self-fulfilling prophecies in our pockets, that’s just human nature - but what might happen if we dared to say ‘I can’?

Joining us for a beautiful, inward-facing episode about the self, the power of the mind, and how to lead in more inclusive ways, is Aim-on Wongsaparn. As a coach and facilitator, a liberator of limiting beliefs, and someone who shares a rather unexpected similarity with Barack Obama, Aim-on is a fervent advocate that everyone can realise their potential - when they know how.

Press play to banish the self-doubt, break your bias, and get inspired.

Find out about:

The practical strategies needed to challenge your own limiting beliefs
How to recognise your self-talk and tune into your thinking mind
The importance of expressing emotions to cultivate compassionate, connected relationships
Why we must make the implicit explicit when cultural, hierarchical differences are at play
How to challenge your biases in leadership to enable collective growthDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Aim-on Wongsaparn:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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304 - Authenticity and Creativity: Elevating Workshops with Visual Techniques with Patti Dobrowolski

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

From Broadway actor, to drama therapist for county jails, a four-times Tedx speaker and now a Live Illustrator, Patti Dobrowolski is a rare, creative talent that has befriended reinvention…

And she now helps others to do the same, designing memorable, interactive workshops using illustration to visualise new realities, aspirations and futures. Because when you draw your dreams? That is where the magic starts to happen.

This is a wise, worldly conversation that explores the depths of authentic creativity in its many guises, filled with golden aha moments and Patti’s infectious energy. What a privilege to hear her stories, experiences and share in her life lessons!

Find out about:

Patti’s personal and professional experience in the intentional use of drama for therapeutic gain
How visualisation techniques can help participants to embody their desired future
The art of breaking habitual patterns and adopting fresh, new perspectives
How to use AI effectively in facilitation to save yourself time
The career mistakes we made as beginners - that you can avoid!

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Patti Dobrowolski:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

303 - Nonviolent Communication in Practice with Ranjitha Jeurkar

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

When we tell someone how we feel, we expect to feel understood, don’t we? But as Ranjitha Jeurkar will tell you - it’s often not that simple. Empathy can be a complex tapestry: there’s needs to be met, paradigms at play, forefeelings that can stir confusion, and words that can all too easily get lost, heated, or misinterpreted.

So how do we make sense of it all? How do we speak a language that we can all understand, that connects us, and makes us feel seen?

Ranjitha joins me this week to introduce us to the life-changing world of Nonviolent Communication. More than just words, this is a journey into self-discovery and empathy, and a toolkit for how to have more connected relationships in our lives.

Find out about:

What non-violent communication (NVC) is and how to practice it
How NVC facilitates deeper connection, empathy and psychological safety
The misconceptions of internal feelings vs external evaluations
The importance of language, embodiment and energy in expressing needs
How to engage in judgement-free, meaningful, emotional dialogue

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Ranjitha Jeurkar:

Email: connextcoaching@gmail.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjithajeurkar/

Newsletter: https://connextcoaching.beehiiv.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connextcoaching

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@connextcoaching

Website: https://connextcoaching.com/

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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302 - Facilitating the Future: Architecture, Collaboration, and Innovation with Benjamin Nott

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

We live an incredible 80% of our lives indoors. In houses, workplaces, schools and vehicles - spaces that become the backdrop to our time on this earth.

But behind the permanence of bricks and the mortar, the making of our interior worlds requires considered collaboration, innovation, and perhaps unexpectedly, facilitation! From the creative cement that binds projects, to the collective energy that sustains it and the trust that holds it all up: this is facilitation on a grand scale.

Step inside with myself and Ben Nott, architect, storyteller and polymath as he reveals how he creates the spaces in which we live our lives, how he brings people together, and builds for the future.

Find out about:

The role of the architect-facilitator in multi-stakeholder, high-stakes built contexts
How Ben fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration - from psychologists to marine biologists - to bring the best out of people
How to foster sustained momentum through a balance of autonomy, ownership and structure
Why time apart enriches time together, giving space for deeper, independent thought
The role of imagery in aligning everyone around a shared vision

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Benjamin:

Linkedin

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

301 - Facilitating High-Stakes Multi-Stakeholder Climate Conversations with Barbara Oliveira

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

When an island is sinking, whose responsibility is it to save? What approach do we take, and who foots the bill?

Big, high-stakes climate conversations always share the same goal: to save the planet. But when a diverse group of stakeholders bring their own interests to the table, tensions naturally arise between the polarity of priorities - and that’s when things start to get a little complicated.

Thankfully, Barbara Oliveira is a master at helping everyone to win. As a lawyer in a past life, she now seeks solutions to Wicked Problems in the climate space, harmonising the rigidity of formal negotiations with the softness of human connection and open exchange.

A thoughtful and motivating conversation, with lots to double-click on, muse upon and learn from Barbara.

Find out about:

Facilitation through the lens of high-stakes, multi-stakeholder climate conversations
Powerplay, policies and principles: how to navigate multilateral conversations and negotiations with care
What lies between the space of Facilitation and Chairing in the climate space
Why building resilience can keep us present and help us to self-regulate

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Barbara Oliveira:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

300 - 300 Episodes of Curiosity and Connection: Lessons from workshops work with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Listeners, what an adventure it’s been! 300 episodes. 300 guests. 300 soulful, wise, curious, facilitation-affirming conversations - each one, a gift!

To celebrate my podcast tercentenary, I sit down with my microphone for an introspective, behind-the-scenes episode, just me, myself and I, to reflect on the years as a podcast host and facilitator.

Episode 300 is a celebration - of facilitation, of journeys, and of learnings. I share my story, the things I’d tell my younger podcast-self, and the wisdom nuggets I’ve collected along the way.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me!

Find out about:

My motivation for starting the Workshops.work podcast and its evolution
The key to selecting brilliant podcast guests - and my selection criteria
My growth as a podcast host and why I shifted my focus to celebrate human dynamics
Why engaging conversations lie in chemistry, gut feelings and authentic curiosity
To become a better facilitator, we must never stop participating!

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Myriam Hadnes:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

299 - Navigating our Edges Through Inclusion-Based and Trauma-Informed Facilitation with Maggie Coulter

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

What does it *really* mean to meet people where they’re at? What can happen when we surrender to the serendipity of life? And how do we become aware of our own edges?

This episode is punctuated with some big, beautiful questions that Maggie Coulter so eruditely explores with me through the lens of trauma-informed, inclusion-based facilitation.

Join us as Maggie shares her life’s experiences, unravelling everything from boundaries to blindspots, and the inner work we must do to not only avoid stepping on emotional landmines - but to handle them with the utmost care and respect.

A vulnerable and enlightening conversation - I thank you, Maggie!

Find out about:

How Maggie’s experiences have informed her own practice as a trauma-informed coach
Projecting our own ideas: how to separate our stories from the group’s trauma
Why we must heal ourselves first, before we can hold space for others
How to recognise and appreciate the vulnerability of participants opening up
The power of options in trauma-informed work
The importance of considered word choice and recognising nuanced body language

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Maggie Coulter:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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298 - Unlocking Creativity Through Trust and Adaptability with Mark Tippin

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

What does it mean to unbuckle ourselves from certainty and step with both feet into the space between question and answer? It means to be a facilitator, of course! To trust in the process, to find structure in the spaciousness, and to shapeshift as new technologies emerge.

It’s something Mark Tippin has learnt over years: the answers come when we accept that we don’t need them all to begin. It’s a commitment to curiosity that he’s nurtured along the way.

Join us for a macro look at facilitation and a micro look into the AI petri dish, as we ask: is it killing our curiosity or curating it? Full of wisdoms from Mark, stories and nuggets of advice.

Find out about:

How to let go of the need for certainty
Why empathy is not a facilitation skill, but a responsibility
The role of AI in facilitation, it’s help, and its hindrances for humans
The feed our curiosity as facilitators
How to make learning a lifelong endeavour that embraces adaptation
The importance of trusting in the latent genius of the group

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Mark Tippin:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

297 - Breaking Down Complexity with the Co- Founder of Liberating Structures with Henri Lipmanowicz

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The author of the indomitable Liberating Structures joins me in the podcast chair this week - a book that has offered wisdom to facilitators from all four corners of the world, and built organisations from the ground up - the one, the only Henri Lipmanowicz!

So simple they feel alchemic, Henri’s 33 microstructures are a field guide for transformation. Small, no-nonsense shifts in how we work together, his methods set free ideas, build trust, and enable creativity and collective intelligence - so often stifled by conventional complexity.

Henri’s expertise is invaluable for every leader, facilitator, workplace, or community ready to change how they collaborate. Learn from the master himself in episode 297!

Find out about:

The story behind Liberating Structures
How LS create the conditions for emergence, innovation, collaboration and inclusivity
Why conventional structures produce top-down meeting dynamics and limited participation
How LS can transform virtual meetings by engaging and including every participant
The importance of allowing intuition to organically guide a group

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Henri Lipmanowicz:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

296 - The Power of Trauma Awareness in Design and Facilitation with Rachael Dietkus

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Everyone who steps into our workshop room brings their own experience. An emotional backpack of mosaic stories, hardships and histories - some, more traumatic than others.

But the weight of trauma demands a special kind of care: far beyond empathy, we must show up with a deep sensitivity and respect that fosters non-triggering, inclusive spaces.

Rachael Dietkus knows this better than most. As a social worker-designer and the first trauma-informed subject matter expert at the White House, she’s been at the helm of understanding some big, complex social issues - from masked gun violence, to how racism shows up in healthcare.

This week, Rachael teaches us her craft of trauma-informed design, peppered with brilliant anecdotes, thoughtful insights and guidance - there’s lots to learn, think about, and apply.

Find out about:

What it means to facilitate with trauma sensitivity
The importance of rejecting rigidity to make space for deep, meaningful conversations
The key difference between therapy and facilitating therapeutic exchanges
The importance of eliminating the element of surprise when dealing with complex issues
How to foster safe spaces that don’t demand a vulnerability of participants

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Rachael Dietkus:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

295 - Doing the Inner Work: Learnings from Vipassana Meditation with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

What can we learn about ourselves when we silence the world outside, quieten our voices, and make peace with discomfort, in the knowledge that everything in life is impermanent?

At the end of October, I stepped into my fifth silent Vipassana retreat to ask myself that question once more. I left my voice, my phone, my negativities, and my niggling thoughts at the door for 10 days, committing my mind and body to the ancient Indian practice of ‘seeing things as they really are’.

Come with me for a special, soul-searching episode, as I bring you into the inner workings of my mind during the retreat. I share the wisdom I found along the way, and why practising mindful, non-reactive observation forms the roots needed for effective facilitation, leadership, and life! I hope you enjoy.

Find out about:

The ancient 2500-year-old method of Vipassana meditation
Why leaders and facilitators who do the inner work can face conflict with confidence
What Vipassana can teach us about managing our personal triggers
Why letting go of sensation, emotion, desire and the need to control, builds a resilience for life

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Myriam Hadnes:

Learn about Vipassana

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

294 - Learning From Burning Man About Transformative Experience Design with Rob Blakemore

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Burning Man is the ultimate expression of radical, creative trust. As 80,000 people from all over the world gather in the Nevada Desert, they join together on a blank canvas to co-create a utopia of art, community, culture and human spirit - leaving no trace that the event ever happened.

In this sprawling temporary city of interactive installations, music, dance and expression, how do you grant creative freedom with the trust that everyone will keep the cultural essence of Burning Man alive?

Rob Blakemore, the regional contact for the UK tells us all in this fascinating conversation! With collaboration, emergence and participation at the heart of this enigmatic event - facilitators, get ready to be inspired.

Notes:

The 10 principles of Burning Man that defined its ethos
What facilitators can learn about the event’s experience design
How Burning Man embraces a culture of participation, radical enablement and experimentation
How to foster trust in people while giving them the freedom to exploring new ideas
The concept of non-transactional, non-judgemental gifting

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Rob Blakemore:

LinkedIn
Burning Man
Mind Blown

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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293 - Facilitation as Salesmanship: Building Trust and Buy-In with Alan Versteeg

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Are facilitators just salespeople in disguise? We’re not on commission, we’re not driven by a desired outcome, we don’t have a product, and nor are we in a numbers game… and yet, the longer I spoke to Alan Versteeg this week, the more I realised just how much we have in common.

And if you still don’t believe me, Alan is here to change your mind - after all, this is where he shines! Alan has been selling perspectives to people for many, many years, inviting them in to realise new ideas - rather like that of a facilitator.

Learn how Alan masters the influence of persuasion, how he’s perfected the art of authenticity to build trust, and why he believes the buy-in of a group is actually your secret sales pitch.

Find out about:

The intersection of facilitation and sales: from trust to perception and psychology
Alan’s 26-year sales experience in selling perspectives
Why leaders need to master buy-in if they are to inspire new perspectives
The importance of appealing to someone’s values - not their ideals
The 6 Ps of persuasion

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Download the 6P Cheat Sheet

Connect to Alan Versteeg:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

292 - Facilitation Beyond Methodology: Healing, Connection, and Commitment with Jutta Weimar

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200

What is your inner calling? For many facilitators, it’s to build spaces of deep, life-affirming connection. After all, facilitation is more than just its methodologies and its tools; it’s about doing the soul-searching inner work to understand ourselves better, for participants and facilitators alike!

For Jutta Weimar, founder of the Berlin-based Facilitation Academy, her calling was a gift. She joins me for a big, warm hearted episode brimming with self-awareness, healing and connection, as she shares the inner game that has defined her outer facilitation game.

A beautiful and inspiring way to spend an hour of your day! Please press play and join us.

Find out about:

How do we create the structures for freedom to take place?
Why we learn as much from participating as we do from practicing
We can make fairer spaces by understanding other people’s obstacles
Authority projections, what they are and how to overcome them
How to be your authentic self, to invite others into their authenticity

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Jutta Weimar:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

291 - Building Trust through Facilitation with Maria Arpa

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200

There is great richness to be found in human connection - when we know how. To truly see others, to step into vulnerability and to find hidden reflections in ourselves.

Maria Arpa is an absolute powerhouse of inspiration. From mediation to facilitation, she’s made it her life’s purpose to change the path of others for the better: working with people in extreme poverty, areas of knife crime, and social deprivation to overcome conflict, seek peaceful dialogue, and find connection they never knew possible.

Guiding us through learnings from the streets of London, prisons and social neighbourhoods, all the way to the corporate corridors, this episode packs a powerful punch! It’s an exploration of humanity, hope, and the healing of the self.

Find out about:

Maria’s Dialogue Road Map method of communication
How we can support groups to have vulnerable conversations
Why what you see in others is a reflection of yourself
Expressing and recognising the language of needs
Why we must create specific spaces to change the system

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Maria Arpa:

Website

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290 - Facilitating Through Structure: From Gamestorming to Community Building with Dave Gray

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200

How can you create the life of your dreams, where your work not only pays the bills, but brings you daily joy, creative fulfilment and purpose?

Possibilitarian, artist and author Dave Gray joins me in this episode to introduce us to the art of the possible. He generously shares his life’s lessons in business and creativity; from building his $10 million agency, to becoming an accidental author of 3 books, and his creative community brainchild, the School of the Possible.

A rich, expansive conversation, filled with inspiration, with lots to savour and apply in your own business!

Find out about:

What becomes possible when you take away the label of facilitation
The pitfalls of not having an external meeting facilitator
The structures and rules needed to fulfill meeting roles
How to apply standardised practices while still allowing room for emergence
Why empathy maps can act as your north star
The constraints you should put in place for starting a business

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Dave Gray:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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289 - Unlocking Play: The Power of Presence and Letting Go with Minna Taylor

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Have we forgotten how to play? Applied play theorist, strategist, and consultant Minna Taylor, certainly thinks so!

As an actor and theatrical voice coach in a past life, Minna has made it her life’s purpose to invite creative expression, deliberate play, and the power of surrender into people’s lives. She now helps organisations to excel in the infinite game of work, showing them that play is not the pursuit of frivolity, but the spaciousness to think, to create, to adapt, and exist with ease.

Minna brings beautiful, articulate thoughts, intelligence and effervescence to some big ideas: from psychedelics to psychological safety, the industrial revolution, to decentralising your ego. What a joy to speak with her!

Find out about:

The multi-layered notions of play - and its misconceptions
Why play is both the absence of control and the opposite of performance
The need for play in the corporate world
Why we must dismantle belief systems in society to make space for play
The importance of embedding learning into an organisation with integrity and intent

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Minna Taylor:

Linkedin

Website

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288 - How to Master the Art of Great Conversations with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

A conversation is a delicate dance between two people. From one to the other, stories slowly unravel, surprises are met, ideas come to life, and life is learnt as words flow freely between us. But to make a conversation great, we must relish the silences, the questions, and the spaces in between - because it is only with curiosity and presence that we can take the conversation to places we never imagined.

This week, I am in conversation with me, myself, and I for a special solo episode on the lost art of conversation. As a facilitator, podcast host and experienced conversation partner, I share my wisdoms, tips, non-negotiables, and ingredients for a great conversation.

I hope the irony is not lost on you!

Find out about:

My 3 rules for effective question asking
Why the follow-up question is the most important question of all
The beautiful importance of silence in conversations
The power of the word ‘and’ to open the door to a new perspective
Why do we stop having great conversations with our loved ones?

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Myriam Hadnes:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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287 - Here & Now is the Future of Learning with Simon Edwards and Ian Byrne

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Corporate training doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it can be playful, curious, a little bit magical, and dare I say it - fun. And this week I am joined by the creative magic of not one, but two brilliant guests who are here to tell you how: Simon Edwards and Ian Byrne.

Hailing from the worlds of game design and facilitation, we delve deep into the wondrous realm of learning in all of its curious, human forms. Together, they share the eureka moments of their immersive experiences, the evolution of leadership in L&D, why ancient Vipassana meditation has the power to overcome ego, and the art of giving radical candor.

Tune in and get ready to learn!

Find out about:

The two halves of an organisation: the informal and the formal
The role and limitations of AI in organizational change, learning and facilitation
Recognising the cultural differences of engagement
Action learning: how to turn theoretical learning into reality
What we can learn from neurodivergent thinking
The power of pausing to listen to your body

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Simon and Ian:

https://mindblown.io/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindblown-adventures/

https://www.facebook.com/MindBlown.io

https://www.instagram.com/mindblown.io/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-edwards-93312318/
https://living-systems.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/icbyrne/

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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286 - The Art of Slowing Down: Thoughtful Facilitation with Marike Groenewald & Clinton du Preez

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Defiant slowness: it’s a salve, a rebellion, and a lifelong endeavour when we have been taught to live fast, 100mph lives. Because only when we turn down the speedometer, can we be present enough to think deeply, connect to ourselves, bond with others, and experience the joys of simply being.

It’s why Marike and Clinton relish slowness in their facilitation practice, carving out interludes that delight in the details, welcome appreciation into the room, nurture real relationships, and create the breathing space for intention.

We explore the beautiful macrocosm of slowing down in episode 286. Woven with wonderful stories, aha! moments and words you will want to press pause upon, Marike and Clinton bring a rich, eloquent perspective to facilitating with thought.

Find out about:

Why slowing down can help us to be more thoughtful, purposeful and connected
How to address difficult participant behaviours with curiosity, rather than judgment
Why genuine, deep relationships often comes at the price of discomfort
The importance of delighting in the details, both inside and beyond the workshop space

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Marike and Clinton:

Marike Groenewald

Clinton du Preez

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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285 - Creating Safe Spaces for Conflict, Resilience and Recovery with Scott Winter

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

As the old adage goes, failing to prepare, is preparing to fail. But how do you prepare for something as catastrophic as a natural disaster?

Scott Winter helps people, teams and organisations to struggle more effectively and step into their greatness. He’s done so for communities in California to recover from the devastation of wildfires, as well as countless others, showing up with life-affirming purpose, humanity and presence as a facilitator, to re-mould stress into hardy resilience for the future.

In this brilliant and vulnerable conversation, he shares his work in co-regulating mindsets, how to make it easy to talk about difficult things, and why with the right tools, every experience can be turned into a learning opportunity.

Find out about:

How to create safe spaces that address high-stress situations with rationality
The three Rs of resilience: Readiness, Response, and Recovery
The art and science of asking questions
Learn about the Red Zone, Green Zone, Pink Zone framework
Difficultating: how to facilitate difficult conversations
How to mindfully embrace triggers in others
The importance of asking: what do we not want to take into the room?

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Scott Winter:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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284 - Reimagining Company Culture with Play and Connection with Emily Hinks

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The relationships in our life are a lot like gardens: they need watering, a little pruning here and there, some de-weeding, and a whole lot of love! But what about the people we spend most of our time with?

Our co-workers are often overlooked in the garden of relationships, but it’s one that requires just as much time, care and attention as any other. Enter: the biggest mischief maker, Emily Hinks!

Firm in the belief that the world of work could do with more joy, she helps people to connect, collaborate and create company cultures to be proud of, in playful and energising ways. She generously shares her mischievous ways with us, her experience with the likes of Netflix, and how she facilitates richer human connection in the new era of work.

Press play and spend a joyful hour with Emily!

Find out about:

The ROI of human connection at work and its role in building company culture
The importance of connecting teams to company values in contextual ways
Why the post-pandemic workplace needs facilitation to nurture digital connections
How to host meetings more effectively as a non-facilitator
Emily’s small but mighty hacks for elevating every voice in a meeting

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Emily Hinks:

Website

www.emilyhinks.com
www.mischiefmakers.com
www.routesin.com

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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283 - Playing Other People’s Game by our Rules with Dan Newman

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0200

In the autumn of 1996 in Palo Alto, Dan Newman had a career-defining epiphany: facilitation is playing other people’s games with your own rules. It’s something that has stayed with him on his journey from consultant to facilitator, as he solves complex organisational problems by asking: how are their rules preventing them from winning?

We cover a lot of ground from Dan’s storied career in this brilliant conversation, dancing from the debate of the neutral facilitator, to cultural communication traits, the psychology of music, and why he will happily fine his clients for breaking the rules!

Full to the brim with facilitation lessons to learn, try and apply yourself.

Find out about:

Tips, insights and anecdotes from Dan’s nearly 30 year career
The key differences between the role of the facilitator and the consultant
How to rebuild people’s ‘finite games’ into ‘infinite games’, with a positive-sum outcome
How to use Dave Snowden’s Cynefin framework to aid decision-making and de-complexify problems
How to take a company out of their culture to see new perspectives

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Dan’s Book

Connect to Dan Newman:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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282 - Unlocking Embodiment: The Hidden Key to Effective Facilitation with Mark Walsh

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0200

We are all bodily beings. You do not have a body, you are your wise, sense-making, intuitive, feeling body! And yet, modernity has found itself in a disembodied state; we live in the mind and merely exist in a body.

Mark Walsh, the embodiment anti-guru, is here to reconnect the mind-body divide and bring us back home. He’s trained local NGOs in conflict zones, taught meditation to soldiers, and even has a black belt in aikido, helping organisations and coaches to work with the body to rediscover its intelligence.

It’s a delight to share Mark’s beautiful and vital work with you all - join us for an hour of embodied wisdom, neuroscience and powerful facilitation tips - free from woo-woo.

Find out about:

What embodiment is and how we can relearn it
How to integrate embodiment practices into facilitation, for a richer experience
The role of Aikido in peacebuilding, trauma work and facilitation
Learn about the practical state regulation technique of ‘centring’
How we can read a room through an embodied assessment
Why we need to use more exact language for terms like ‘energy’ and ‘holding space

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques

Connect to Mark Walsh:

Website

Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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281 - Mastering Difficult Conversations: Insights on Effective Leadership with Paul Falcone

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0200

As my guest this week will tell you: to avoid a difficult conversation, is to choose the path of least resistance. But when leaders choose the easy way out? Nothing good ever comes from it; only rising frustrations, anxieties, and eventually, resignations.

Luckily for us, Paul Falcone has had every difficult conversation in the book - and he’s written 17 of them! A three-decade career in HR, a stint as a Universal Studios tour guide grappling with grumpy guests, and now a workplace leadership consultant, Paul has learnt to master workplace friction with grace, empathy and a helping of storytelling. The secret? Facilitation, of course!

Find out how to become a more vulnerable, self-aware manager, why we must reframe resistance, and the art of leading with an iron fist and a velvet glove.

Find out about:

How to approach confrontation with empathy, encouragement and motivation
Why mindset, skillset and self-care are vital for effective leadership
How to handle difficult managers through considered, non-violent communication
The importance of building your front-line leadership muscle
The ROI of raising your team’s awareness

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Paul Falcone:

Website

Amazon Author Page

HarperCollins Leadership Author Page

YouTube Channel

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

280 - Beyond Advice: The Coaching Habit for Facilitative Leaders with Michael Bungay Stanier

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Every leader has it in them to be a coach, if only they could stay curious a little longer. This was something Michael Bungay Stanier learnt early on as a youth crisis telephone hotline operator: the first answer is rarely the only answer.

Better known for penning the #1 bestseller The Coaching Habit, a book that has found its way into the lives of over 1 million people, Michael’s coaching work is deeply considered, with a reverence for the gloriously messy complexities of human behaviour. It’s a delicate dance of presence, in and out of the spotlight, and thoughtful manipulation to get the best out of people.

It was a real treat to talk to Michael this week! Episode 280 is full to the brim with wisdoms, tips, tricks and anecdotes from the coaching king, on how we can all become better leaders.

Find out about:

How to lead like a coach, helping your team to be more autonomous
Why leaders should stay curious for longer, holding back on advice
The body language and actionable tools that you can use to promote group agency
The power of starting questions with ‘what’ rather than ‘how’
Relational curiosity: how to stay curious about who people are
How coaching can help redistributing power and status to others

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Michael Bungay Stanier:

MBS.works

bestpossiblerelationship.com

thecoachinghabit.com

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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279 - Facilitation with More Doing and Less Talking with Adam StJohn Lawrence

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Words: they are abundantly, inescapably, everywhere in the world of work. Emails, documents, post-its, briefs, meetings, hushed whispers across the office. So why is it that so many organisations still find themselves on the wrong page from one another?

Ask the multi-talented master of service design thinking, stand-up comedy, theatrical design and psychology-zoology, Adam StJohn Lawrence, and he will tell you that words, actually, get in the way of true collaboration and understanding.

Intrigued? Spend an hour and a half with Adam’s fascinating anecdotes, knowledge and insights to learn how to be a more effective communicator and facilitator - without speaking.

Find out about:

How to express reality and achieve results in non-verbal ways
The effectiveness of prototypes over word-based documents
How to reframe roleplay into a judgement-free, comfortable space
How to ease corporate clients into more interactive, playful sessions
The 3 questions to ask for effective projects

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Adam:

Books and schools: www.tisdd.com

Global Jams: www.globaljams.org

www.cocreationschool.com

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

278 - Understanding the Difference between a Facilitator and a Trainer with The NDB Course Faculty

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Over the years, I’ve had many magnificent facilitators in the podcast chair who identify as trainers, and many talented trainers who identify as facilitators. Where does the line blur? Is there a line? Dare I ask, should there be?

We settle it once and for all in this special LinkedIn Live conversation with my NDB Course Faculty! We discuss why Facilitation and Training exist on a spectrum with fluctuating frequencies of knowledge sharing, leadership, emergence and ownership - ultimately both trying to achieve change from differing angles.

Join us for a purist vs freethinker exploration, as we navigate assumptions, challenge definitions, and colour in the Facilitator-Trainer spectrum.

Find out about:

The key differences between the role of Facilitation and Training
Why it’s important to consider linguistic distinctions and nuances when defining terms such as Facilitator and Trainer
Why facilitators leverage the knowledge in the room, and trainers bridge gaps of knowledge in the room
The role of emergence in training and how to design workshops that make space for it
Client expectations: why it’s vital to educate clients on the difference between the two roles
Where leadership exists in the spectrum of training and facilitation

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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277 - Facilitating Stress Reduction with Liminal Coaching and Metaphor Mapping with Mike Parker

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Imagine a landscape. Perhaps a snow-capped mountain top, studded with pine trees and whispers of clouds. Maybe a bird flutters past. Are there people there, or are you alone with the birds?

If only daydreaming from your desk was seen as something to be revered - encouraged even, free from judgement. Well, Mike Parker is here to tell you why it should be! For when we let our minds wander from our day, it can be a potent balm for burnout, stress, and anxiety, and a cure for creative blockages.

In this week’s beautiful and deeply fascinating episode, Mike introduces us to the power of deliberate daydreaming, metaphor mapping, liminal coaching and guided relaxation. I hope it carves out an hour of calming creativity for you to let your mind wander fully and freely.

Find out about:

The work of Mike’s Liminal Coaching, inspired by solutions-focused hypnotherapy
What metaphor mapping is and why it can help us recognise and reframe problems
The power of calming the parasympathetic nervous system through liminal pomodoro technique
Why guided relaxations offer neurodivergent people a less restrictive outlet than meditation
The serotonin-inducing power of recalling pleasurable moments
The importance of recognising intrinsic, oppressive frameworks in impacting the burnout of minority groups

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Mike Parker:

Liminal Coaching

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

276 - Challenges and triumphs in creating anti-racist environments with Letesia Gibson

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Everyone wants to feel like they belong - to places, purpose and people. But how many workplaces can say that they are truly inclusive and anti-racist places that people choose to belong?

That is where Letesia Gibson comes in. As a navigator of systemic world views on issues such as race and misogyny, her work exists in the sphere of unlearning, helping organisations to rebuild themselves as places of belonging - for everyone.

Letesia introduces us to a new language with which to embrace the intricacies of honest conversations, the tools to embed habits of belonging, and how we can start changing the narrative of the norm.

Find out about:

The work of Letesia’s behaviour change agency New Ways, and their approach to building inclusive, anti-racist workplaces
How to recognise and navigate the role of shame in organizations
How to embed habits of belonging in organisations
The importance of understanding our triggers, to move from shame to acceptance
How we can design workshops that consider the many nuances of inclusivity
The importance of having a shared language and toolkit to initiate organisational change

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Letesia Gibson:

New Ways

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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275 - The Honest Truth About Organizational Dishonesty with Shiao-yin Kuik

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The daily exchange of messages, ideas, beliefs, hopes and thoughts, from the mundane to the magical, is what makes the world spin round. Conversations are everywhere! But sometimes, just sometimes, we don’t know how to have the conversations that need to happen - the conversations that can change everything.

That’s where Shiao-yin Kuik comes in! As a cultural change strategist, she is a master at guiding people to have more effective, empathetic communication - using the simple power of intentional and honest dialogue to navigate organisational flaws.

We unravel the intricacies of vulnerable thoughts, of expressing honesty that doesn’t offend, and of mindfully sharing our truths to achieve change.

Find out about:

The complexities of communication and how to navigate it with care for effective dialogue
The importance of self-care in managerial roles
The ‘Conspiracy of Stupidity’, and why avoidance of addressing problematic behaviour feeds collective ignorance
What relational safety is, how to build it, and why it ensures honesty is constructive
How to have honest team communication that is respectful, supportive and open
The power of the pause: empowering every participant to pause a meeting if it’s not working for them

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Shiao-yin Kuik:

Common Ground

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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274 - From solo reading to social learning with Theresa Destrebecq

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

An extraordinarily curious mind that lives within the pages of books, Theresa Destrebecq has taken the joy of book club and twisted it into a circle of deep, experiential learning: welcome to Emerge Book Circles.

In her circles, books become the ultimate impartial co-facilitator. She invites readers to move from the often solitary activity of reading, into a shared space where ideas bloom, shapeshift and expand through the collective, connective wisdom of the circle - helping us to better understand ourselves, our teams and organisations.

We talk about invitations into brave, vulnerable spaces, the discomfort of true learning and why as facilitators, we must step back from the trees to see the forest…

Find out about:

Theresa’s book circles, what they are and
How books can be a vehicle for exploring change in an objective way
Why safe spaces are subjective; we all have different perceptions of safety
The beauty of co-designed, evolved ideas through co-facilitation and collaboration
The importance of discomfort in learning
Why as facilitators we must detach ourselves from assumptions, choosing compassion first

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Connect to Theresa Destrebecq:

Emerge Book Circles

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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273 - Creating a Culture of Feedback and Safety with David Kline

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

If you were to create a formula for a high-performing team, what would it look like?

Dave Kline, executive coach and trainer, accomplished writer, and co-founder of The MGMT Accelerator, a program designed to level-up the next cohort of leaders, has the code. And it’s one that he’s perfected over two decades, 250 group diagnostic sessions, 1000 performance evaluations, and many, many talented leaders later.

Learn from the master himself, as we dissect the composition of an effective feedback culture, as we explore the power of bitesize experimentation, and join us as we ask, how do you cultivate an environment that breeds honesty, trust and purpose?

Find out about:

What Dave has learnt from his time leading high-impact teams in asset management, consultancy and financial services
How to enhance higher performance in your teams
The importance of a shared purpose in creating psychological safety
The distinction between setting an intention and an expectation
How to speak up and speak the truth as a leader
Validating the ‘problem child’ of a group to transform their contribution

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Dave Kline:

The MGMT Accelerator

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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272 - Creative Leadership Means Facilitation with Arne van Oosterom

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Arne van Oosterom shapeshifted from the creative coal face of consultancy life, selling beautiful shiny ideas, into the problem-oriented domain of design thinking, as a creative facilitator, leadership coach, trainer, and community architect.

But swapping aesthetic idea generation, for meaningful problem-solving that helps people to cultivate growth, demands a special duty of care for the most human things of all: for feelings, emotions, connections - and all that good stuff.

This episode is a gorgeous exploration into the creativity of being human, of fine-tuning your feelings in leadership, embodiment, and most importantly, why all leaders must be facilitators - else risk failing to lead at all.

Find out about:

The importance of embodiment in leadership to foster greater emotional intelligence
And, why we must tune into our bodies to ensure we align with the right work and clients
The intrinsic relationship between facilitation and leadership
The oxygen mask of leadership: why good leaders should create space for their own feelings first
The role that design thinking plays in facilitation
Why facilitators must be cognisant of different levels of group energy.
The importance of proactive energy creation vs. waiting for clients to find you

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Arne van Oosterom:

Website

Future Skills Academy

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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271 - Value Meets Price: Unpacking Business Models in Facilitation

Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Starting your own facilitation brand can be daunting business. Thankfully, Jenny Millar, Kirsty Lewis and Michael Zipursky - three exceptionally wise and established founders - are here to teach you everything they wish they’d known sooner. The mistakes, the models, the pricing strategies, and all of the rich learning opportunities they’ve collected along the way.

As you might have guessed, our special fireside conversation this week is all about the business of facilitation! Around the fire, we dissect our own journeys in the hope of guiding you confidently on yours.

Expect empowering ideas, generous insights, tips, tricks and juicy business amuse-bouches that you can start implementing today.

Find out about:

The considerations to make before starting your facilitation business
The business mistakes, learning opportunities and things our guests had wished they’d known sooner
How you can delegate while retaining agency over galvanising your community
The Goldilocks effect of pricing: how to price with confidence
The importance of niching down further than you might think
How we define value, who creates it, and how you can prove your value to your first client

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to my guests:

Jenny Millar
Kirsty Lewis
Michael Zipursky

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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270 - Mastering the Art of Group Coaching with Dominique Mas

Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Even as fully-fledged adults, there are many things about ourselves that we have yet to discover. Unexplored ideas, hidden pools of potential, and uncharted spaces we have yet to step into.

That is why coaching exists; to become aware of what we didn’t know, to move from a state of unconscious incompetence, into one of conscious incompetence, realising our blindspots and delving bravely, unreservedly into them.

Coaching mastermind and leader in education Dominique Mas has trained over 200 coaches, helping them to explore their blindspots, on a mission to bring the transformative power of group coaching to the world.

Episode 270 is a mushroom garden of epiphanies and burgeoning questions, as we unravel the difference between facilitation and group coaching, with many moments you’ll want to pause to commit to memory. Enjoy!

Find out about:

The differences, symmetries and cross-sections between facilitation and group coaching
The importance of understanding individual needs and experiences before a group coaching session
Why thanking participants for their contribution invites in different voices
Why we must choose our questions wisely in a coaching context to ensure positive engagement
The art of not giving advice and the role of agency in coaching
The important difference between trust and psychological safety

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Dominique Mas:

Website

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269 - Designing Change: The Art of Service Design and Facilitation with Gerry Scullion

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Fellow power-podcaster and community creator, founder of The Human-Centered Design Network, and teacher of the next generation of thinkers and doers, Gerry Scullion’s impressive list of founding projects is a true testament to his 21-year mastery of ‘service’.

Episode 269 is an education into this world; Gerry introduces us to the principles, theories and practices of Service Design, where it intertwines with facilitation, and why design and facilitation are in fact, one and the same.

We talk about ageism in design, bakery role-play, getting comfortable with uncertainty - and so much more!

Find out about:

The difference between Human Centric Design, Service Design and Design Thinking
Why service design is a holistic experience that must look far beyond the screen
What it means to hold the pen in a workshop and why distributing it to the group is crucial for democratisation
Why simultations like ‘investigative rehearsals’ help to explore the nuances and components of service business
Why working with children is like training for a marathon in high altitude
Gerry’s work in community building and facilitating supportive conversations

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Gerry:

This is HCD Coaching

This is HCD Training

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268 - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Co-Facilitation

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Have you ever found yourself stepping on a dance partner's toes? That's a bit what co-facilitation can feel like without the right rhythm and rapport. Together with Cate Czerwinski and Florentine Versteeg, felllow faculty members from our leadership through facilitation course and peers from the NeverDoneBefore community, we unpack the symphony of co-facilitation, from the powerful duets of mutual support and blending ideas to the occasional missteps of clashing perspectives. It's more than just sharing a stage; it's about creating a performance that uplifts every participant, and in this episode, we share the secrets to that perfect harmony.

Navigating the dynamics between co-facilitators is akin to walking a tightrope, balancing offering support with giving space—no safety net included. We chat about the delicate intricacies of managing both our own and our fellow facilitator's egos, all while keeping a keen eye on the emotional undercurrents of our live sessions. With candid anecdotes and a spotlight on the importance of psychological safety, we share how transparency and self-awareness can make or break the co-facilitation experience. Spoiler alert: It's not always a walk in the park, but the insights we provide might just be your map through the woods.

And what about when clients wear the facilitator hat, too? We delve into the diplomatic dance of respecting their insights without letting them lead the whole show. From setting clear boundaries pre-workshop to managing real-time shifts in the process, we reveal the strategies that keep the facilitator-client relationship in check, ensuring the spotlight remains on collective goals. Wrapping up, we exchange tips on time management and adapting facilitation styles for both in-person and online environments. Join us for an episode that promises to leave you with a playbook for co-facilitating like a pro, ready to choreograph your next workshop with confidence and ease.

Find out about:

The subtle nuances of co-facilitation dynamics
Balancing support and autonomy
Establishing boundaries with clients and co-facilitators
The art of time management
Strategies for both online and offline co-facilitation

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to GUEST:

Connect to Florentine Versteeg

Connect to Cate Czerwinski

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267 - Elevating Corporate Gatherings with Empathy and Engagement Strategies with Lindsey Caplan

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Gather around my podcast airwaves for a special hour of meaningful moments and messages, as Lindsey Caplan brings us into her world of gathering.

A Hollywood screenwriter for Malcolm in the Middle, a Silicon Valley Organisational Psychologist and an educator for Dreamworks Animation, Lindsey is a miraculous mind with a showstopper of an oeuvre.

Along the way, she’s gathered a collection of learnings in her back pocket from these three disciplines, teaching her the simple power of bringing people together over a purpose. Her company The Gathering Effect takes a fresh approach to organisational change, crafting strategies to meet in effective ways.

Find out about:

Lindsey’s definition of gathering and why it is a tool for change
Why we mustn’t over-index on tools without fully understanding how to use them; instead we must first focus on the effect
Why gatherings should be designed around one of four desired effects: compliance, entertainment, engagement and informing
The role that environment plays in gatherings
What we can learn about emotional connection, and therefore entertainment, from comedians and musicians
The causality of company culture in gatherings: its ability to influence and be influenced in how organisations meet

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Connect to Lindsey Caplan:

Website

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266 - The Alchemy of Group Facilitation Crafting Harmony and Tension with Jason Fox

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0200

A constant, unchoreographed dance of tension and harmony, of structure and emergence, of psychological safety and sincerity, of client and group: facilitation is an artful balancing act.

And my guest this week Dr Jason Fox, is a master of equilibrium. A wise and mercurial keynote speaker and facilitator, he straddles the opposing realms of speaker presence and facilitator invisibility with shapeshifting ability, fusing deep philosophical thinking with meaningful future action.

We ride the facilitation see-saw in episode 266, exploring the alchemic balance of the facilitator, soaring from beautiful philosophies and the ideal conditions for achieving progress, dipping into Vipassana learnings and the potential of a spacious agenda.

Jason fills our conversation with such wisdom, charm and intrigue, I hope an hour with him leaves you feeling as inspired as I was.

Find out about:

Why the alchemy of cooking is like that of facilitation, both requiring acuity, synthesis, and intuition
The difference between meaningful progress vs. delusional progress
Psychological safety: is there such a thing as too much? Can it lead the group into a state of toxic sincerity?
The importance of seeking healthy conflict from a place of psychological safety
Striking the balance of imperfection and friction, from the tools we use, to the environment we choose
Jason’s teachings from meta-modernism, meta-rationality, Vipassana, and Indigenous Australian philosophy

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Jason Fox:
On LinkedIn
https://foxwizard.com
https://drjasonfox.com/

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265 - In the Rhythm of Leadership: Learnings from Music Thinking with Christof Zürn

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0200

From free jazz and the musical echelons of piano concerto, to indigenous beats and the didgeridoo, this week’s episode is an invitation into the wondrous world of Music Thinking.

Christof Zürn is the inventor of this mindset; his storied background in musicology, creative direction and service design became the symphony to his brainchild. He now helps organisations to apply the principles of music to their daily lives, offering a new lexicon with which to interpret and understand business, leadership - and of course, facilitation!

Hear all about Christof’s musical mindset, how to apply it, and why it can be an inspiring scoresheet for effective work, collaboration, and productivity. Episode 265 is guaranteed to be music to your ears.

Find out about:

The power of Music Thinking in helping to navigate organisational dynamics
What the analogy of music means for business, leadership and facilitation
Why the workshop is not a performance, but a rehearsal for the real-life production, allowing room for mistakes and exploration
How music can help us to hear and understand simultaneous perspectives in an organisation
The notion of ‘Design Thinking Theater’ and why it is a facade to endorse established organisational ideas

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Christof:

Jam Cards

The Power of Music Thinking

Templates download

Epiphany Story 2024

Workshop with Leadership positions

Sonic Meditation / Pauline Oliveros

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264 - Play as a Prism: Exploring Group Work, Conflict, and Human Connection

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0200

It is wonder, curiosity and imagination wrapped up in one. It is both a suspension from reality and way of navigating the world, a problem solver, a flow of creativity, a creative outlet, a language and a state of mind. It is: play!

And true to its nature, we cannot possibly box play into one definition. Lily Higgins, Pauline McNaulty and Jules Gilleland join me in my digital playground this week to unpeel the many layers of play: purposeful play, play without agenda, play as the essence of human connection, and play as a curious and unexpected vehicle for conflict resolution.

Gather around for our special fireside conversation!

Find out about:

Lily, Pauline and Jules’ multifaceted definitions of play, and why it is simultaneously a mindset, tactic, strategy, and metaphor
The complexities and contexts of play as a facilitation tool
How play can be used to navigate conflict, creating a safe space that diffuses risk
How play can help us challenge our stories, and encourage us to see new perspectives
The difference between purposeful play, play as the experience itself, and play without agenda

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to guests:

Lily Higgins LinkedIn

Pauline McNaulty LinkedIn

Jules Gilleland LinkedIn

Find out more about our Facilitation Academy:

Live online courses with podcast guests

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Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

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263 - From Water to Metal: Exploring Elemental Archetypes for Enhanced Facilitation with Alice Inoue

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0200

We are all made of stars. The elements of our bodies were first forged in celestial matter across the cosmos billions of years ago. As humans, we tend to think of ourselves as separate from nature, but we are of course, nature itself.

So when Life Guide, astrologist and founder of Happiness U, Alice Inoue introduced me to her fascinating psychometric assessment based on the five elements of ancient traditional Chinese medicine - water, wood, fire, earth and metal – I knew this conversation was going to be filled with earthly, enlightening wisdom for both facilitation - and life!

Alice teaches us about finding our natural superpowers in the elemental system, how to foster deeper group harmony, and how to see ourselves and others in a new dimension. Intrigued? Tune in to your element – and this week’s episode!

Find out about:

Alice’s psychometric assessment Master Your Superpower
The elemental archetypes, their qualities and challenges, and how each element might interact with another
How to use the language of elements in the workplace
What we can learn about facilitation from astrology, Feng Shui and traditional Chinese medicine practices
The importance of getting comfortable with silence and asking the right questions

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Alice Inoue:

Website

Master Your Superpower Assessment

Find out more about our Facilitation Academy:

Live online courses with podcast guests

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Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

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262 - Navigating the Facilitation Landscape with Community Perspectives

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Earlier this year, SessionLab published the second edition of their State of Facilitation report, surveying the ever-evolving landscape of our profession. 93 countries, 372 hours spent answering the survey and a generous 975 respondents later, and the NeverDoneBefore community joins together with the SessionLab community to put the 2024 report findings under a facilitation magnifying glass in our very first fishbowl conversation!

Together, we dissect three juicy and provocative, yet important questions: Do accreditations, or a lack of, harm or expand our profession? Do facilitators hide behind their tools? And how valuable is community in our world? Episode 262 is a special one, join us!

Find out about:

Key findings from the State of Facilitation 2024 report
The presence, weight and validity of accreditations in facilitation - can we learn on the job or do we require a professional certification?
The role that tools play when facilitating small vs. large groups and how they can help us to navigate conflict
Whether digitally-assisted facilitation is transforming the face of the profession – for the better or worse
An exploration into how facilitators continue to learn

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

IAF Accreditation process

Connect to:

SessionLab

State of Facilitation Report 2024

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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261 - The Unseen Dynamics of Effective Facilitation with Tanja Murphy-Ilibasic

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0100

From her debut in episode 53, to episode 261 many years later, my guest this week Tanja Murphy-Ilibasic makes her return to the podcast this week! Tanja is a corporate coach, facilitator and communications specialist - and a master at manifesting potential.

But potential, the capacity for future success, is only possible with the right conditions at play and the energy to propel it forward. We unravel the dynamics of effective facilitation, the necessary conditions and questions we must ask, to design workshops that will outlive the confines of the workshop walls. After all, it is our duty to give the group the wings to make their potential possible – otherwise, we fail not only the group, but our entire profession.

Join us for learnings from workshop failures, the art of the gradually-invisible facilitator, the nuances of equal voice, and the importance of withholding our opinion.

Find out about:

How to find the right approach for the best outcome and collaboration
Navigating the client conversations needed for success; from budget availability, to motivations and post-workshop support
Why you shouldn’t go into a collaboration with assumptions or predefined expectations
How to physically manoeuvre a space so that the group is given agency
Why facilitators should rarely disclose their own opinion to avoid being a guiding voice that would anchor the group
How to acknowledge equal voice in a group, giving recognition to quick and slow thinkers

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Tanja Murphy-Ilibasic:

Website

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260 - Exploring the Art of Invisible Facilitation with Charles-Louis de Maere

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0100

The act of naming something gives it presence, it makes it visible. So how then, do we navigate something as infinite and nameworthy as facilitation, when invisibility is so often its modus operandi?

Scrum-master, agile-coach and chief explorer of Exploration Labs, Charles-Louis de Maere joins me this week for a juicy, macro-to-micro exploration into facilitation as we toy with this question. We discuss the power of surrender: why stepping back, ditching the instructions, and detaching ourselves from the rigidity of the process, can help us to co-create a playground that prioritises the outcome.

We cover a lot of terrain in this episode! From the deeper purpose of the facilitator, to practical try-it-yourself exercises, facilitating in different cultures, and why we can sometimes be magicians in disguise…

Find out about:

Why the art of invisible facilitation abandons agendas in favour of co-designing towards a shared outcome
Why the strongest tool in our toolbox is the question, and why vague questions
The power of playing with ambiguity
A lack of instructions can facilitate trust in a group through the discomfort that emerges
Finding the right level of appropriateness for exchanges in different cultures
How to navigate the wants and needs of the group, with the expectations of the hiring client

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Charles-Louis de Maere:

Website

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259 - Leading with a Rainbow Lens: Enhancing Inclusive Leadership Practices with Dr Steve Yacovelli

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 23:00:00 +0100

This week we take a look through the iridescent, rainbow lens of leadership, with Dr Steve Yacovelli, aka ‘The Gay Leadership Dude™’, to ask the question: what does it mean to be a truly inclusive leader?

Well beyond the DEI acronym and its all too often tick-box allyship mentality, we explore the essence of inclusive leadership and what every impactful leader can learn from the six competencies that naturally show up in the LGBTQ+ community: being authentic, leading with courage, having empathy, effective communication, building relationships, and influencing organisational culture.

We talk all things pronouns, bringing your full self to work, managing your unconscious bias, and finally, we pull at the seams of diversity, to reveal a single beautiful truth: every single human on this planet is diverse!

Find out about:

Learnings from Steve’s 25 years in the leadership, development, change management, and diversity and inclusion consulting space
What it means to lead with a Pride Leadership mindset
Why inclusive leadership must go beyond the superficial celebration of the DEI acronym to foster belonging for all
The five dimensions of diversity and what it means for leadership
Why a feedback-rich culture is critical to creating belonging in the workplace
Why learning in a group of 3 can have greater success than learning in pairs

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Steve Yacovelli:

Website

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258 - Community-based Education Supporting Community-based Enterprise with Colonel Walter Holmes

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Can I get your attention? Because this week, I have none other than Colonel Walt Holmes with me on the show, Air Force Commander, author, and master facilitator of community-based education.

Walt has been helping individuals to progress through the ranks of military units – and of life – since the 1999s, designing the systems for success in both soldiers and students. His 5 levels of achievement offers a unique gamified approach to change: encouraging meaningful metric-based accountability, collaboration and autonomy in his squadron of students. His belief: if we can impact someone’s behaviour, we can change their attitude.

Walt’s passion is undeniable - it radiates through the airwaves of our conversation and I’m positive you will feel it too! Tune in to learn all about community, attitude, behaviour and the cogs of organisational change.

Find out about:

Learnings from Walt’s military career as a cultural change facilitator
What it takes to change an entire organisation through the introduction of structure, autonomy and collaboration
Why the success to community-based education lies in a marriage of individual outcomes and metrics
The inner-workings of community models: why people taking ownership creates a system that is self-enforcing
What Walt’s book ‘Lead From The Middle, Lead From Behind’ can teach us about leading groups in disarray

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Connect to Walt Holmes:

Website

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257 - Exploring the Ethical Lines between Facilitation and Consulting with Benjamin Taylor

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0100

Dominant, supportive. Immediate value, gradual value. Explicit, implicit. Scarcity, abundance. Consultant, Facilitator.

It might be tempting to view the roles of a consultant, and that of a facilitator, through these opposing dichotomies, but nothing is ever really that black and white. And as Benjamin Taylor and I speak about this week, there’s a great deal to be learnt from the intersection of the two!

This episode takes a look at facilitation through the meta-lens; from afar, we inspect it as a movement and dig up some uncomfortable clichéd truths, and up-close, we unravel the intricacies of manipulation, shallow vs deep facilitation, and the most daring tool of all in our toolkit.

Find out about:

Where facilitation shows up in consulting and the interplay between the two disciplines
What Benjamin has learnt from decades spent as a consultant in the public sector
The distinction between shallow and deep facilitation and why it is critical for an effective outcome
Why the key to impactful facilitation lies in fostering an environment of connection, collaboration and empowering each participant’s strengths
Why consultants must resist the urge to prove instant value; instead taking a more measured, facilitative approach to collaboration

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Connect to Benjamin Taylor:

RedQuadrant

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256 - Deliberate Dialogue to Unlock Wicked Problems with Amanda Harding

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Dialogue is a form of sense-making in motion. Thoughts become words become ideas, and ideas then enter reality splintering into fresh, new routes of discussion – a map begins to form, ready to be navigated.

Although, that map might not always have the right people reading it, it may even have dead-ends along the way, or the wrong starting point entirely. This is where Amanda Harding comes in! As a Curator of Conversation, she designs a third space for deliberate dialogue to be held between a blend of actors, so that entangled, wicked problems can be unravelled with purpose, made malleable, and actionable.

As you’d guess, mine and Amanda’s own dialogue surfaced some big, juicy themes, considerations and musings for the facilitation process.

Find out about:

Why dialogue can fail when it lacks the right blend of participants – often, those with conflicting opinions have the best conversations
The importance of making power dynamics explicit to achieve inclusive participation
How tension can be embraced and managed within a space by ensuring all participants can constructively engage
How to craft questions, or conversation-starters, for impactful dialogue
Why dialogue can achieve alignment on a higher common ground, in contrast to a shared consensus, which can lead to diluted, compromised ambitions

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Amanda Harding:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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255 - The Transformative Art of Authentic Relating and Facilitation with Yaniv Rose

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Is there an art to creating human connection? My guest this week Yaniv Rose, would certainly say so. As an Authentic Relator, his craft lies in facilitating deeper, more meaningful connections - transforming the relationship we have with ourselves, and the one we have with others.

It’s a tool for life: a grounding practice that asks us to consciously observe, fine-tune, and recalibrate our human interactions by showing up unequivocally as our truest selves. And when we rewire ourselves to honour authenticity? We can seek out new depths of intimacy, and ultimately, we learn how to be more human.

Find out about:

The five core practices within Authentic Relating
Why Authentic Relating is a transformational foundation for how you approach connections with yourself and others, and how you can start practising it today
How to connect participants to an organisation’s core values through roleplay
Why Authentic Relating as a facilitation tool can create a safe space for participants to feel seen and heard
Why workshops can fail if we stay within the realm of safety, and don’t try to make the implicit explicit

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Yaniv Rose:

Website

Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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254 - Are Facilitators Manipulators?

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Master-manipulator, con-artist… facilitator? When we think of manipulation, facilitation is probably the last thing that springs to mind. We are neutral, we are trusted shepherds, we encourage emergence! So where does the line between manipulation and facilitation start, and where does it end?

This week, my brilliant colleagues Thomas Lahnthaler, Cate Czerwinski, Shamir Joseph and Florentine Versteeg sat down with me to examine this ethically grey, but endlessly fascinating area.

We explore manipulation in its many, inconspicuous guises: mysterious agendas, influencing the process, the facilitation tools we deploy, practising self-awareness, power dynamics and navigating participant consent.

Find out about:

Where manipulation and facilitation meet, overlap, and the ethical danger zones to be cautious of when facilitating
Why manipulation in a facilitation context becomes a causal sequence of: purpose, presence, power, process, participants and play.
Why practicing self-awareness and presence is crucial to be able to navigate the needs of the group, the client, and yourself
The power we possess as facilitators, and why obtaining consent at the beginning of a workshop is crucial to earning trust
Why the predefined roles that participants adopt can stifle the process and prevent new perspectives from being explored.

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Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect with the guests:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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253 - Transforming Teams with the Science of Motivation with Ahmet Tamtekin

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0100

Motivation is a complex, elusive creature. We either have it, or we don’t, right?

But what if I told you, there is a science to motivation, after all? And motivation mogul Ahmet Tamtekin has cracked its code! His passion project for coaching led him to discover his life’s purpose: motivation, how we experience it, how to read it as a language, and how to inspire it in others. He now uses the wonders of neuroscience to tap into our wildly differing motivators, to boost team performance and get the best out of people.

In this episode, Ahmet brings his passion and charisma into every corner of our conversation, sharing curious new tricks, tools and avenues to explore in both our facilitation practice and everyday lives. I promise that episode 253 will be a real treat for your mind!

Find out about:

Where motivation fits within the practice of facilitation
Why a good facilitator can both read and feed the nuances of motivations in the room for the greatest impact
Personality tests can reveal how you naturally behave, while motivation uncovers why you behave that way, giving us the power to change our behaviours
Motivation can be an expression, or a language, that we speak to our loved ones – and sometimes, we must look beyond to understand their language

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Ahmet Tamtekin:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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252 - Lessons from a movie producer on facilitating events with Stoyan Yankov

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0100

And, action! This week, Stoyan Yankov takes us on a journey from behind the clapperboard to discuss the fascinating symmetries between movie production and facilitation.

The world of cinema can be unpredictable, filled with plot twists, creative agendas and diverse characters, and when the metaphorical smoke-machine breaks, it requires a sixth sense for when to keep the camera rolling, and when to end scene.

Stoyan joins us with all the learnings, stories and curiosities he’s collected in his back pocket from his career to date - from movie producer, to facilitator and talented TedX speaker. Sit back and enjoy!

Find out about:

What a movie producer can teach us about facilitation – from managing a diverse array of personalities, to mastering adaptation, and being vehicles of transformation
The best movie productions – and workshops – are often the ones when the producer is most invisible, giving everyone else a platform to feel seen and heard
Just like move producers, master facilitators should sense when a tangent is worth pursuing, and when to redirect the conversation
Why the early stages of our career are rich playgrounds for learning, growth and experimentation
As facilitators, circumstances will always lie beyond our control, but it’s our attitude towards what is within our control, that counts
How a 1-hour speech can transform someone’s life, giving them new perspectives to consider

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Stoyan Yankov:

Website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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251 - Harmonizing Teams: Collective Song-Writing as a Workshop Tool with Sam McNeill

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0100

We all speak the language of music. It’s life’s medicine, a beautiful escape when we need one, and it feeds our soul in ways that feel, somehow, inexplicable.

But there is of course method to the magic. Musician, vocalist, singer, and songwriter Sam McNeill has been singing all his life – from the Sydney Opera House, to the heavyweight headquarters of Spotify - he now works as a musical facilitator for SongDivision, bonding teams all over the world through the science of music.

In their songwriting workshops, deep reflections take place, honesty emerges in the lyrics, and teams are given a new voice to creatively express values and reveal the unspoken.

Press play and treat your ears to this fascinating episode with Sam as he shares his personal experiences as a performer, offering a unique platform for us to examine the intersection of music and facilitation.

You’ll learn:

Why songwriting is a powerful tool for teams to express themselves, encourage discussion and strengthen bonds
How music can remove hierarchy, putting employees on a level playing field in a workshop setting
The science behind music: how activating the prefrontal cortex can enhance creativity and set the scene for fruitful collaboration
Why failure is a better outcome than impartiality, offering us learnings for improvement
The parallels that lie between an artist’s performance and that of a facilitator
Why a lack of clarity around what success looks like in a workshop can cause failure
How musical genres can help teams or organisations to better define themselves

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

The episode with Rich Goidel we referred to on the show.

Connect to Sam McNeill:

SongDivision

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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250 - Crafting Impactful Learning Experiences with Military Precision with Pat D’Amico

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0100

From the US Military, to the world of professional coaching, my guest this week is not only an ex-army officer, but an executive coach, leadership mentor, facilitator, and an inexorably passionate learner.

At aged 17, Pat D’Amico was enlisted into Valley Forge Military Academy where he went on to serve in multiple humanitarian and combat deployments around the world. But it was here in military training, that his personal leadership journey began. It shaped him into the exceptional facilitator that he is today, teaching him the lifelong discipline of continuous learning, the importance of being passionate, and why knowing your stuff should be approached with military precision.

Pat takes us on a fascinating expedition this week into powerful course design, the world of leadership training, why practical training will always triumph over classroom learning – and much, much more!

Find out about:

Pat’s learnings from his time in the military and how army training has helped him to become a better facilitator, mentor and coach
The importance of mastering your content, and how facilitation mastery and content quality complement each other
Why it’s important to listen to the high performers, instead of the low performers to understand organisational challenges
Learn practical tips on how participants can retain and apply key learnings after a workshop has concluded
Why creating a safe environment for participants to make mistakes is so valuable
Passion, content customisation, and relatability are crucial for a workshop to succeed

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Pat D’Amico:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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249 - Facilitators in the Role of Participants – Insights from the NDB Festival 2023

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This episode is a special one! You’re invited to time travel back to the NeverDoneBefore Festival, and join me in my virtual podcast boat where I speak to six of our talented facilitators over the 24-hour event: Becky Sawle, Sonja Sinz, Mirjam Leunissen, Célia Rene Corail, Etrit Shkreli and Marianne Oh.

It’s a jam-packed journey, full of rich, multifaceted wisdom; each conversation offers a fascinating and thoughtful perspective, making the next hour and a half an exploration into facilitation as a whole, in its many wondrous forms.

We talk about the balance between structure and emergence, we find unexpected learnings in a Christian Andersen folktale and teachings from a Hindu goddess, we delve into embodiment, trust, costumes, language and neutrality, and how we can support neurodiversity in workshop settings. Phew, it’s a whistle-stop tour!

Find out about:

How costumes can create a safe space to tap into our creativity
The balance between structure and emergence that appears through co-creation, and how to navigate the two
Why conflict isn’t necessarily a bad thing; when you lean into it, we can strengthen relationships
Why as a facilitator, we are the ultimate source of energy, transferring our feelings and emotions to the group
How to use embodiment to shift moods, develop new behaviours, and why observing a deeper connection with our body is a journey into self-discovery
Why we can draw inspiration from Shiva and Kali in Hindu mythology, to find the balance between presence and action
How facilitators can balance diverse needs and preferences to support neurodiversity

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to the guests on LinkedIn:
Becky Sawle
Sonja Sinz
Mirjam Leunissen
Célia Rene Corail
Etrit Shkreli
Marianne Oh

Support the show:

Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

248 - Facilitape: Enhance Workshop Experiences using Tape with Matthias Lenssen

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

My guest this week is not an artist, nor a designer, but a facilitaper. A self-confessed chaotic creative, Matthias Lenssen has honed his craft over the past 10 years, finding creative freedom and wonderous new ways to facilitate with a bare wall and simple rolls of coloured tape.

His workshops spark curiosity among participants, encourage exploration of movement, illustrate stories and ideas, and establish creative parameters. In the process, Matthias transforms his spaces into an interactive playground that becomes a Third Facilitator, masterfully assisting him in his delivery.

Many, many rolls later, we are lucky enough to share in his art. In this episode, he generously offers his tips on how you too can become a facilitaper, and why tape is a versatile and expressive tool to add to your facilitation toolbox.

You’ll learn:

How the physical space of the workshop rooms can become a Third Facilitator by establishing spatial boundaries, guiding participants and setting the atmosphere
How the role of tape can transform workshops into creative, interactive playgrounds, by illustrating stories and ideas, and turning walls into immersive canvases
How to use tape for team building exercises, such as The Triangle of Common Things
Why tape can be a powerful tool for prototyping your own workshops

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Matthias Lenssen:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

Explore Matthias' business

Support the show:

Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

247 - Dare to Facilitate! with Jenny Theolin

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Most of us live our lives in a natural, psychological state of comfort. It’s cushioned, it’s safe - it’s what we know. But what happens when we dare to seek out the unknown? When we raise our heads above the parapet of comfort?

Jenny Theolin dares to live her life in this space. As a facilitator, she braves the difficult questions, has a sixth sense for when to change course, and has curated a toolkit of techniques that intuitively challenge participants to yield the greatest impact. After all, it’s in the pivots, in the furrowed faces, in the zone of discomfort, that we grow. And the more we dare, the further we go!

She joins me in this episode as we explore the possibilities that unfurl when we test our perceived limits, the concept of innovation mashups, and why effective workshops are challenging, and dare I say, uncomfortable.

Find out about:

How to become more daring as a facilitator by seeking out experimentation
Where to find new inspiration, brave ideas, and facilitation techniques
Why workshops can fail when participants feel too comfortable – often, the best facilitators know how to explore discomfort in fruitful ways
Why adhering to rigid timelines, processes or schedules can stifle the organic, fluid nature of meaningful learning experiences
Why workshops can produce a ripple effect of value – the true benefits manifesting themselves to participants weeks, months, or even years later

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Jenny:

Jenny’s studio

Jenny’s book

Instagram

Dare to Facilitate Instagram

Support the show:

Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

246 - Navigating the New Normal: Challenges and Opportunities of Remote Leadership with Stephan Dohrn

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0100

The fundamental skills of leadership have changed in the 2020s. Whether you’re brand-new to a leadership role or a seasoned veteran, the remote work boom has added a new layer of complexity to your work.

What does it mean to lead in a virtual space and how can we connect, communicate, and inspire others without that face-to-face contact? Stephan Dohrn has been asking these questions for longer than most. In fact, they have been key to his work with Radical Inclusion, Remote-how, and his own consulting business.

He joins me in this episode to explain and explore the changing face of leadership in the age of remote work, the new skills that are needed, and how we can facilitate teams and their leaders into happier, more productive remote working arrangements.

Find out about:

Why leadership — and the work of those under leaders — is more habitual than we realise
How to make a team gel because of (not in spite of) their different working styles
Why traditional, ‘static’ teams are becoming outdated
How remote work has made leadership easier and more fruitful, as well as its challenges
What to do when ‘team building activities’ don’t appeal to individuals within a team
Tools and tips for facilitating team conversations without in-person connections

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Stephan:

On LinkedIn.

Explore Stephan’s business

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

245 - Unleashing the Power of Movement in Facilitation with Kate Spacek

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100

A sense of belonging is one of the incalculable elements of a healthy, happy team. It’s either there or it’s not, right?

Not so, as Kate Spacek explains in this episode.

Kate’s work, for many years, has been in the realm of belonging: how we feel it, generate it, and nurture it. That work has brought her closer and closer to a strong thesis: that movement, sensing, and awareness are foundational to the whole process.

In this episode, she shares the journey of discover she’s been on, the most valuable tips and tricks she’s learned, and where she sees movement fitting in the wider world of facilitation. It’s a fascinating tool to add to one’s toolbox — don’t miss out.

Find out about:

How Kate works to generate and amplify a sense of belonging in her facilitation
Why building a workshop on foundations of humour, playfulness, and levity creates a more accepting environment
How movement helps us access ourselves and others in a deeper way
Why moving without feeling is an incomplete process
How corporate work gets our brains and bodies out of balance
What we can learn from our bodies that our brains can’t tell us

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

The Movement of Belonging website.

Follow Movement of Belonging on Instagram.

Follow Kate on Facebook.

And find Kate's podcast, Movement of Belonging, anywhere you listen to podcasts. It offers movement recipes you can try at home or as a fresh way to start your meeting or class.

Connect to Kate:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

244 - Building Bridges with Basketball: Learnings about Facilitation with Tony McGaharan

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100

From the basketball courts of Northern Ireland to the C-suites of tech giants, Tony McGaharan just can’t stop coaching!

After a decade at Google, Tony set up his own training and people development company, People Playbook. Calling on experience from Sweden to Singapore, Tony’s honed his skills worldwide and with a huge range of groups.

In that time, he’s found some common truths and universal experiences. He shares them in this episode — dribbling between basketball and facilitation, coaching and learning design, and more.

Find out about:

What Tony learned from a decade in Google’s People operations
Why he set out to create People Playbook at the onset of the pandemic and how he grew the business
How his qualification as a basketball coach has helped him grow as a facilitator and coach
What facilitators can learn about sustainable performance and why financial incentives are never enough
Why authenticity and humility are so important — for modelling to the group and as a principle of practice
How to facilitate in the margins to help a successful, effective group continue developing

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

People Playbook.

Connect to Tony:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

243 - The Interplay of Design Thinking, Facilitation and Leadership with Shamir Joseph

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Changing behaviour is something of a holy grail in our line of work. It’s one thing to help a group see things in a new light, but to integrate it in a way that creates lasting change… that’s the ultimate goal.

As one might expect, its not the easiest task.

Shamir Joseph’s approach to this challenge is especially interesting to me — because he isn’t focused purely on one variable. He looks at the full picture of facilitation: frameworks, methodologies, inner game, repetitions. It’s refreshing and hugely informative. There’s a lot to learn in just one hour with Shamir.

Find out about:

How the ‘knowing, doing, being’ framework relates to our work in the room, as well as our role
What sustainable behavioural change looks like and how to avoid the fallible, ‘easy’ versions
Why, sometimes, facilitators are well-advised to rein in their creative, experimental tendencies
Differentiating the ways trainers, coaches, and facilitators are involved in behaviour change
How adaptability is a symptom of empathy
Why independent teams follow wherever effective leaders and facilitators go — and how to discern the impact of both
How Shamir practices self-reflection and the framework he uses to do so

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Shamir’s Linktree.

The Leadership Through Facilitation course, co-created by Shamir and others in the NDB community.

Connect to Shamir:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

242 - Shaping Meaningful Corporate Connections with Göran Hielscher

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The corporate world can feel like a theme park — a place that’s recognisably ‘of our world’, with all the normal features (people, furniture, work), but an unshakeable feeling that something is… unreal.

People aren’t quite themselves, conversations and relationships don’t work the way they do elsewhere in life, and the coffee often tastes strange!

Göran Hielscher notices it, too, and his work in corporate workshops looks to undo this unrealness and bring something more authentic to the room. He explains his approach, experiences, and tactics in this value-packed episode.

Find out about:

Why we can — and should — dream a little bigger with corporate workshops
How to be ‘professionally human’ — and why it benefits everybody in corporate workshops
What DJs and spiritual leaders can teach us about corporate transformation
How to remain intentional in the design process, as well as the workshop itself
Why corporate resistance to facilitation isn’t about facilitation, but a misunderstanding of it
How to encourage embodiment, using body language as a primary communication tool

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Göran’s company, The Inspiracy Group.

Connect to Göran:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

241 - Are You Experienced? Gaining and Giving Experiences on the Road to Facilitation with Cate Czerwinski

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Workshops bring the best out of their participants when they are experiential. Which person wants to sit in a workshop that is indeterminable from a lecture? We do not enter these spaces for dictation, we enter them for learning and feeling and experience.

And so that has become Cate Czerwinski’s priority: to design memorable, unique, experiential workshops… and what a success she has found!

On the other side of memorable experiences are long-lasting learnings and change. Which, when we boil it down, must surely be the priority for facilitators of all kinds?

Join me and Cate for an invigorating conversation about experience, experiences, and how it all translates from facilitator to participants and back again.

Find out about:

What Cate’s ‘failures’ have been and what she learned from them
How to transform team dynamics — in a workshop and beyond your immediate reach
Why Cate plans herself, in the persona role of ‘facilitator’, as part of her overall workshop plan
How to work with the room practically, physically, and emotionally
Why transforming energy has become one of Cate’s most-treasured and -used skills
How to help teams integrate feelings and the language of emotion into their measure of success

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Cate’s website.

Connect to Cate:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

240 - The Labyrinth of Corporate Facilitation: Power, Compassion, and Change with Breeze Dong, Gabor Bittera & Tobias Mayer

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0200

If you ever feel like facing a challenge as a facilitator, take on a large corporate client. Even better: work in-house as their facilitator!

Such environments present many challenges, from the practical logistics to the messy social elements. To dissect and understand the unique approach required in this situation, it makes sense to host a unique episode.

A fireside conversation, before a live audience of NeverDoneBefore community members, between three expert facilitators with varying backgrounds and a beautiful history between them.

So, join us for a deeper look at the art of facilitation in corporate settings. You stand to learn a lot!

Find out about:

Why facilitators aren’t usually hired to ‘fix’ things, even if that’s the original purpose
How to get an organisation ready to change, before any change process begins
Why it can be valuable to enter the room as a clear ‘difference’ to its established norms
How our physical environment impacts our presence, emotions, and activity
Why groups inherently seek balance — and how to use this with awareness in your work
How to play with emotional, physical, and mental ‘balance’ in a safe and agreeable way

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:
Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to the guests:
Breeze on LinkedIn.
Gabor on LinkedIn.
Tobias on LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

239 - Facilitating High-Impact Workshops with Joost de Leij

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Joost de Leij has delivered over one thousand workshops, from informal group sessions to extensive work with the largest businesses worldwide. In that time, he’s learned a thing or two about effective facilitation.

This episode looks at the micro and macro of effective facilitation and how we can design workshops to deliver maximum impact. Sometimes, that can mean negotiating complicated power structures. Other times, it can mean choosing the right activities for the group. The rest of the time, it’s something we never expect or plan for!

Join us for an interrogation of power; a host of practical tips and advice; and some remarkable reflections, stories, and predictions for the future.

Find out about:

The unique challenges of working with leadership teams
Why non-attendance always damages the group, but can prove fatal when done by a leader
How facilitators can use AI to complement their preparation and in-workshop phases
What changes when you encourage conflict to emerge in the room
Why Joost often asks groups to imagine themselves as a sailing ship — and how you can adopt this activity yourself
How Joost uses approaches including LEGO Serious Play in his workshops
Why asking participants to write their own workshop summaries can be a shortcut to action

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Joost:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

238 - Transforming Brainstorming Sessions into Effective Workshops with Alexandre Eisenchteter

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0200

How can we make an informal brainstorming session, full of possibilities and quick thinking, into something more formal… without squeezing the life from it?

Alexandre Eisenchteter believes deeply in the power of brainstorming sessions — and that most of us undervalue them. It’s a fair point: the prevailing view does seem to be that brainstorming is a chaotic and unstructured process. But, when Alex is facilitating, the opposite is true.

When facilitated with care, brainstorming can provide us with a deeply collaborative and creative approach to problem-solving. Alex explains his approach and how you can adopt it in this episode.

Find out about:

Why brainstorming is an untapped goldmine for facilitators
What many of us get wrong about brainstorming
How to use a number of different tools to optimise and enhance your brainstorming session
Why it can be such a struggle for clients to translate the outputs of a workshop into day-to-day changes
How an initial ‘scope meeting’ can prevent misalignment further into the workshop process
Why good things happen when we stick with ‘bad’ or unpopular ideas for a little longer
How to prevent a workshop being a mess of ideas and, instead, a greenhouse for big changes

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Here is the link to the scoping questions:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jSLxBnI0Jtbq_WRQ1raEBtRveSwuOn6-sFuFCLYBaKw/edit?usp=sharing

Connect to Alexandre:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

237 - Mind, Body, and Facilitation: Exploring Transformation with Joe Weston

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Joe Weston has been helping individuals, teams, and companies look deeper within themselves for 30+ years. His unique mind-body approach — prioritising empowerment and resilience, but also great empathy and inclusivity — has taken him around the world and back again. And, now, it brings him to this podcast!

There is so much to ask Joe, it was a struggle to keep this to just one episode. Thankfully, we were able to cover a lot of ground.

We set out to try to understand how conflict can still be so prevalent, given all we know about our minds, bodies, and relationships. In the depths of that complicated question, we encountered even more to enjoy — from martial arts to somatic resonance.

Tune in and learn new ways to see your body, brain, relationships, and more.

Find out about:

What Joe has been practicing for the last 30 years and how his approach has evolved
Why we still find ourselves in conflict, even with more knowledge than ever about how to navigate ourselves and our relationships
How to understand your nervous system and how it relates to others’
What respectful confrontation is and the four steps to follow if you want to try it
How to approach a difficult conversation and navigate it healthily
Why a conflictual situation needs us to go deeper into ourselves, rather than the other person

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Weston Network Facebook.

Weston Network LinkedIn.

Sign-up for Joe’s Newsletter.

Connect to Joe:

On Facebook.

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

236 - Understanding Andragogy: The Key to Adult Learning with Joyce Matthews

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Learning is a lifetime’s adventure, but, for many adults, a few bad experiences or a little bit of overconfidence can see them set in their ways and losing their love for learning.

In fact, this can be one of the greatest challenges we face as facilitators — entering professional environments in which participants are not primed or prepared for learning.

Joyce Matthews joins me in this episode to discuss the theory, practice, and nuance of adult learning. You may not be surprised to hear that facilitation plays a central role in it!

Find out about:

Why a shift from pedagogy to andragogy is the first step in improving adult learning
What makes adults more complex learners than children
How facilitation and emotional intelligence interact in the context of adult learning
Why training is fine for theory, but facilitation is required to embed deeper learning
How to make learning an exploration of the self, using inner and outer resources
Why adults benefit so greatly from ‘eye-level learning’ and how you can adopt it in your work

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Joyce:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

235 - How to Start, Build and Scale your Freelance Business with Michael Zipursky

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Want to turn your passion for facilitation into a full-time, thriving, scalable business? Or are you already facilitating as your main job, but want to take it to a new level?

Michael Zipursky is one of the best people to turn to, if that’s the case. As a coach for consultants, bestselling author, and prolific writer and podcaster, Michael is at the top of the game when it comes to practical, actionable advice for developing your career to the place you desire.

Turning his expertise towards the world of facilitation, we found that some of his advice is near-universal… and that there are some novel and exciting applications specific to facilitation.

Unlock the next level of your facilitation business with this episode!

Find out about:

How to turn your passion for facilitation into a viable business — but why passion alone isn’t enough
Which processes and structures can make the best foundation for your business
How to identify, enter, and own your niche and perfect clients
Why Michael recommends using specialised content to sell your services
The two things Michael believes we should prioritise to build a successful business
How to work for free without devaluing yourself or your work

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Michael’s website, Consulting Success.

Myriam on Michael’s podcast

Connect to Michael:

On LinkedIn.

On Twitter.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

234 - Bridging Organisations and Education: Inspiration from Montessori with Benedikt Schmaus

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0200

You leave school and enter the ‘real world’ of work. That’s the process, that’s the plan. But who’s to say that they should be so distinct? What if we brought knowledge from educational systems, such as Montessori, into corporate settings?

Benedikt Schmaus joins me in this episode to discuss how can take the best of education and use it to improve work. We explore what it takes to keep facilitation fresh, how to create a literal ‘heartbeat’ in an organisation, and how the MG Taylor method influences his work.

This conversation ended up being a much bigger inquiry into complex organisations, knowledge-sharing, and ideation and iteration. A wonderful way to spend an hour, I’m sure you’ll agree!

Find out about:

Translating best practice from educational systems into complex organisations
How to unlearn top-down leadership, even in places where it’s never been challenged
What the MG Taylor approach is, how Benedikt uses it in his work, and why it’s so effective
How to embrace novelty and avoid getting caught in the ‘same old’ processes
What it takes to bring human-centred, participatory processes into any organisation
Understanding organisational maturity, self-organisation, and problem-solving
Why facilitation is a skill of bridge-building

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Benedikt:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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233 - Understanding the Dynamics of Remote Work with Lisette Sutherland

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The remote revolution is underway. Accelerated by the pandemic and snowballing ever since, the future of work is fast becoming our present day default.

But is it all going to plan? Lisette Sutherland flies the flag proudly for remote work, but readily admits our approach might be a little off-course currently.

Has our focus been misplaced, so intently on tech and tools rather than communication styles and new etiquette?

Lisette joins me in this episode to discuss it all — from the tips and tricks that make the switch to remote work smooth, all the way to psychology and group dynamics.

Find out about:

Why a work from anywhere policy has such a huge impact on quality of life
The etiquette of virtual offices and why we cannot just transplant our in-person culture
How to work with ineffective remote tools, when you don’t have the freedom to choose
The value of embracing your personal style and signature — and those of your colleagues
What matters most (and what’s overrated) in the transition from office to remote work
Which systems, processes, and information management approaches have worked best for Lisette

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube

Lisette’s website

Connect to Lisette:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

232 - Facilitating the New and Teaching the Inexistent with Jason Frasca and Iain Kerr

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

How would you facilitate something that doesn’t exist? Or, more to the point, how you would facilitate a group in a way that something inexistent could emerge?

Complexity and uncertainty make up most days for Jason Frasca and Iain Kerr. As co-founders of Emergent Futures Lab, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

The opportunity to hear from two experts in emergence, innovation, and facilitation felt like an early Christmas present! We explore what it takes to create space for genuine innovation and novelty, why collaboration and creativity are natural partners, and how to take our focus off of ‘ideas’ and onto experimentalism.

Find out about:

How facilitators can create a space for emergence, rather than ideas
Whether we can teach something that doesn’t yet exist
How to integrate provocation and perturbation into your facilitation toolkit
Why power structures need to change for novel ideas to emerge
How creativity, emergence, and collaboration feed each other
How to get comfortable with experimental thinking and step back from our obsession with ‘ideas’

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Emergent Futures Lab publishes a weekly newsletter answering the questions: What is Innovation? and How to Innovate? Subscribe here: https://emergentfutureslab.com/newsletter

Connect to Jason and Iain:

Jason’s LinkedIn.

Iain’s LinkedIn.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

231 - Through a New Lens: The Transformative Power of Photography with Else Kramer

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Say cheese, dear listeners! This week, Else Kramer joins me to discuss the creative and connective power of photography in a facilitation context.

Through the camera lens, we can see our environment and problems in new ways — and, as a result, can find new solutions. And the really magical thing? Photography isn’t an individualistic activity; when shared as part of a group it can be connective and attuning.

There is a huge amount to learn about the specifics of photography and the broader picture of facilitation in this episode. Enjoy!

Find out about:

How to enhance any workshop with photography and specific advice for photography work
Why photography is an open door to vulnerability, connection, and progress
How a daily photo sharing practice can transform a group and the individuals within it
Why simplifying a concept isn’t about ‘dumbing down’, but making it easier for participants to invest their energy in a topic
How facilitation skills flow naturally into coaching, especially in creative pursuits
Why ‘fun’ workshop design helps the group… and why it will eventually prevent real progress

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Else:

On LinkedIn.

On Twitter.

On Instagram.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

230 - Shaping the Room: Power, Vulnerability, and the Art of Facilitation with Michelle Howard

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Everybody in the workshop process experiences some element of vulnerability.

The client is taking a risk on your skills and the outcomes that might emerge from using them. The participants are taking a risk in showing up, bringing what they bring to the room, and trusting (or fighting) the process. You — the facilitator — is taking a risk on your work, reputation, and ability.

So why should we expect any of us to be the perfect picture of confidence throughout?

Michelle Howard helps me understand the value of vulnerability (and its inevitability) in this episode, explaining the dance between power and vulnerability that happens in workshops — no matter who you are.

Find out about:

Why vulnerability and courage are two sides of the same coin
Understanding how our individual actions can be responses to and prompts for the collective
Why a facilitator built of 100% confidence is unlikely to produce great results
How community acts as a crucial filter for the shiny new objects/tools/trends in facilitation
Why addressing individual needs makes a big difference to the whole group
How to help clients relax their desire for the safest route and embrace the risk of empowering the group

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Collaborations, Michelle’s company.

Connect to Michelle:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

229 - Mastering Facilitation to Navigate a Fractured World with Jo Nelson

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Jo Nelson is one of the founders of ICA Associates Inc. and the International Association of Facilitators, as well as an IAF Hall of Fame inductee. All of which is to say, this episode is special. To speak with a founding mother of the organised practice of facilitation is a rare privilege.

As a result, this episode is one that zooms out a little, so that we might trace the growth of facilitation as a movement. Jo walks us from facilitation’s roots as a modular component of training to its blossoming as a unique and powerful resource for leaders in every corner of the world.

We didn’t just stay in the macro view, though. We had (and enjoyed) plenty of opportunities to talk about some micro learnings and specific takeaways. There’s lots to learn, reflect on, and enjoy in a conversation with Jo — it’s a delight to share it with you.

Find out about:

Jo’s view on the evolution of facilitation, having been involved from the earliest days
Why listening is fundamental to facilitation and how it touches so much more than our work
How Jo learned to leave her ideas and preferences at the door — and how that improved her facilitation
What it means to master the art of facilitation
Why a binary search for ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ is incompatible with facilitation
Jo’s five Working Assumptions that guide her workshops and approach to facilitation
Examples and resources from ICA and Jo’s own toolkit

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Jo’s website.

ICA Associates website.

More on ORID/ Focused Conversation Method.

Working Assumptions resource.

Connect to Jo:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

228 - Leading Through Facilitation: Unpacking the Complexity of Group Dynamics with Rob Evans

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The prevailing view in organisations (and among their leaders) is that change processes are rational challenges — a question of getting from A to B with efficiency and minimal interruption.

After 30+ years of facilitating change processes and training others to do the same, Rob Evans has learned that a great deal of the work to be done is anything but rational.

The emotional and political contexts in which groups exist matter. The decision-making structure around the team matter. The restrictions and fears matter.

Join us for a discussion in the depth and detail of group dynamics, participant empowerment, and the deeply human sides of facilitation.

Find out about:

Why prioritising participants learning and growth is an ever-reliable foundation for workshop planning
How to account for emotional and political contexts in your workshop and avoid over-rationalisation
Why Rob believes successful workshops hinge on having a large enough group
How to approach a problem that is too big for the group to fix
Why it’s worth asking why a change hasn’t happened yet, before we ask how to make the change
What Rob has learned form helping drug users to rehabilitate from their addictions

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

The Collaboration Code website.

Connect to Rob:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

227 - Collaboration: Unlocking the Secrets to Successful Partnerships with Alison Coward, Rebecca Sutherns and Sunni Brown

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Alison Coward, Rebecca Sutherns and Sunni Brown are each exceptional facilitators in their own right, but that doesn’t mean they see things in exactly the same way.

They came together for this unique episode, a fireside conversation all about collaboration, and provided some incredible thoughts and reflections.

Pull up a chair by the fire and dive into the particulars of what it means to collaborate, how we can create the conditions for creative connection, and why the ‘right’ people will fail to collaborate without a deliberate structure.

Find out about:

Why facilitators have a glaring gap in their CV when it comes to collaboration
What happens when we leave collaboration to chance… and how to fix the results
Why solo and group work are both necessary for effective collaboration
How boundaries, responsibilities, and limits help us become better collaborators
Why creating an appropriate context makes such a significant difference
What the difference is between collaboration and ‘collective thinking’
Why it’s wrong to assume that the best outcome from a collaboration should amalgamate every view that’s been shared

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Rebecca Sutherns Website

Connect to Alison, Rebecca, and Sunni:

Alison on LinkedIn.

Rebecca on LinkedIn.

Sunni on LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

226 - The Process is the Outcome with Kirsten Clacey

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Kirsten Clacey is a facilitator and coach, currently Head of Facilitation at Automattic’s Learn Division, with some brilliant perspectives on process, content, and learning.

What’s even better is that she holds these ‘competing’ views with wonderful balance and nuance.

In this episode, Kirsten shares why she places so much value on process — without sacrificing content. The key, as she sees it, is to create a process that lets learning opportunities emerge naturally for the participants.

Learn how Kirsten creates integrated processes, makes learning happen fast, and adjusts her process and content depending on the circumstance.

Find out about:

Why the outcome of a workshop is embedded throughout the process, not as a final lightbulb moment
How a focus on process eventually leads to stronger, self-directed outcomes
Why facilitators are experts in adapting — for themselves and the environments they create for others
How to dial up and down the balance of content and process, according to the group and their needs
How to facilitate with and around an ‘expert’ participant
Why it’s critical for participants to apply the skills they’re learning in-situ, to embed the learning and create a snowballing sense of progress

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Kirsten’s website.

Kirsten’s new blog (coming soon!)

Kirsten’s book: The Remote Facilitator’s Pocket Guide.

Connect to Kirsten:

On LinkedIn.

On Twitter.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

225 - Unleash Audience Engagement - From Ignored to Involved with Tina Lyngdoh and Lux Narayan

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

We’ve had plenty of practice with online meetings by now; we have fallen into the common trapdoors and know how to avoid them in the future. But is effectiveness enough? Shall we really set the bar at running a ‘smooth and easy’ event?

Many attendees still report that they feel unheard or unable to contribute in online event spaces — we are still missing a critical ingredient in a genuinely meaningful event, then.

That’s why I felt so happy to speak with Tina Lyngdoh and Lux Narayan in this episode. As the co-founders of StreamAlive, they are at the very forefront of the push for universal involvement. Their work helps me to believe that we can still make meeting online connective and powerful.

Find out about:

What StreamAlive is, why Lux and Tina founded it, and how it serves online audiences
Why facilitators can lean further into assistive tools — and why it’s so important online
How to move from monologue to dialogue in an online world that defaults to the former
What we unlock when we visualise chat in ways beyond the typical scrolling sidebar
Why in-person meetings benefit from audience-to-audience interaction as much as online ones
How deepening the participants’ experience and communication can help the facilitator take their work further

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

The StreamAlive website.

Connect to Tina and Lux:

Lux on LinkedIn.

Tina on LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

224 - Cracking the Code: Mastering Activism Facilitation and Empowering Communities with Anuschka Ruge

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Activists are the fuel behind social change. Without them, we would stall and stutter and stop making progress. These are people who are driven by passion and strong beliefs — which certainly makes life interesting for facilitators who work in the space.

In all the energy and conviction of activism, facilitation can be crucial to turn grand plans for changing the world into something manageable, measurable, and achievable.

Anuschka Ruge has been doing this work for many years — in the climate movement, education, and beyond — and has invaluable experience to share with other facilitators. This episode is her platform to do so, so please listen closely and make the most of it!

Find out about:

Why facilitators can be so useful in the big-picture world of activism
How to facilitate groups that are high-emotion, passionate, and subject matter experts
Why it can be so useful to make space for anger and how to lean in to the passion in the room
What we can do to support and facilitate beyond the session, to embed ideas and change
How to facilitate with an awareness of your subject-matter limitations and privileges
Why it’s critical to prepare participants for leaving the space, and how to hold their passion with the wider public

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Anuschka:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

223 - Demystifying Experiential Learning with Romy Alexandra

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Romy Alexandra is a one-woman revolution in Experiential Learning, driven by a passion for turning dull events into genuinely memorable and long-lasting trainings.

Combining the principles of Experiential Learning with the ‘unconference’ tool of Open Space Technology, Romy is at the forefront of the interactive and collaborative learning space.

The way she brings disparate threads and dry content together, parsing them through her creative mind and powerful approaches, is a true marvel.

Enjoy this episode and learn how Romy creates collaborative, emergent, effective training that puts ego aside and brings everybody together — and how you can, too.

Find out about:

Why seeing learners as vessels is antithetical to effective training
What Experiential Learning and Open Space Technology are and how Romy brings them together in her work
Why a feeling of being ‘struck’ by new information is critical to making learning experiential
How prioritising community and connection can make any course experiential
Why co-creation is a byproduct of shared ownership and how to prioritise it
Why Romy sees trainers as actors — role-changing, shape-shifting, performative stars

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Romy’s website.

Connect to Romy:

On LinkedIn.

On Instagram.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

222 - Collabor(h)ate: Insights and Strategies for Effective Teamwork with Deb Mashek

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Why is it that so many groups come together with a shared goal… and fail to make any meaningful progress?

This is the question that’s plagued Deb Mashek’s professional life — and it’s taken her to some fascinating places.

Deb’s work and the lessons she’s taken from it have made her a go-to speaker, author, and commentator in popular media, but she’s not one to sit comfortably on the sidelines. She still loves nothing more than diving into mission-critical projects that live or die by the strength of collaboration. As you might expect, she’s got some wonderful insights to share from it all!

Dive into the details of collaboration and how we can all take responsibility for better work together.

Find out about:

Why the heart of collaboration lies in our personal skills
The most common causes for collaborative breakdown that Deb sees
Why technology helps us collaborate… until it does the opposite
How leaders can begin the long-term process of creating a collaborative culture
Why ease, reward, and visibility are Deb’s three key markers for a collaborative culture
How prioritising shared definitions and language makes collaboration happen faster

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Download the Mashek Matrix poster: https://debmashek.lpages.co/mashekmatrix

Connect with Deb on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-mashek/

Connect to Deb:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

On Twitter

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

221 - Unmasking the Hidden Influence: The Clean Language Approach with Judy Rees

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Facilitation can be a messy business; what can we do to clean it up?

Judy Rees, who’s been working with groups for almost 20 years, thinks the answer lies in clean language. A focus on clean language in turn creates what Judy calls ‘clean facilitation’.

Specificity and neutrality is the name of the game, but can facilitators ever truly be neutral? Judy and I wrestle with the big questions of influence, manipulation, and communication in this episode as we try to clear up clean facilitation and explore how to apply it in our day-to-day work.

Find out about:

What Judy means by ‘clean facilitation’
Practical examples of how clean language can help facilitators dig deeper into a discussion
Why getting out of the group’s way is a noble goal, but not always possible
The ways in which we manipulate without ever realising
How to use our influence with the group in a beneficial way
How clean language can help us better understand a group’s idiosyncrasies and uniqueness
Why focusing our influence on the process, rather than the content, is a valuable path to follow

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Free Clean Language ebook.

Judy’s Clean Language for Facilitators course.

Video guide for a Clean Language-based change process.

New Rules for Work experiment, applying Clean Language.

Connect to Judy:

On LinkedIn.

Support the show:
Make a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

220 - Building Better Teams by Fostering Trust with Leigh Ann Rodgers

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

They say it takes a lifetime to build and a second to break… Trust is priceless to teams and the organisations in which they exist, so why is it so often overlooked as part of team-building?

Perhaps because after-work socials and lunchtime chats are easy and sound ‘right’; but high-functioning teams take work — deep, intensive work. They certainly don’t appear out of nowhere.

Leigh Ann Rodgers sees trust as key to building better teams, because trust can’t be faked, or phoned in, or achieved with a few drinks after quitting time. This episode will help you make trust a priority, understand why it makes such a big difference, and explain what you can do to build a high-trust culture.

Find out about:

Why communication is the heart of trust
How to identify a box-ticking approach to trust-building and why it almost always fails
Why understanding others’ communication styles gives us a shortcut to empathy
Which characteristics are most important to understand about your teammates
How to treat trust and alignment as journeys, not destinations
Which activities and actions you can implement to start building trust quickly

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Team Consultant Academy

Better Teams Blog

Connect to Leigh Ann:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

219 - Unlocking Collaboration: Lessons from Zen about Facilitation with Sunni Brown

Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Keynote speaker, published author, zen student, innovator-in-residence, and facilitator — Sunni Brown has a whole village’s worth of knowledge, but, somehow, contains it all within just one conscientious and clever human.

Sunni’s fingerprints can be found on many resources and THINGS you’ll be familiar with as a facilitator: Gamestorming, The Doodle Revolution, and Deep Self Design.

Safe to say, Sunni is well-placed to discuss the finer details of collaboration — and to highlight some of the ways we might learn about it more deeply from unexpected sources. Explore the art of zen and facilitation, how to get out of our own way, and why a dispassionate facilitator can be more helpful to a group than an overly committed one.

Find out about:

What Sunni has learned about facilitation since becoming a student of Zen
How our work might change if collaboration was seen as a skill, rather than an outcome
How to help a group walk the thin line of doable discomfort
Why a saviour complex is a fatal flaw for facilitators — and how to avoid it
Why you can recover from poor workshop design, but not poor trust-building
How to take responsibility for our emotional responses, so we can remain in service to the group
Why facilitators see big changes when they stop taking resistance personally

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Sunni:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

218 - Insights and Challenges in the World of Facilitators: SessionLab's State of Facilitation Report 2023 with Filip Kis

Wed, 24 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

What emerges when you survey 1,124 facilitators from 93 countries? The State of Facilitation — a snapshot of our profession for the year and a report packed with insights and direction for our continued development.

SessionLab has conducted the first ever State of Facilitation report and Filip Kis, co-founder and CEO, was kind enough to run through the findings in this episode.

How do facilitators define themselves? What trends are emerging in our work? And how do we structure our work? All of these questions (and more) were answered in the survey — then dissected and explored in this episode!

Find out about:

A review and analysis of the State of Facilitation 2023 report
Whether the majority of facilitators are solo or in-house
How solo facilitators avoid a feeling of loneliness
How digital tools are evolving into co-facilitators in their own right
Why conversations remain the perfect preparation for a workshop

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

The State of Facilitation 2023 report.

Connect to Filip:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

217 - Finding Your Facilitator Flow: The Art of Balancing Presence and Process with Sean Blair

Wed, 17 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Do you have a presence when you facilitate? (Hint: we all do, whether we mean to or not!)

The thing is, not all of us know it or practice it. Our presence is a combination of how we show up and how we give out our energy to the room. It’s not just about being present, but the way we do it.

Sean Blair has been experimenting with his presence for many years now and has found some surprising results. He’s learned that presence is a flexible force that can positively influence outcomes and experiences in workshops - now he wants to help other facilitators understand and use it.

Find out about:

What Sean defines as presence and how it differs being from present
Why a facilitator’s presence is best when it’s flexible and adaptable
How to assess a group or situation and dial in your presence to suit it
Working out when it’s right to provoke the group and when to hold back
The variables that affect how a group behaves and receives you - and how presence can influence that
How to harness our energy and direct it in a way that is beneficial for the group
How to relate to the group before you meet them and why it can be so helpful

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Sean:

On LinkedIn

SERIOUSWORK, Sean’s LEGO® Serious Play™ company

ProMeet, Sean’s facilitation business

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

216 - Mastering Difficult Conversations: The Art of Communication through Role-Play with Kate Crawshaw

Wed, 10 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

A difficult conversation can take many forms — emotionally intense, sharing unexpected information, challenging someone, reasserting boundaries.

Whatever ‘difficult’ looks like to you, we all have something in common: we’re terribly under-practiced in having these conversations.

For Kate Crawshaw, role play can be the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to feeling confident about difficult conversations. Creating a container and taking the time to practice, rehash, and become familiar with our ‘difficult’ selves can make every conversation feel more manageable and ourselves more grounded.

Vital work for facilitators, you’ll no doubt agree.

Find out about:

How role play can give us a second chance — or a practice run — with difficult conversations
Why difficult conversations are made more difficult by their scarcity
How to set the rules in role play and maintain a non-judgement practice
Why it’s fruitless to role play as yourself
Why judgement is a core part of facilitation and why it can feel so difficult to defer it
How controlling the tempo of your conversations can settle your nerves
How to stop focusing on your own ‘performance’ by refocusing on the learning outcome

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Serious Woo

Connect to Kate:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

215 - Thinking Tools: Unlocking Companies’ Potential with Stefan Fothe

Wed, 03 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Organisations will go to great lengths to create style guides, knowledge hubs, and team guides… so why aren’t they doing the same for problem-solving?

Stefan Fothe believes organisations should be prioritising ‘thinking tools’ — a set of codes, methods, and skills that are shared among groups to problem-solve and ideate with autonomy and ease.

Just as we develop shared technical languages and social hierarchies, we can surely add thinking tools to the mix! Learn how Stefan developed this important theory, why we need to lean into tension, and how you can prioritise thinking tools in your work with this episode.

Find out about:

What thinking tools are - with practical examples - and how they help groups solve problems
Why companies are held back by not having a shared problem-solving methodology
Why solutions have to be engineered from within, rather than presented by consultants
When to ask questions and when to provide suggestions — and how this can reduce overload
What happens when we treat tension as a valuable commodity, rather than a problem
Why consultants are storytellers and what everyone can learn from this approach
How to take ownership of tension and use it, constructively, to the company’s advantage

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Stefan’s website https://ownity.com.au/

Stefan’s short video on one Thinking Tool example

Connect to Stefan:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

214 - Changing Change: How to Create Community and Culture Amidst Chaos with Rhys Cranney

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0200

An organisational change process is a big deal. The whole operating system of a business can change, the context switches, the foundations can falter.

But systems are systems — they are malleable and hard-wearing. People, on the other hand, are sensitive and emotional and often hugely resistant to change. And it is people who have to live, work, and operate within these new systems.

Rhys Cranney wants the whole concept of change management to move away from a focus on systems to a focus on people and the emotional impact it brings. After hearing him speak so passionately in this episode, I think he will have many people supporting this belief!

Find out about:

Why the human desire for control makes the change process so complicated
Why inclusion makes change so much more palatable
How the process changes when we acknowledge the emotional cost it entails
How facilitation affects physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing
Why a bottom-up, individuals-first, approach can be helpful when planning change
What’s different when everybody understands both the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ behind a change

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Rhys:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

213 - Unleashing Autonomy: Facilitating Self-Organising Systems with Bob Dick

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0200

What happens to a group when there is no leader, no subordinates, and no sense of hierarchy at all? Bob Dick believes this is the optimal approach to group structures — to be self-organised, not instructed or commanded.

Quite how we can consistently achieve this is another question; one that Bob has been experimenting with for as long as he can remember.

Bob has rich experience in creating self-organising groups, facilitating their development, and knowing what not to do.

Find out about:

Why control — in all directions — is uncomfortable for Bob
What happens when we remove the hierarchy from group settings
How to initially facilitate a group to then adopt a self-organising system
How Bob separates facilitators along a spectrum from sceptic to mystics
What a self-organising group — the Australasian Facilitator Network — looks like in real life and how it operates
Why the path to self-organising starts with honesty, empathy, and storytelling

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Learn more about the AFN, the Australian Facilitators Network.

Connect to Bob:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

212 - Why Conflict is a Gift: The Inner Journey of a Skilled Facilitator with Sarah Norton & Steve Ray

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Conflict in workshops is common, but how many of us seek to avoid it instead of embracing it?

It’s understandable, and dare I say natural, to do so, but as Sarah Norton and Steve Ray explain in this episode, conflict is a growth opportunity. The journey through conflict can be uncomfortable, but the destination beyond it is one of radical difference.

Sarah and Steve have trained countless facilitators in the art of conflict facilitation — not ‘management’ or ‘resolution’, but precisely ‘facilitation’ — and share their key takeaways, common realisations, and secrets to success in this episode.

Find out about:

How to use conflict as a growth opportunity and why it’s important to do so
What work facilitators shall do to prevent themselves being triggered in conflicts
Why well-facilitated conflict can be so powerful — and what can happen when it isn’’t facilitated
Why a focus on inner work will serve facilitators better than learning more tools or methods
How to create coherent and memorable principle statements for yourself
Why facilitators are in the room to protect the space, rather than direct it
How and why Sarah and Steve train facilitators to be consciously incompetent

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Groupwork Centre website.

Connect to Sarah and Steve:

Sarah on LinkedIn

Steve on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

211 - An Insider View into the Worklife of a Corporate Facilitator with Lani Beer

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0200

An external facilitator enters the building with a clear purpose and a single-minded focus. An internal facilitator enters the building five days a week, most weeks of the year, in the middle of all the idiosyncratic relationships, needs, and culture that exists.

The two are in very different positions and so different skills, approaches, and mindsets are necessary.

More often than not, I speak with independent facilitators — freelancers or solopreneurs — so an insight into the world of corporate facilitation felt important. It also felt incredibly enlightening, thanks to Lani Beer’s openness and thoughtfulness when sharing her vast experience. Lani has been facilitating in-house for 20 years (give or take) and calls on all of those years of rich experience in this episode.

Find out about:

Why facilitators can find a new (or another) home with the title of ‘innovator’
How Lani combines design thinking, Agile, and facilitation skills to work with bankers and lawyers
What an internal facilitator does when they aren’t hosting or planning workshops
How to avoid ‘shiny new object’ syndrome when you have a voracious appetite for learning
Why a ‘worry list’ should sit alongside your to-do list — and why it’s so effective
How to triage requests (from clients or colleagues) to identify learning opportunities and protect your boundaries
How using non-verbal communication can help well-spoken participants unlock new answers

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Connect to Lani:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

210 - Bridging the World of Play and Corporate Life with Pauline McNulty

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0200

No CEO or board is going to sign off on a project to make work more playful. This is because the misconception that play = games persists.

The reality, however, is that more play at work will lead to more effective teams and better collaboration.

Pauline McNulty joins me in this episode to explain why play, enjoyment, engagement, and purpose are all faces of the same die. When we roll it, they are all possible outcomes and they are all connected.

If we are bringing a group together to deliver on a goal (or goals), the opportunity for play is inescapable. It’s up to us to embrace it — and Pauline explains how and why that’s such a good idea.

Find out about:

How to create a work culture that prioritises joy — and how play connects with it
Why the path to play in work starts with reexamining what work really means
How to get in touch with your preferred way to play
Why Pauline wants use to stop conflating play and games
What the four levers to make work more playful are — and how to activate them
Why reframing situations is the most powerful tool for playful work

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.
Why Play Works podcast
The Play Works Collective
The Play Works’ Meet-Up page
Playfilled
Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Dr Stuart Brown
Dr Stuart Brown’s TED talk

Connect to Pauline:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

209 - It's Not About the Workshop - How to Make Workplace Learning Stick with Steph Clarke

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Workplace training and learning can inspire some varied responses. For some, a roll of the eyes and a sense of wasted time. For others (usually those who work with Steph Clarke), a brightening and lightening as possibilities open ahead of them.

Why is it that workplace learning is so variable across organisations? Steph can point to several root causes — and we spend this episode diagnosing the faults and suggesting their fixes.

From applying facilitation skills in unusual ways to bringing groups on board as co-creators, Steph opens up a world of possibilities for a future in which workplace learning is consistently valuable, relevant, and engaging.

Step into that future with us and enjoy Steph generously sharing her expertise!

Find out about:

Why delivering a pre-defined workshop or lecture is the worst way to engage a group
What changes when you use real examples from participants’ work in your training
How to design learning experiences with a collaborative heart
Why learning a client’s language can transform your communication
Why a rigid plan encourages participants to check out
How you can design your training with, not for, participants

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links
Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.
Steph’s business, 28 Thursdays.

Connect to Steph:
On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

208 - Facilitating F-Word Conversations with the Emotional Culture Deck with Jeremy Dean

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Emotions are messy — they’re big, powerful, and changeable. Facts and data are much more palatable — they’re truths and we can discuss our use of them.

But if an organisation is so focused on cognitive culture, they end up neglecting emotional culture. And that’s a sure path towards burnout, resentment, and employee turnover.

Cognitive culture is easy to default to, so how can organisations get comfortable with the discomfort of building a more emotional culture? Jeremy Dean has plenty of ideas — and a deck of cards to help any group navigate the process.

Find out about:

Why we need to be brave to share our emotions at work — and why it’s worth the risk
How prioritising simplicity helps people get in touch with their emotions in unfamiliar spaces
What happens when we label our emotions with positive and negative language
How to facilitate daring conversations at work
Why we should celebrate the person who makes the first move
What to do when you’re facilitating a game as a beginner
Why it’s harmful that corporate culture prioritises cognitive culture over emotional

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

The Emotional Culture Deck.

Riders & Elephants, Jeremy’s business.

Connect to Jeremy:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

207 - Ingredients for a Memorable and Impactful Event with Jacques the Party Scientist

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100

What makes some events better than others? Is it the host, the setting, the purpose, or something else?

Jacques Martiquet is The Party Scientist — he’s experimented, tested, and explored the science of gathering and connecting for 10+ years — and he’s got some fantastic answers. Jacques has committed himself to the mission of spreading the health benefits of human connection. Creating more impactful events goes hand-in-hand with this.

Explore the art and science of connection and apply the best of the science to your next event. It might just transform the experience — for you and your attendees!

Find out about:

How Jacques has spent the last 10 years learning and experimenting with connection
Why the worst thing that can happen to a group is an uncomfortable facilitator
How to reclaim social pressure and use it in a positive way to help groups
How physical movement can unlock groups and make connection feel easier
Why not all prompts and props are made equally — and how you can select the right ones for the right moment
What to do if you want to get more comfortable with rejection and role modelling

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Episode 131 with Jacques.

How facilitators can work with Jacques.

Connect to Jacques:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

206 - Facilitation and the Needs for Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness with Ib Ravn

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Self-Determination Theory posits that human motivation is driven by three central values: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

If we take SDT and apply it as a framework to facilitation, the parallels become apparent and abundant. Ib Ravn sees the opportunities here with great clarity and, as a result, has a lot of valuable insight to share about how we might use SDT in facilitation.

In the context of SDT, we also discussed how facilitation can be used in social spaces and situations — and the challenges we are likely to come up against when we do so.

Recording this episode was a delight. Ib is erudite, focused, and curious and our conversation unlocked new perspectives for me about facilitation in general and how I relate to it specifically. I hope it will prove to be as useful for you.

Find out about:

The natural connections between Self-Determination Theory and facilitation
How autonomy, competence, and relatedness fit into the heart of facilitation
Why more of our social spaces would benefit from facilitation and why it’s so hard to do
Interrogating culturally acceptable facilitation and its past, present, and future limits
How to facilitate with cultural and cross-cultural awareness
Why acceptance of facilitation in social spaces has yet to catch up with professional spaces

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Ib Ravn at the Danish School of Education.

Connect to Ib:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

205 - How to Facilitate with Equitable Hospitality with Maha Bali

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100

It’s never been more important to facilitate with an awareness of power dynamics, systemic imbalances, and inequity within groups.

The progress we’ve made—collectively—towards awareness and understanding of inequalities has been enormous, but the next big step is to do deliberate work to counter it. We’ve got all the awareness we could dream of and the time has come for us to act on that knowledge, rather than treat it as an end in itself.

Maha Bali’s explanations and exemplifications of Intentionally Equitable Hospitality will go a long way to helping you make equity a part of your work. IEH is a deliberate approach to facilitation that prioritises structural and environmental design to create accessible, sensitive, and inclusive spaces.

It was eye-opening and joyful to speak with Maha.

Find out about:

What Intentionally Equitable Hospitality is and how it relates to our work
What the four phases of Intentionally Equitable Hospitality are
Why focusing on micro imbalances can shift the macro
Creating socially just education, information, and community spaces
How to plan, prepare, and resource more equitable workshops
How to use technology to bring an IEH approach to hybrid conferences and workshops

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Reflecting Allowed, Maha’s blog about education.

MyFest website.

Equity Unbound.

Community Building Resources.

Virtually Connecting website and YouTube.

Connect to Maha:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

204 - A Comprehensive Discussion on the Art and Science of Facilitation with ChatGPT

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100

It’s the talk of the internet and business circles, the culmination of many years of research and training, and an amazing step forward into the next stage of technology enabled and enhanced life.

ChatGPT, I’m amazed and amused to say, is this week’s guest.

I put a series of questions, taken directly and adapted from previous episodes, to the conversational AI. What emerged was sometimes fascinating and sometimes mundane, sometimes enlightening and sometimes misguided. I took every answer as it arrived, not asking follow-up questions and not editing the information it gave me.

What is most interesting is to see what the collected knowledge it’s been trained on can tell us about the current state of and view on facilitation.

Find out about:

Differentiating the skills needed and demands of online, in-person, and hybrid facilitation
Why AI cannot replace a human facilitator
ChatGPT's reply on whether facilitation is the 21st century's most crucial leadership skill
How to learn facilitation and what distinguishes a good from a great facilitator
The facilitators' biggest challenge and how to overcome it
What the future of facilitation looks like — and how we might include AI in it

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

203 - How to Build Team Performance with Games with Viren Thakrar

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Nothing happens between childhood and adulthood that means we can no longer learn and grow through play, but for some reason we stop using this powerful tool once we get serious and put on blazers and heels.

Viren Thakrar is leading the charge to change this for good, bringing games and fun into team development settings to help participants connect, collaborate, and have some good old fashioned fun.

He’s had more than a little success with his approach and is kind enough to share some of the most impactful learnings so far in this episode. It’s unmissable for anyone interested in new ways of learning, positive motivation, and self-directed growth.

Find out about:

Getting granular about what makes a game a game
Understanding and using gameplay loops to make stickier activities
Why games are the ultimate sandbox for behavioural change
How to avoid the death knell of being labelled as ‘forced fun’
Why games are so effective at getting us into a flow state
Why Viren recommends facilitators come from within an organisation
How to strike a balance between purposeful fun and distraction

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Viren’s simple, effective, and free In the Game scorecard

Connect to Viren:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

202 - How to Price your Facilitation and Coaching Services? with Jenny Millar

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Does pricing make you prickle with anxiety? Imagine what it would be like to feel confident and calm about valuing your services… and now meet Jenny Millar, who can make that imagination a reality.

Learn all about positioning, discounting, strategy, and communication in the context of pricing in this standout episode

Jenny’s expertise in pricing will be invaluable to any facilitator or coach, as service businesses are notoriously difficult to price. And, as the founder of Untapped Pricing—a highly regarded pricing strategy consultancy—her advice is certainly of the highest value.

Enjoy a free taster of her expertise in this episode!

Find out about:

Strategies for pricing coaching and facilitation services
The relationship between pricing, and positioning and how to get confident with both
Jenny’s three rules for discounting and how to discount without devaluing yourself
What communication has to do with pricing and why it can make or break your choice
The three facets to consider to determine what your services are ‘worth’
How tiered, rather than bespoke or binary, pricing makes life easier for you and your prospects

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Bitesize pricing tactics - a collection of 2min videos.

Downloadable PDF guides - to take you through the fundamentals of pricing strategy that works for your customers and for you.

Untapped’s Pricing Scorecard - our free tool to evaluate the health of your pricing in minutes. Learn how to improve it with a personalised 22-page report.

Connect to Jenny:

On LinkedIn

Book a call with Jenny

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

201 - Thinking with Things with Jules Gilleland

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Things—found objects, ephemera from the discarded world, are everywhere. A marble, a spoon, a coil of string. They’re forgettable and ignorable and they’re the magic ingredient that makes Jules Gilleland’s workshops work.

Jules developed Things as a problem-solving tool, informed by design thinking, to help people connect the dots and capture their problems in a physical form. It’s a context-neutral learning through play, a way to tap into ourselves when we can’t rely on language, and a means of overcoming the challenges that refuse to budge.

Learn all about Things, Jules’ story, and how a bit more visual thinking can make your workshops work even better.

Find out about:

What Jules’ Things are and why they can be so magical in workshop settings
How the four principles of Collect, Connect, Capture and Communicate appear in Thinking with Things
Why participants behaving like children is not such a bad situation
How to get out of your head and improve your hosting by focusing on engaged participants
How to turn a disparate pile of found objects into a problem-solving powerhouse
Why Jules prioritises a remarkable ending to her workshops

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Think With Things website

Connect to Jules:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

On Facebook

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

200 - Your Questions, My Answers: Learnings from 200 Weeks of Podcasting with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The latest milestone for the workshops work podcast—200 episodes! 200!

To celebrate the occasion, I’ve produced a special episode. Instead of speaking to a guest, I spoke to you.

And what better way to source my inspiration for episode 200 than to turn to the community that has grown and flourished around the show? I turned to my community to gather their questions—big and small, serious and silly—about the podcast, what I’ve learned, and my thoughts on facilitation at large.

Michelle Howard, previous guest on the show, asked the questions on your behalf.

Find out about:

My own misconceptions about facilitation that the podcast has revealed over time
What I would say, if I could travel back in time, to the Myriam who was about to record episode one
Why I’m always, at least partly, pursuing constructive ignorance in my interviews
How my focus has shifted from what my guests ‘do’ and where it rests now
What has changed in my professional facilitate practice since hosting the show
Lessons and points of interest from building the NDB community

Big thanks to Patrick Cowden, Yvonne Chin Irving, Lily Gros, Mirjam Leunissen, Vitalij Malahov, Zoha Sharifyazdi and Dov Tsal for contributing questions!

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Connect to Myriam:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

Bonus: New Rules for Work - A Global Experiment about Creativity with Elise Keith and Dave Mastronardi

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In May 2022, an academic research paper titled “Virtual communication curbs creative idea generation” was published in Nature (one of the most prestigious scientific publishers). They tested how the transition from in-person to online interaction affected innovation (measured by collective idea generation) and concluded that video calls were bad for brainstorming.

The media derived: “Zoom is a creativity killer.”

But, as (online) facilitators, we have first-hand experience with remote teams’ creativity and effective collaboration. But, we haven’t had hard evidence proving the study wrong.

My guests on today’s bonus episode, Elise Keith (CEO of Lucid Meetings, Author and Meeting Innovator) and Dave Mastronardi (CEO of the Gamestorming Group) have the ambition to test the hypothesis that online work killed creativity through a global mega experiment. As they kick off the project with a Symposium, Elise and Dave joined me to share their vision, drivers and open questions.

Listen to this episode to find out about:

The definition of creativity and how to measure it
How the project came to be
The bigger vision behind the project: How online collaboration can tackle global challenges
How you can get involved in the experiment

Don't miss the New Rules for Work Experiment and Symposium
Visit the New Rules for Work Website

And, don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Read the Article published in ‘Nature’

Read about the study

Watch the Youtube video: Why video calls are bad for brainstorming

Connect to Elise and Dave:

Connect to Elise on LinkedIn

Connect to Dave on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

199 - Facilitation Skills at Scale: Fidelity International's Facilitation Academy with Rod Butcher & Nikesh Patel

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0100

How do you create a culture of independent and empowered facilitation in a large business? Well, Rod Butcher and Nikesh Patel of Fidelity International posed me that question and, together, we came up with a radical solution.

This episode explains the story of how we built Fidelity International’s Facilitation Academy.

You can hear about the process we followed and the results we’ve seen, as well as how we interpreted the issues and questions that Rod and Nikesh started with.

Implementing facilitation skills at scale can be a daunting thought, but it’s eminently more enticing when it’s achieved through a generative, self-sustaining cycle of talent training talent!

Find out about:

What the structure and process of the academy is and how it works
How to look at a problem with a broad view, to find unexpected solutions
The unique challenges of internal facilitation vs. external facilitation
The unexpected benefits of implementing a facilitation mindset across an organisation
Why an interdepartmental-by-default approach creates more meaningful space for change
How framing facilitation as problem-solving generated more interest
How to create a virtuous cycle of facilitation, training, and learning

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Connect to Rod and Nikesh:

Rod on LinkedIn

Nikesh on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

198 - The Difficulty of Crafting the Simple with Gabor Bittera

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0100

“Keep it simple, stupid” is a popular refrain which might be better translated as “make it harder, stupid”!

One of the most common misunderstandings Gabor Bittera encounters in his mission towards simplicity is the belief that simple = easy. Far from it, in fact. Sometimes, creating simplicity is the hardest task in a workshop.

Thankfully, Gabor has done the hard miles and has advice that can save you from complicating the process of simplifying your workshops… leaving you just with the fact that it isn’t always easy!

We explore what it means to facilitate simplicity, with simplicity, and for simplicity in this episode—jumping from practical advice and templates to deeper questions around purpose and effectiveness. It was a joyful conversation and I hope you will get as much from it as I did.

Find out about:

Why Gabor prioritises simplicity over ease — no matter how complex it can be to simplify
How to facilitate using principles from Scrum, linguistics and storytelling
Why simple facilitation requires more of our attention and care
Which part of the workshop process Gabor believes is hardest to simplify
Why the art of facilitation includes designing constraints and restrictions
What the perfect group size is for both subgroup and whole-group work
How to use specific accountability to create more impactful workshops

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to Gabor’s Substack — Scrum Times

Read or subscribe to Gabor’s Medium

Connect to Gabor:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

197 - How to Set Up Breakout Rooms for Success with Gwyn Wansbrough

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In an on-site workshops, breakout groups are a tried and tested way to get the group thinking, communicating, and developing.

In online workshops, breakout rooms are a different beast.

You press a button and the group disappears — you don’t know what they’re saying, whether they’re collaborating, or anything about their time together!

Gwyn Wansbrough is on a mission to take the uncertainty out of breakout rooms and virtual facilitation. Her approach touches all ends of the workshop, helping you and your participants get clear on your shared purpose, rules for engagement, and much more.

Gwyn provides a crash course in breaking through the burden of breakout rooms, so you can turn them into a powerful option in your facilitation toolbox!

Find out about:

Why your setup and warm-up will make or break the success of your breakout rooms
What Gwyn believes to be the four biggest mistakes we make with breakout rooms
How to use the start of your workshop to prepare the group for breakouts
How to use a set of shared agreements to generate buy-in and commitment
Why it’s vital to remain present for the group, even if you are outside of their breakouts
The three things participants need to feel comfortable in breakout rooms

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Check out Gwyn’s website.

Gwyn’s free guide: How to Create Engaging Virtual Sessions Your Participants Will Love.

Connect to Gwyn:

On Twitter

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

196 - Facilitation as Deliberate Sensemaking with Michael Hamman

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Facilitation is a system that gives groups space to make sense — it’s not about guiding them towards something, nor is it about leading them.

But what is ‘deliberate sensemaking’ all about? To the uninitiated, it may sound a little simplistic — is it just about helping people understand stuff that they’re working on?

Michael Hamman, one of the foremost voices in Agile coaching and training, explains all in this episode and reveals the complexity behind seemingly simple sense-making. We discuss the facilitator’s role as a mirror for the group, the work before the work of sensemaking, and how our incessant and instinctive need to categorise is the last great barrier to topple if we want things to make more sense.

Find out about:

How sensemaking and categorisation help groups make progress
Why, once we understand categorisation, we shall dismantle it
How to create deeper insight by leaving some questions unanswered
Why facilitation is about being a mirror, rather than a painting
How to design workshops that prioritise sensemaking
What happens when we break ourselves free from the categories we’ve created
The common theme that emerges when Michael prioritises inner beauty in his workshop design

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Centre for Inner Agility website.

Connect to Michael:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

195 - Deconstructing the Meaning of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with Meg Bolger

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Meg Bolger is one of a few returning guests to this show, originally featured in episode 133 (’The conversation I wish I heard when I started facilitating’).

Our conversation this time was a far cry from discussing what we wished we’d heard at the start of our careers. Instead, we focused on Meg’s area of expertise after 12+ years of development and practice: facilitating diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops and processes.

We stripped things back to their basics in search of universal language, juggled with contradictions, and explored the wider aims and outcomes of committing to a DEI process.

I learned a great deal in this episode and I hope you will, too!

Find out about:

Why language is holding back progress in the DEI space
How to bypass buzzwords and reach a place of unity and understanding
How to facilitate DEI processes
How to consider DEI in your facilitation
Why exclusivity can sometimes be used effectively to create inclusivity
What to do when you feel friction or dissent against the workshop’s goals

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Meg’s wonderful Facilitator Cards

Episode 133 (Meg’s previous appearance on the show)

Connect to Meg:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

194 - Learnings from Acting about Facilitation and Embodiment with Anna Momber-Heers

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0100

When you’re facilitating, where are you? In your head, your body, a role? There are no wrong answers, but there are plenty of interesting questions you can ask to better understand how you facilitate.

Anna Momber-Heers can share a lot of interesting insights, as her background is as a performance and communication coach. She helps professionals use tools and ideas from acting to get into their bodies and into a more settled place in their minds.

The closer we can get to our bodies, the clearer we can get in our minds. And, in fact, the more we can start to use one to influence the other. Learn about embodied facilitation and how to act like the facilitator you want to be in this episode.

Find out about:

Why creating a facilitator ‘role’ for yourself can make it easier to focus on your job
How we can use acting tools to connect us to our minds, bodies, and emotions
What changes when facilitators have a stronger connection to their physical and mental experiences
Why trust is irreplaceable in workshop settings
Differentiating between our private selves and our present selves in the room
How to handle the tension between encouraging improvisation and managing time
How to train your body to prompt and support your mind in different states

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Anna’s website

Connect to Anna:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

193 - An Unhurried Conversation about Unhurried Facilitation with Johnnie Moore

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

How often do you walk away from a conversation feeling heard, like you put across the things you wanted to? Feeling relaxed, not frantic?

And how often do you workshops produce those same sensations?

If it’s less often than you’d like, Johnnie Moore can help, with his Unhurried model for conversation (and more).

As facilitators, we can learn a lot — directly and indirectly — from this approach. Unhurried might make you think ‘slow’, but it’s not necessarily so. Rather than purely slowing down, Johnnie explores what happens when we add layers and awareness to our interactions. When we take time to share, listen, and reflect, the conversation sounds very different.

In an increasingly demanding and results-oriented professional space, this is becoming a rare skill. And, as it becomes rarer, it will become vital that we reclaim the time and space to be unhurried.

Find out about:

How Johnnie developed the concept of unhurried conversations to what it is today
Why slowness isn’t necessarily the goal of being unhurried
How to use props and models as guides to ease your way into unhurried conversation
Why Johnnie’s reflective practice uses a sliding scale of satisfaction, rather than failure vs. success
How to own your role in the conversation and step into honest relating about your experience
What ‘airtime’ in conversation is and why it is often the root of frustrations
How to have an effective conversation while speaking gibberish

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Johnnie’s website

The Unhurried website

Connect to Johnnie:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

192 - Exploring Language Privilege in Facilitation with Florentine Versteeg

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Language is messy. It comes with assumptions, uncertainties, and contradictions — but what else can we use to facilitate?

Florentine Versteeg would never claim to have all the answer, but she is certainly asking all the right questions. Her thoughts on facilitation and the inherent privileges in our language take us on a fascinating journey in this episode.

We challenge our ideas about communication, inclusivity, and bias — and what we aim to achieve by challenging them in the first place!

If you’re a facilitator who enjoys questioning things you’d never think to question, stepping into big challenges, and learning new ways to see things… this might be the perfect episode.

Find out about:

How to overcome bias towards articulation and adopt new ways to listen
Unlocking a broader conversation by including non-verbal communication styles
Why facilitation is not democratic (nor should it be our goal)
Why universal representation is a greater priority than universal agreement
Whether defaulting to English is always a positive choice
Why inclusion leads to expression, and why expression can lead us anywhere

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Florentine:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

191 - What would a Bachelors of Facilitation Contain? An exploration with Marcus Crow

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

As facilitation has grown in popularity and awareness over the last decade. And, as markets grow, dilution and variance begins to naturally occur. Marcus Crow has been pondering this issue for a while — chewing over formalization, authentication, and accreditation in our profession.

An idea he wanted to explore more (and what better stage than this podcast?) is what a degree in facilitation might look like.

Is facilitation something you can teach in an academic space? What disciplines and related fields would inform the curriculum? Where would our field trips take us?

Head back to school with us in this curious and joyful episode!

Find out about:

Why Marcus keeps questioning whether formalization will help or hinder facilitation
The disciplines and ideas that might inform a Bachelor’s-style programme
Whether facilitation is static or context-independent enough to be academized
How facilitation might become a constant feature of CPD plans in the near-future
Why Marcus would take his class to a military barracks
What the common threads and techniques are between different types of facilitators

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

10,000 Hours — Marcus’ company

Connect to Marcus:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

190 - The Meaning of Courage in Facilitative Work with Roi Ben-Yehuda

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Facilitation might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of courage — we do not charge valiantly into battle or wrestle wild animals! — but the closer one looks at it, the more the connection becomes visible.

It takes courage to bring a group of people together and challenge them to grow and make progress. It takes courage to stand up and say “I will do this”. It takes courage to ask difficult questions.

And it takes courage to get out of our own way — and the group’s.

Roi Ben-Yehuda joins me in this episode to dissect what it means to facilitate with courage, why questions are the currency of the courageous, and what he’d plan to say if zombies attacked.

Find out about:

Why courage has nothing to do with escaping fear, but everything to do with contextualising it
Why open vs. closed questions is an outdated binary — and Roi’s more qualitative alternative
How collectivism operates as a shortcut to courage
How the magic of workshops isn’t in the content, but in how the group interact with the content
What you can do to prevent being triggered out of courage
Where leadership and facilitation intersect — and why collaboration and cocreation are critical to both

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Next Arrow, Roi’s company

Connect to Roi:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

190 - The Meaning of Courage in Facilitative Work with Roi Ben-Yehuda

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

And it takes courage to get out of our own way — and the group’s.

Roi Ben-Yehuda joins me in this episode to dissect what it means to facilitate with courage, why questions are the currency of the courageous, and what he’d plan to say if zombies attacked.

Find out about:

Why courage has nothing to do with escaping fear, but everything to do with contextualising it
Why open vs. closed questions is an outdated binary — and Roi’s more qualitative alternative
How collectivism operates as a shortcut to courage
How the magic of workshops isn’t in the content, but in how the group interact with the content
What you can do to prevent being triggered out of courage
Where leadership and facilitation intersect — and why collaboration and cocreation are critical to both

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Next Arrow, Roi’s company

Connect to Roi:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

189 - Facilitation as an Art of Accepting Offers with Robert Poynton

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0100

Improvisation seems to have an inescapable connection with facilitation. It’s a topic we’ve touched on many times in this podcast but, to really dig into its depths, it made sense to speak with the man who — quite literally — wrote the book on it!

Robert Poynton is the multi-talented author of Do Improvise and Do Pause, creator of Yellow (a unique online learning programme), and the fabled On Your Feet experiential workshop studio.

In this episode, we explore what it means to improvise — by saying no as much as yes, by learning to trust our embodied instinct and responsiveness, and by trusting that there are no wrong roads in the journey towards facilitating change.

Find out about:

Why the unpredictable flow of a workshop is the only flow it can realistically take
How to facilitate with instinct, as well as intellect
How to embrace ideas, challenges, and interruptions in your workshops as creative inputs
Why a workshop that meets your expectations may not be so successful
How to pan for golden nuggets in a stream of silence
Why Robert disagrees that improv is all about saying ‘yes’
What acceptance, rather than agreement, does to transform the room

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Robert’s website

The Everyday Improviser (online course)

The Do Books: Do Improvise and Do Pause

Yellow, Robert’s online learning programme

Connect to Robert:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

188 - How to Increase Accessibility of Online Workshops? with Marie Dubost

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Accessibility — ensuring the spaces we create are open, welcoming, and easy for everyone to join — is a critical, but often neglected, issue in facilitation. It took the rise of online workshops to take accessibility from an afterthought to a main event.

But this increased focus on accessibility, long overdue as it was, has proven to be to everyone’s benefit. A rising tide lifts all boats and more accessible workshops help everybody feel included.

Marie Dubost has been shouting for accessibility in facilitated spaces for many years and it’s a joy to know that her voice is now being heard. In this episode, we focus on the specifics of how we can make our online workshops more accessible, whilst also touching on some broader reflections on facilitation and inclusivity.

Find out about:

What percentage of internet users have access needs
How much variation there is in access needs, from colour-blindness to traumas
How to become a proactively inclusive facilitator
Why accessibility starts long before the workshop begins
The quick wins you can start practicing today to create greater accessibility in your workshops
Why accessibility in workshops is more about mindfulness than deep expertise

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

UX Facilitation Hub

Connect to Marie:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

187 - The Seasons of Facilitation with Barbara Pedersen

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Some of you who listen to this episode will not have been alive for 30 years, which gives Barb Pedersen the wonderful claim that she’s been facilitating since before you were born!

Not that she would boast in such a way; Barb’s approach is informed by humility, curiosity, and positivity (as you will quickly come to learn in this episode).

Those tenets have served her brilliantly in her three decades of facilitation and, you may not be surprised to hear, she has seen a lot of change in that time. This episode was our opportunity to zoom out and look at the macro changes in facilitation over the course of a working life — as well as the constants and evergreen skills.

Find out about:

How facilitation has changed over the three decades of Barb’s practice
The ever-increasing awareness of facilitation within organisations
What online facilitation has changed about our work — and which parts remain the same
How to empower groups to solve individual issues in a workshop
Why great recording and note-taking is an art of synthesis, not verbatim writing
Why prioritising your values and beliefs serves you better than perfecting a facilitation method

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Barb’s website

Connect to Barbara:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

186 - Narrative Models in Exformative Design and Facilitation with Francis Laleman

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Some episodes of this podcast have an extremely tight focus — a specific topic, inspected under scrutiny. Some episodes are like walks through a beautiful park, stopping and admiring different beautiful moments and places.

My conversation with Francis Laleman — a trainer-of-trainers, a facilitation teacher, and an excellent facilitator in his own right — was most certainly one in the latter category. We spent an hour or so weaving our way through big questions and small curiosities. It was a joy and an opportunity for both of us to think more deeply about the fundamentals of our work.

Explore the depths of change, the art of not doing anything, and the hidden designs we create in our lives and work.

Find out about:

Why change is the common goal that links facilitation, training, and coaching
What Francis aims to achieve by hosting workshops with ‘provocative absence’ and invisibility
Why the ‘you’ that facilitates a group is unique to each group
How learning is a cooperative affair and, so, training is a matter of creating readiness for cooperation
What ‘exformative’ learning and facilitation are
Taking inspiration from acting and theatre
Why our view of workshops as singular events can inhibit our effectiveness

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Visit Francis’ website.

Connect to Francis:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

185 - Facilitation in Movement - Improvising into Growth with Tom Goldhand

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Dance—especially improvised dance—is an arena for deep vulnerability, connection, and growth. It requires careful and considered facilitation, as you may have guessed!

Enter, Tom Goldhand! Tom helps participants understand themselves and each other through the power of dance and authentic movement. Perhaps most impressive is how Tom can apply his skills in business settings, offering unique workshops for groups and companies to move their way into new ways of thinking.

We had a lot to discuss, which might not surprise you, but we managed to fit so much into this episode. Step up to the stage and enjoy the rhythm of our conversation.

Find out about:

What every workshop—from dance and improv to corporate clients—has in common
Why creating a space to share knowledge is very different to teaching
How emergent dynamics in dance workshops reflect wider truths of human connection
What happens to individuals and groups when they improvise
How to protect participants from a ‘vulnerability hangover’
Why it can be beneficial to think about a ‘good enough’ outcome for your workshop
How ‘movement with awareness’ can make dance feel more accessible

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Tom’s website

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Tom:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

184 - Heart connections in the corporate world with Breeze Dong

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Ask a group of leaders about heart connections in their organisations and you will likely be met with raised eyebrows and doubtful looks. Their loss—and Breeze Dong’s gain, as a veritable expert in heart connections in the context of organisational development.

Breeze joins me in this episode to unravel the concept of heart connections—explaining what the phrase really means, how companies benefit from encouraging heart connections, and how they’re more important than ever in an age of uncertainty. It’s a fascinating insight into deep truths that might otherwise be dismissed as ‘woowoo’ when taken by name alone.

Learn about facilitating inner, outer, and networked connections from a place of meaning in this episode.

Find out about:

What heart connections are and how we can facilitate them in different environments
Why heart connections, grounding, and emotionality need to be flexible in organisations
Why rational solutions aren’t a cure-all in times of uncertainty
Why having time and space for self-work is a precursor to forming heart connections
How to move groups from being in their heads to being in their bodies
What system thinking has to do with heart connections
How to balance the needs of a system with the needs of its individual constituents

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Breeze:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

183 - The Secret to Engaging Virtual Meetings with John Chen

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0200

We’ve had plenty of opportunities to practice online facilitation since 2020, but have we reached a plateau? Has complacency crept in?

John Chen has been hosting (and training others to host) engaging virtual meetings for longer than many of us have even thought about them! He’s the perfect candidate to discuss this topic.

John joins me in this episode to discuss the magic ingredients of online facilitation — and why an overemphasis on tech and tools has led to us abandoning deeper personal and interpersonal engagement.

Find out about:

What happens in the first minute of virtual events
Why John is wary about making tech the main focus of virtual events
Why forced-on-camera participants are worse than off-camera participants
Why engagement is platform-, tool-, and activity-agnostic
How to facilitate tangential conversations — and how to know when to redirect them
Why the chat function in online events is a sacred space of simultaneity
Bridging the gap between well-run and transformational online events

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Author of Engaging Virtual Meetings, published by Wiley and Sons

click for a FREE ticket to my Engaging Virtual Meetings Conference, every October.

Connect to John:

On LinkedIn

On Facebook

On YouTube

On Twitter

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

182 - On Purpose: A Client’s Perspective on a Facilitated Project with Sandy Wilson

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0200

What is it like to be on ‘the other side' of the workshop — to be a participant or a client?

This podcast has always focused on conversations with facilitators, but perspectives from clients are just as valuable for understanding our work and processes.

Hence, why this episode features Sandy Wilson, Director of Culture and Learning at Insights Learning and Development. In 2021, Insights initiated a company-wide facilitated LEGO Serious Play project, dubbed ‘On Purpose’.

I’m shocked that it’s taken me 182 episodes to host an episode from the clients perspective, but it was more than worth the wait. Enjoy a bounty of unique and unmissable insights in this episode.

Find out about:

How Sandy (and his organisation) decided to choose LEGO Serious Play
What it’s like to lead an organisational project without a clear expected outcome
Why a focus on identification and exploration was critical to creating change
How the organisation adopted a snowball-effect of permissionless progress
Why ‘extroverted thinking’ dominates in management structures and how to facilitate the inclusion introverted perspectives
How they conducted the search for an external facilitator and what made candidates stand out
The struggle to confidently link organisational changes to individual projects

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

https://www.insights.com/

Connect to Sandy:

On LinkedIn

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

181 - The Facilitator as a Difficultator - New Perspectives and old Concepts with Tobias Mayer

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Tobias Mayer’s experience as a scrum master has taken him around the world and across the upper echelons of the biggest names in tech. Those 20+ years have taught him a lot, but perhaps more importantly, have provoked some challenging questions.

In this episode, we discuss a bit of everything! We challenge assumptions, we question the unquestionable, and we explore what it takes to facilitate change. A clue: it’s rarely comfort or ease!

If you’re curious about facilitating change in a meaningful and sustainable way and want to pick up some extra tools to help you in the process, this episode will be one you come back to time and time again.

Find out about:

Why facilitators help participants exist ‘at the edges’ and achieve ‘their edge’
How confrontation fits in the facilitator’s toolbox
Why the end of a workshop is the start of a new chapter
Why the flexible nature of facilitation makes the role hard to grasp for some organisations
Why promoting staff for their knowledge entrenches a fear of failure
The art and skill of asking uncomfortable — and better — questions
How changing your style to fit the group inevitably harms the group

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Tobias’ website

Connect to Tobias:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

180 - How to Use (Video) Games as Medium to Facilitate Learning with Mohsin Memon

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Mohsin Memon is a gaming expert—but he’s not spending his days playing shoot ‘em ups. Mohsin’s expertise lies at the crossroads of learning and gaming, where he spends his time creating immersive experiences and teaching others how to do the same.

Our conversation in this episode was a speed-run of all things experiential learning, from the nuts-and-bolts details of what makes a game enjoyable, to the more cerebral questions around ‘fair play’ and childhood experiences.

If you’re interested in alternative approaches to learning, novel applications of facilitation skills, or adapting your methods to the needs of the group—you’re going to thoroughly enjoy this episode.

Find out about:

How Mohsin (and the wider world) defines and understands games
How games hold up a lens to our behaviour patterns and show us fascinating distortions
Why games are a vehicle for interaction and connection
How our childhood experiences dictate our expectations of games
How our culture shapes our appreciation and proclivity for certain types of games
What it means to play a game fairly—and what happens when that isn’t assured

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Gamitar - The company Mohsin represents. This is also the official publisher of the games.

Evivve - The Leadership Game - A game designed for virtual and physical facilitated learning experiences on a range of leadership competencies.

Connect to Mohsin:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

179 - Facilitation as a Diplomatic Skill in (Peace) Negotiations with Ron Ton

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0200

There are few spaces in which facilitation skills have a greater impact than diplomacy, yet conversations connecting the two are rare.

This episode changes that.

With over 30 years of experience in mediation and mediation training, Ron Ton has unique and unparalleled insights to share. Explore the incredible world of diplomacy, negotiation, and mediation with one of its pre-eminent experts.

Tune in to learn how facilitation skills intersect across Ron’s work—and how his approach has changed over time.

And, as a separate note, this is one of my first in-person recordings in 2+ years. What a joy!

Find out about:

What diplomacy, mediation, and facilitation have in common
How to balance defending one’s interests with finding a mutually agreeable path forward
Why so much of Ron’s work comes back to facilitating collaboration
The three levels of awareness Ron focuses on in any negotiation
Why your workshops starts before you’re in the room
How humility can take us away from unspoken agendas and towards deeper understanding
What to do if a group gets stuck on a disagreement early on in a workshop

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Connect to Ron:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

178 - Facilitating Transformation: A Conversation between Utopia and Reality with Douglas Breitbart

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0200

When you think of business transformation, what do you picture?

Expensive consultants armed with long presentations and a briefcase of jargon? Or a voluntary grassroots movement of trust, equity, and contractual safety within an organisation?

Douglas Breitbart sees it one way and one way only. You may be able to guess which method gets his vote.

This episode was hugely refreshing and inspiring. Douglas’ conviction and confidence in the power of internally led transformation projects — and the methods required to facilitate them effectively — are a blueprint for the agile and empathetic businesses of the future.

Find out about:

How sharing, not enforcing, power creates change
Why Douglas believes organisations can (and shall) change without new resources or inputs
Why many leaders end up ignoring the most powerful energetic potential in their organisation
Why an attachment to outcomes causes harm to the facilitator and their workshop participants
What changes when a voluntary team leads a transformation process
How to use values audits in business transformation
Why workshop participants are waiting for ‘enrolment’ — and how you can provide it

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

2BElemental, Douglas’ coaching, insights, and collaboration business

Being In Systems, Douglas’ emergence facilitation business

The Values Foundation, Douglas’ value-alignment business

Connect to Douglas:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

177 - What Love Has To Do With Facilitation with Lorenz Sell

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Love is wonderful, it’s all around. Love is the finest thing in the world… but what’s it got to do with facilitation?

Spend and hour with Lorenz Sell and you’ll see the many threads that connect love and facilitation together. From creating connection and honest communication to presence and validation — facilitators may as well be love incarnate!

Lorenz and I discuss a range of themes in this episode, from the nitty-gritty of learning and sharing to the beautiful soft light of love and attention. Conversation with Lorenz flows so lightly and thoughtfully, this episode is equally perfect for a candle-lit Saturday night or a slow summer Sunday morning. Enjoy it — whichever way you choose to listen.

Find out about:

Why the labels we assign to objects, feelings, or states cannot override their universal values
How online learning fell into an imbalance of content vs. connection
Why Lorenz sees ‘coherence’ as the great challenge of his facilitation practice
How Lorenz defines ‘the space’ in a workshop
What the difference is between hearing, seeing, and feeling another person
Why Lorenz thinks facilitators need to get comfortable with the darkest corners of themselves

Don’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.

Links

Connect to Lorenz:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

176 - Facilitating Feelings or: Creating Magic with Card Decks with Nick Kellet

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Games or card decks are often used as fun activities in workshops. They’re seen as good tools for keeping a group energised and interested… but they can also be a tool for connection and communication.

Nick Kellet, the founder of Deckible, understands the power the right game can have in group settings. Whether it’s giving participants new ways of expressing themselves or creating a container for a specific conversation, Nick knows how to use games and card decks to best effect.

I wanted to speak with Nick to explore the deeper value of games, play, and cards — beyond being fun activities — to really understand how we can facilitate feelings and create magic.

Find out about:

What happens when we embrace new ways to communicate and understand emotions
Why it is valuable to work on ‘desire generation’ for participants
How to keep game design, participant feelings, and creative flow in constant conversation
How games and play can get us into a flow state without realising
Why it’s worth investing in a repertoire of tools to facilitate inclusion
What idea generation and marriage have in common

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Deckible’s website

Connect to Nick:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

175 - The Meaning of Presence in Facilitation - A Group Conversation

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Presence — it sounds like a simple concept, but it is littered with deeper questions.

Does our presence change when we are in a physical workshop or an online one? How can we work with a group that lacks presence? Can we push ourselves to be more present?

To interrogate this challenging topic, we need a special format. This episode is a live recording of a NeverDoneBefore Seedling forum — our incubator for budding facilitators who are guided towards hosting their own NDB workshops at the festival.

Facilitated by Michelle Howard and featuring Oscar Trimboli and Lily Gros, this episode explores what it means to be present as a facilitator, how we can influence our sense of presence, and what our limits are.

Find out about:

How presence extends far beyond our physical availability
Why we must first be present with — and in — ourselves before we can be present with the group
Why our physical wellbeing is a precursor to our quality of presence
What facilitators can do for themselves to increase their presence
How to use breaks and breakout sessions to protect and restore your energy
How you can help a group become more present individually and collectively

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Connect to Oscar, Lily, and Michelle:

Oscar on LinkedIn

Lily on LinkedIn

Michelle on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

174 - Use Your Voice to Set the Tone with Joep Hegger

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Before a workshop, training, or speech, which do you spend more time thinking about: what you will say or how you will say it?

Joep Hegger would argue that your voice — your tonality and delivery — are just as critical to successful communication as the words you use. And he has plenty of research to back this up!

In this episode, Joep and I explore the enormous power of vocal training and the impact an intentionally projected voice can have on outcomes. This feels like a topic we will hear much more about in the future — you can get ahead of the trend and add it to your repertoire with this episode!

Find out about:

How science explains why our voices make our first impressions
Why mirroring isn’t exclusive to our body language
What happens when a facilitator speaks with openness, calmness, and confidence
What defines a trustworthy voice
The relationship between physical tension and outward expression
How you can change different vocal elements to communicate in different ways

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

The Vocal Coach website

Connect to Joep:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

173 - It's Not About the Workshop - with Joeri – The Magic Sauce

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Facilitation is such a broad brush with which to paint. Why is it, then, that so much of our work takes the form of workshops?

Meeting our clients’ needs and desired outcomes requires a flexible approach - one that will sometimes take us beyond the workshop format. But what does that look like and how can we step into new ways of working?

Joeri Schilders, founder of innovation specialists The Magic Sauce, is well versed in finding new ways to facilitate innovation and creativity. As you’ll soon hear for yourself in this episode, that experience has made him a goldmine of insights!

Find out about:

Why it’s best for everyone to accept that a workshop isn’t always the answer
How you can facilitate innovation processes without a single workshop
Why facilitators should identify as problem solvers, not workshop hosts
How Joeri is learning to control his enthusiasm for the sake of the group
Why negative workshop experiences don’t just waste time, but leave a mark against the format
How Joeri’s free videos solving clients’ smaller problems double-up as an effective marketing tool

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

The Magic Sauce website

The Magic Sauce YouTube channel

Connect to Joeri:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

172 - Encounters with Uncertainty and: How to Integrate Neurodiversity with Matthew Bellringer

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200

How many facilitators dream of a workshop in which everything goes exactly to plan? And how many facilitators have experienced that dream?

The nature of our work means we enter a space of uncertainty from the minute we step into the room. For some, this might be a paralysing thought. Our desire for control is powerful and understandable. But for others, like Matthew Bellringer, uncertainty is an opportunity.

Matthew’s work in centering and celebrating neurodiversity, problem-solving at scale, and finding new approaches to old challenges is a testament to what can happen when we embrace uncertainty.

It’s likely he will have persauded plenty of listeners to feel the same way by the end of this episode.

Find out about:

How to determine what is a risk and what is simply uncertain
Why absolutes - “a safe space” or “a balanced discussion” - are not possible in an inherently uncertain space
Why uncertainty is a liberation, not a restriction
Why many clients struggle to determine between control and influence
How to facilitate for and with neurodivergent participants
What it means to accept that our workshops can cause harm

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Connect to Matthew:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

171 - Playing with Intent with Susanne Heiss

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Play is for kids, playgrounds, and light-hearted fun. It’s just not ‘the done thing’ in corporate settings, is it?

If you speak with Susanne Heiss, you’ll soon see why play is so powerful - especially in the most straight-laced, professional spaces. In fact, you’ll quickly learn that professional and playful don’t have to be antonyms.

A playful spirit and attitude can unlock new perspectives on old challenges and strengthen our connections to colleagues. It’s an underappreciated method for team-building and problem-solving. Thankfully, facilitators like Susanne are putting in the work to make play a priority for organisations of all shapes and sizes.

Find out about:

How to use play with purpose, directing creative energy into learning
Why debriefs are critical to long-term impact when groups learn through play
Why giving play another name can make it more palatable in corporate settings
How the facilitator’s energy and intention determines the success of a game
What to do if your client isn’t receptive to the idea of introducing playfulness
How to use the analogy of texture to understand a group’s current state

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Susanne’s business, The Texturalists

Connect to Susanne:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

170 - Psychological Safety: The soil, not the seed with Romy Alexandra

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Psychological safety rose on a wave of popularity in recent years. It became the flavour of the month and everyone had an idea about how to ‘add it’ into workshops.

But psychological safety is the bedrock of successful workshops, not an optional bolt-on. When we see at as an added extra, not an essential foundation, we discredit the group and risk the success of their workshop.

Join me and Romy Alexandra for a deep dive into the meaning of psychological safety, what we each have to give to receive it, and the challenges it can present in workshops of all shapes and sizes.

Find out about:

Why psychological safety is the foundation of workshops, not a late addition
How vulnerability connects to psychological safety
Why facilitators who don’t know everything are more likely to succeed
How Romy overcomes her urge to add more content than the workshop’s timing allows
How to use our natural preference for meaning-making to create connection
Why Romy wants more curiosity and less transaction in workshops

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links

Connect to Romy:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

169 - Facilitating with the Awareness of Cultural Background with Cynthia Umurungi

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Cynthia Umurungi is a storyteller who gives a human voice to African organisations and businesses.

Her voice is one I have wanted to share on this podcast for a long time - and not only because I have underrepresented voices of African heritage so far on this podcast. Cynthia’s work delicately combines storytelling and creativity with deep empathy and insights.

In this episode, we explore the challenges of facilitating in a culture that isn’t your own, how team dynamics change across cultures, and how Western ideas of facilitation can falter in a non-Western workshop.

Broaden your horizons with this incredibly insightful, energetic episode!

Find out about:

Why cultural undercurrents in the room will determine your workshop’s effectiveness
How to interpret shades of silence and find the thin line between thoughtful and tense
How language and translation affect our sense of safety
The need for openness and ‘no foolish questions’ when speaking in a second language
Why clear language and expectations reduce your risk of unpleasant surprises
How to use a ‘story wall’ to encourage creativity, sharing, and ice-breaking

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

Part one
[01:50] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - do you?
[03:21] What have you learned about managing group dynamics from working in radio?
[04:58] What is your process for creating a safe environment in a radio interview and is it similar to how you work as a facilitator?
[09:16] Does the idea of 'active listening' come through differently on the African continent?
[12:01] Do you address cultural nuances and expectations directly with a group or do you let it emerge naturally?
[15:28] Can we even accurately translate the word 'vulnerability' into different languages?
[22:08] Are there role models you can point to across cultures who aren't Western?
[28:54] How do you deal with power imbalances and flatten the room?
[35:49] My experiences in Namibia, Burkina Faso, and South Africa showed me that dancing is a more natural cultural expression than in, say, the Netherlands. Can you use these cultural insights to flatten the room?

Connect to Cynthia:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

168 - How to Build your Real-Time Community Space with Daniel Liebeskind

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Community is on the rise. It was just a few episodes ago that I spoke with Anamaria Dorgo about facilitating communities, but in this episode I’m looking further into the future.

What do communities look like in the metaverse? Can we connect in digital spaces? What needs to change or emerge for us to find community in virtual or augmented reality?

Daniel Liebeskind is just the person to address this question, as the co-founder and CEO of Topia. In such a nascent industry, Daniel is as experienced as anybody. Topia launched in 2020 and is at the forefront of world-building and virtual communities.

Join us for a conversation that touches everything from facilitation and design to NFTs and decentralisation.

Find out about:

Why every community builder is a facilitator, even if they don’t realise it
How prioritising accessibility helps us build stronger communities
How Topia combines play, co-creation, and purpose to create communities in the metaverse
Why your members need to bond with your platform as well as each other
Why the best virtual worlds prioritise form and function ahead of visual beauty
What tutorials and onboarding look like in a metaverse space - and why they’re so important

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

Part one
[01:20] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - if you do?
[02:05] What was the trigger that moved you to found Topia?
[04:17] Did you learn anything from your family taking over summer camps that applies to your work now?
[06:36] What challenges did you encounter when trying to create communities - or facilitate the creation of communities - online?
[13:27] Can the space you've created facilitate itself, so new members don't get lost in the world you've built?
[19:59] Would you agree that online communities that emerged since 2020 have been very centralised in terms of power?
[23:00] How do you create a social contract- shared rules and behaviours - for communities? [24:48] Do you have any best or worst practice examples?
[27:37] What have you built into the tool to facilitate the sense of occupying a world together?
[32:40] What would you say are the minimum requirements for somebody to facilitate in a Topia space? Where should they start?

Links

Topia’s website

Connect to Daniel:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

167- The Art of Process Design - A live conversation

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Process is a personal thing. We all have different ways of preparing workshops and designing their structure and flow.

When process design is so specific to each facilitator, is it possible to find a middle ground or a central truth?

That’s the crux of this episode - which isn’t a normal episode!

We recorded one of Michelle Howard’s NeverDoneBefore Seedlings sessions, following the group’s workshop on ‘process’. Jimbo Clark and I were the guests, as Michelle facilitated a conversation exploring our perspectives on process design, interspersed with questions from the Seedlings group.

It came together to be an examination of the core principles of process design, and the vast number of ways they can be expressed.

See the process behind our process and share in our learnings from this fascinating, riveting, and challenging experience.

Find out about:

Why authenticity sits at the heart of any successful workshop
How variable process design can be between facilitators - without being right or wrong
Why it helps to have a list of non-negotiables before a list of ‘want-to-haves’
How to temporarily suspend power dynamics in your workshops
What changes in process design for hybrid workshops
How to build a relationship with a group before you even meet them

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

Part one
[02:04] Introductions from around the room.
[08:05] Myriam and Jimbo introduce themselves to the group and share their interest and inspirations around the idea of 'process'.
[11:36] If I was a fly on the wall as you were designing a gathering, what would I see?
[14:39] Once you've got a grip on the purpose, what's the next step?
[21:35] What are your non-negotiables when it comes to process?
[27:17] Patrick asks: At what point, if things aren't going to plan, do you relinquish your process? Are there signs or red flags?
[32:10] Who do you serve and who does your process serve when you're in the room?

Links

NeverDoneBefore

More details about the Seedlings programme

Connect to Michelle and Jimbo:

Michelle on LinkedIn

Jimbo on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

166 - Scribing: A Social Art and Facilitative Practice with Kelvy Bird

Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 +0200

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 collaboration
Why ink and pencil marks are only the tip of the iceberg in the multi-sensory world of scribing
How perception, knowledge, and drawing come together in scribing
How Otto Scharmer’s four levels of listening translate to scribing
What feedback looks like when we accept that no drawing can be ‘bad’
Why Kelvy recommends for anyone interested in exploring scribing

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
Part 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?

Links
Website
Upcoming programs
Scribing Essentials course, in October
Generative Scribing book
Medium profile

Connect to Kelvy:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

165 - How to Design and Facilitate Thriving Communities with Anamaria Dorgo

Wed, 18 May 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Creating, maintaining, and growing a community is not for the faint-hearted. It’s an ongoing process of trial and error that requires a huge amount of commitment.

But, if you can get it right, you will see the value and joy it can bring.

As the curator of NeverDoneBefore - a relatively new community - I’ve started to geek out on all things community-based. This episode is the culmination of this obsessive interest, as I speak with Anamaria Dorgo - Head of Community for Butter and founder of L&D Shakers - about what it takes to curate a true community.

Find out about:

Why your definition of community will determine its success
How great community practice and behaviour emerge from great modelling
How to choose the right platform for your community
Why engagement is the holy grail - and how to avoid chasing it into extinction
What happens when you focus on members’ motivations for joining, not your vision of the community
Why a community that’s started purely for financial reasons will never succeed

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

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 Answers

Part one
[01:55] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - if you do?
[06:04] What's the difference between a trainer who delivers training and a trainer who facilitates?
[11:51] Can one be a 'manager' for a community?
[13:29] What was the secret sauce that made your community take off?
[15:23] Can you give an example of when your actions didn't align with your words?
[21:30] How to balance creating a community with leaving space for things to emerge.
[27:10] Is there a difference between a community manager and a community facilitator
[28:05] Creating community engagement.
[31:14] What was your experience of creating that initial engagement between members
[35:17] Do you have a specific onboarding process or team?
[39:38] What are the differences you've noticed between your voluntary community of L&D Shakers vs. the commercial community of Butter?
[44:36] How do you handle the fact that every member of the Butter community is a potential client?

Links

Connect to Anamaria:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

164 - Facilitating the Emergence of Possibilities & Breakthroughs with Kimberly Wiefling

Wed, 11 May 2022 00:00:00 +0200

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 chance
Where physics and facilitation intersect
What a workshop of breakthroughs looks like - before, during, and after
Why sharing a space and experience is critical to a workshop’s success
How to use clothing to influence your creativity (and mindset in general)
How using contracts (signed by employee and manager) can codify workshop outcomes

Don’t miss the next episode: 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!

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

Part 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?

Links

Kimberly’s website

Kimberly’s team

Kimberly’s business

Two pages full of Kimberly’s free videos, articles, and templates

Kimberly’s books

Connect to Kimberly:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

163 - What do we facilitate for? A philosophical conversation with Dov Tsal

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Why do we facilitate? Who are we, as facilitators? Is shared understanding a goal?

Dov Tsal - Tao-inspired coach, mentor, and facilitator - is not one to shy away from the deep and challenging philosophical questions of our craft.

In fact, he’s usually the one asking them!

This was certainly the case in this episode - which is more of a conversation than an interview. We examine the role, purpose, and objectives of facilitators and explore the boundaries of our work and being.

An unmissable, unique episode for enquiring minds of facilitation.

Find out about:

Why acceptance of all outcomes grants us space to facilitate as the group requires
How a workshop’s success or failure is predetermined by our expectations of its purpose
What it means to be a passive facilitator
Facilitating the group as an ecosystem, not individuals
Why avoiding interference is the hallmark of great facilitation
How to train your brain to see multiple perspectives on the same object

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

Part one
[01:37] You were clear that you didn't want this to be an interview. What would you like it to be instead?
[03:15] Is there anything we cannot facilitate?
[05:53] The issue of assuming a specific goal for a workshop.
[09:15] Is facilitation only possible around a purpose?
[11:14] Passive facilitation.
[13:16] When we act in service of something bigger than us, how can we be sure it's right or working or correct?
[15:38] The Catch 22 of seeking perfection.
[20:54] Responsibility - of facilitators, in facilitation.
[25:31] Where does the limit of our responsibility sit? For how many factors out from our original act do we hold responsibility?
[28:03] Can we go back to defining responsibility?
[32:37] Are we responsible for someone's inner reaction to outer circumstances?

Links

Connect to Dov:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

162 - Facilitating Self Development at Work with Prototype You with Kristiaan Hartmann and Wouter Smeets

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0200

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 growth
How to create a culture of shared development, based on inner values
The story of Kristiaan and Wouter’s business - Prototype You - and why they started it
Why skillset and mindset are equally important in personal development
How the duo recruit facilitators to deliver the programme - and what they’ve learned through the process

Don’t miss the next episode: 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!

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 Answers

Part 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?

Links

Connect to Kristiaan and Wouter:

Wouter on LinkedIn

Kristiaan on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

161 - Workshops are the Conflict Playground for Real Life with Ez Bridgman

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Intersectionality is a fundamental part of facilitation - and a common topic on this podcast - but, usually, we discuss it in relation to other professional disciplines.

It’s high time we looked at how facilitation can influence our personal lives, in our deepest and dearest relationships.

Ez Bridgman, creative experience designer and playful vitality proponent, joins this episode to discuss playfulness, vulnerability, and conflict. And, of course, how facilitation can be a guiding light through all those complexities in our relationships.

Find out about:

How Ez has curated a “garden of life” and how it’s helped him and those around him
Why play isn’t always laughing, exuberance, and high energy
Why sticking with your plan and ignoring the energy in the room can be disastrous
How to use conflict to strengthen your relationships, not harm them
What it means to make an agreement and why it’s critical to prove you’ll stick to it
How to use ‘Theoretical Speed Dating’ to prepare a group for collaboration

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

Part one

[01:19]When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?
[03:53] What was your measure of success, that allowed you to feel comfortable with the label of facilitator?
[04:57] What would make a workshop fail?
[07:10] In corporate settings, does following energy, rather than a plan, feel like freedom? [10:08] How do you use play as a tool or method in facilitation?
[13:51] How do you create an environment in which people feel comfortable coming out of their shells?
[15:57] How do you encourage people in a corporate setting to open up when they fear being judged?
[22:47] How does clowning incorporate in your facilitation?
[24:16] Can you share your journey of 'interior expansion'?
[26:50] After your own journey of breaking out of your shell, do you find you have more empathy for hesitant or uncomfortable participants?
[30:01] How do you hold space to act in a facilitative way with your family? Is there a tension between facilitation and participation?
[35:09] What would be your advice to anyone who wants to try a 'family roasting', but wants to avoid it spiralling or becoming hurtful?

Links

Connect to Ez:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

160 - How to Build a Facilitation Business with Mireille Beumer

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0200

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.

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 Answers

Part 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.

Links

Episode 30 - featuring Mireille!

Mireille’s website

Connect to Mireille:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

159 - The role of facilitation when the world seems to fall apart with Quanita Roberson and Tenneson Woolf

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0200

In times of strife - whether it’s a global health crisis or our neighbours at war - what role does facilitation play? Can we hope to change the world one workshop at a time?

These are challenging questions with wide-ranging consequences, but I can think of few facilitators better equipped to answer them than Quanita Roberson and Tenneson Woolf.

Both have been guests on this show previously, but never together. Quanita and Tenneson’s Fire and Water Leadership Journey is a programme that shapes wise leaders, prioritising emotional healing and practices including Being the Circle Way, Story, Art of Hosting, Life Coaching, and Presentations of Learnings.

Join us as we explore the ever-increasing need for inner work, what it means to lead, and how we can use facilitation to serve our communities in troubled times.

Find out about:

Understanding the role of facilitation in times of crisis
How to handle leadership in times of crisis - and how to handle bullies
Why turning to each other might feel nice, but turning to ourselves matters more
The dangers of inviting a group to a place that we have not been to ourselves
Why facilitation tools will always be secondary to presence and inner work
What happens when we prioritise witnessing, rather than discussing

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

[02:57] What is the role of facilitation in such troubled times?

[05:57] Tenneson contributes his perspective on the same question.

[13:57] How much is the global crisis of escalation a reflection of inner strife?

[17:54] Does having more comfort in our values and belief systems make us less inclined to explode at things?

[19:11] Tenneson responds to the same question.

[24:04] Almost nobody wakes up in the morning with a plan to be a bully or an asshole. So how do we facilitate the conversation when it happens accidentally?

[34:24] In our daily encounters, we have the choice to avoid escalation - but how do we know when to do so or not?

[37:37] What do you rely on to invite a group to turn to themselves before each other?

[44:32] How do we get each other to open up and be vulnerable, so we can experience that magical connective power of intimate trust?

[49:48] How do we hold and balance space for big topics that might affect some participants more than others?

[55:38] What would you say to the audience, as a final reflection of this conversation?

[57:10] Quanita answers the same question.

[1:00:33] What question would you like the audience to ask themselves as this episode ends?

Links

Quanita’s website

Tenneson’s website

The Fire & Water Leadership website

Episode 123 with Quanita

Episode 27 with Tenneson

Connect to Quanita and Tenneson:

Quanita on LinkedIn

Tenneson on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

158 - Facilitation Beyond the Workshop with Marilyn Zakhour

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0200

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.

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 Answers

Part 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?

Links

Cosmic Centaurs website

Cosmic Centaurs LinkedIn page

Aion Teams website

Connect to Marilyn:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

157 - Beyond Hybrid: Facilitating in the Phygital Space with Thomas de Ming

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100

We meet online, we meet in-person, and sometimes we combine them to host hybrid meetings.

But what happens when we bridge the gaps between physical and digital spaces and merge them together?

Thomas de Ming is the person to ask - with his ongoing explorations of and research into 'phygital' meetings.

The meteoric rise in popularity of the metaverse is plenty proof enough that more and more attention is being paid to what lies beyond 'hybrid'. It's an exciting space with huge potential, but plenty of question marks still to address.

In this episode, we explore how to host workshops in liminal spaces, the costs and benefits of doing so, and the practicalities of making this nascent opportunity a common tool for facilitators to turn to.

Find out about:

Why 'phygital' is nothing to do with 'hybrid', despite their concurrent rise in popularity
The practical realities and common trapdoors when combing digital and physical spaces
What we're missing when we talk about 'remote' work and why language matters
Easy introductory exercises to explore 'phygital' collaboration
How to manage and mitigate a workshop with mandated attendance
How Thomas uses tangible thinking tools to expand his groups' ranges of perception

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

Part one

[01:20] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:10] What have you learned from TV and radio that informs your work today?

[08:03] I think of you as the person who comes up with new names - does that feel like you?

[12:46] What changes when you facilitate a range process, rather than a change process?

[15:32] That brings us to our topic for today: the 'phygital'.

[17:58] Can you give an example of a phygital space in action?

[21:24] It sounds like a great way to skill-share and to create new levels of abstraction?

[23:19] How much syncing work is needed beforehand?

[25:17] Could you do this tandem exercise with two people?

[26:53] What's the difference here between remote, hybrid, and phygital spaces?

[30:12] What is the benefit of bringing physical elements into our solely digital spaces?

[35:03] What are we overestimating about hybrid and underestimatong about phygital?

[40:45] What is the difference between a digital twin and a humatar?

Links

Connect to Thomas:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

156 - Adventure Education means Facilitating Vulnerability with Phil Brown

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100

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.

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 Answers

Part 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?

Links

Vertical Playpen - High 5’s podcast hosted by Phil

High 5’s website

Connect to Phil:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

155 - Facilitating and Moderating Audio-only Rooms with Leanne Hughes

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100

We communicate with our words, our bodies, our facial expressions, our posture, our movements, and much more.

So, what happens if a workshop is reduced to voices and nothing else?

Are disagreements more likely? Does the structure change? How can we facilitate collaboration when most of our communicative senses are dulled?

If there's anyone to answer these complex questions, it's Leanne Hughes! As the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast, a coach and guide to many facilitators, and a serial experimenter; Leanne knows a lot about exploring new ways to connect and facilitate.

Enjoy this episode as we discuss everything from the technical logistics of audio-only facilitation to the deeper challenges of how we communicate.

Find out about:

What changes and what stays the same when we facilitate audio-only conversations
Why there are more 'hidden cultures' to watch out for in audio-only spaces
How to double down on the principles of good facilitation and succeed without visual cues
How the structure of the room changes - and how you need to respond
What it might mean if participants choose to keep their camera off
Why avoiding the 'expertise bubble' will help you appreciate your skills and progress

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

Part one

[01:39] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - and do you still?

[06:50] What’s your line between scripting and preparing for a workshop?

[12:03] What comes after being a facilitator?

[14:03] What is it about the word 'facilitator' that turns CEOs off working together?

[18:04] Discussing 'filter bubbles' and overexposure to subject expertise.

[20:19] How do we cope when body language is taken away?

[24:20] Discussing Coffee Chat and how we use it in NDB.

[26:27] What makes a successful audio-only space?

[28:36] How can we set boundaries around interruptions and taking up space when participants join at all times?

[30:09] What clues do we follow to understand the tone and expectations?

Links

Leanne’s website

Connect to Leanne:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

154 - Embracing Responsibility, Resilience and Relationships with Sara Huang

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100

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.

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?

Links

www.bureautwist.nl/english

Connect to Sara:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

153 - Transforming HR with Design Thinking with Nicole Dessain

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Nicole Dessain is a consultant, Design Thinker, and proud ‘recovering perfectionist’ - and sees those three labels as closely related.

Her work in HR consultancy is informed by her training in Design Thinking. In turn, this has taught her to value process over perfection.

Through Design Thinking, Working Out Loud, and facilitation, Nicole has found brilliant insights into HR - some breakthroughs, some roadblocks.

In this episode, Nicole eloquently explains her key learnings so far.

Combining facilitation and HR can produce some fascinating results and has some surprising applications. I highly recommend taking this crash course in HR, facilitation, and Design Thinking!

Find out about:

How and why the spotlight has fallen on Human Resources since 2020
Why a shift of focus from ‘resources’ to ‘humans’ has become imperative
What it looks like to apply Design Thinking to HR and how Nicole does it
How Design Thinking asks us to challenge the judgement mindset HR can demand
Why the number of workshops in a Design Thinking project will shift depending on an organisation's culture
How to present the results of a Design Thinking process in a memorable narrative structure

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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 Answers

[01:11] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - if you do?

[03:39] What mindset changes are needed to adopt a Design Thinking approach?

[06:17] What's your history with Design Thinking - when did it begin?

[08:01] Does Design Thinking change when we apply it in different settings?

[09:40] Has your perception of Design Thinking changed over time?

[11:26] Why did it take a pandemic to get HR a seat at the decision-making table?

[15:58] How do you use Design Thinking specifically within an HR context?

[22:27] How do you account for the inevitable biases in HR teams?

[29:46] What do you recommend to HR professionals when it comes to interviewing their peers?

[31:45] How about when we interview colleagues?

[33:46] Do HR teams conduct more interviews after working with you?

[39:25] How do you bring to life the results of a Design Thinking process and sell it into leadership?

[41:58] What’s the easiest way for an HR team to start using Design Thinking?

[46:16] Rethinking the HR function.

[51:16] What makes a workshop fail?

[52:31] How much of the Design Thinking workshop process can be done asynchronously?

[54:08] What would it take for design thinking to become a normal tool for HR?

[55:17] Will facilitation become a key part of the HR professional's skillset?

[59:04] How did you overcome fear when you were asked to ideate by drawing?

Links

Check out Nicole’s design thinking services

Join the HR.Hackathon Alliance

Listen to the Talent Tales Show

Read about using design thinking for decision making in HR

Connect to Nicole:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

152 - Facilitating the ‘Board Game’ with Janek Panneitz

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0100

There’s no room for frivolities like board games in the boardroom… Right?

Not so, says Janek Panneitz! Janek is a facilitator, trainer, moderator, and a certified board game superfan and, as with so many guests on this podcast, has found a fascinating way of joining dots between his professional and personal passions.

Janek has been exploring and experimenting with the serious implications and effects board games and game mindsets can have in professional settings and how we can harness these learnings to create better workshops.

We discuss his flourishing experiments, the mechanics of bringing game mindsets into workshops, and how professional identities are an act of role-playing.

Pull up a seat at the table, choose your figurine, and let’s play!

Find out about:

Why there can be a disconnect between problem-solving for fun and for work
The three layers that make up a board game and a gamified workshop - and how to use them in your designs
Why converging our expectations is essential for the success of a workshop
How a lack of context can sometimes be a boon to your workshops
Why it's better to aim too high than too low in your aspirations for a workshop
The surprising 'flattening' power of board games in established hierarchies

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

Part one

[01:05] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - if you do?

[02:19] How do your sessions change if you are wearing your facilitator, trainer, or moderator hat?

[06:58] Can you share more about your background in organisational psychology - and how board games interact with that?

[09:39] What does self-determination theory mean, in simple words?

[12:48] What's your theory for how a site like Wikipedia has developed, grown, and maintained itself through voluntary contributions?

[18:03] How much of what we bring to board games reflects who we are in private and at work?

[21:50] What makes a board game night - and a workshop - fail?

[25:23] Even if you have set expectations about an activity, how can you account for the different personalities that engage in playing a game?

[30:15] To what extent is gamification an act of manipulation?

[32:10] What are the other two layers that make up good board games and gamified workshops?

Links

Website

Meetup group

Connect to Janek

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

151 - Building Culture by Bridging the Trust Gap with David Mead

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0100

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.

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?

Links

David’s Linktree

Connect to David:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

150 - Re-Thinking Facilitation: A Means of Corporate Therapy with Jordan Bower

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Is ‘facilitation’ the wrong word for what we do with corporate clients? Jordan Bower thinks it might be and proposes a new terminology to better suit our work…

Welcome to ‘corporate therapy’!

Jordan and I discuss some big questions in this episode, including the future of facilitation, how to focus on individuals when working with a corporate, and whether one-off workshops are a waste of everyone’s time.

You might expect a conversation full of intense curiosity and deep questioning might be hard work – in fact, the conversation was full of light and laughter.

So, sit back, relax, and let’s dive into some of the big questions of facilitation, its future, and how we can take the profession to another level.

Find out about:

Why facilitation is better understood as an infinite process, rather than linear progress
How story theory relates to workshops, and why the things we want and the things we need aren’t always the same
Why the quickest route to failure is to worry about failing
How abundance and sharing have become the hallmarks of true power
Sage advice on the process of pitching facilitation services to a new client
How to help clients lean into their emotions when it doesn’t come naturally

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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 Answers

Part one

[00:56] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[07:31] What changed in your mindset and skillset, as you went through this challenge?

[09:49] What have you learned about storytelling – and what is something that people continue to get wrong about it?

[13:23] How do you help people break out of the vicious circle of shallow ‘wants’ and into deeper ‘needs’?

[15:13] How does (what sounds like) a very one-on-one practice translate to work at an organisational level?

[17:58] What strategies do you use to get your finger on the pulse of a company? And how do you help them see the stories they tell themselves?

[21:48] What do you think has caused this great shift in the function and purpose of organisations?

[26:07] Do you think the collective experience of uncertainty with the pandemic has driven companies to look to facilitators rather than consultants?

[28:36] Do you think ‘one-off’ facilitation is over? Can we achieve meaningful results in a single workshop?

[31:51] What’s the inner game for facilitators in this future of ‘corporate therapy’?

[38:10] How do you know when to step into authoritative facilitation and when to step back?

Links

Website

Connect to Jordan:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

149 - Holding space for those who hold space with Sharon Leigh

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100

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 through

Don’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!

Connect

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

148 - Using facilitation to give a voice to the voiceless with Manal Sayid

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Manal Sayid is a fascinating person, speaker, and podcast guest - as she proves in this episode of workshops.work! Her experience ranges from the suicide prevention helpline of Distress Centres Toronto, to all manner of corporate and third sector facilitation roles.

And she’s achieved it all without an obvious role model or well-trodden footsteps to follow.

We bring all of this together in this episode, discussing the vital lessons in facilitation she has learned in unexpected places and what it’s like to sit in workshops in which nobody looks like ‘you’.

The conversation is smooth, surprisingly light despite its sometimes-heavy content, and utterly enriching.

Enjoy this standout episode!

Find out about:

Why fear is so powerful and how we can harness it to help us connect, communicate, and grow
How inclusive facilitation creates a ripple effect
How to hold uncomfortable conversations about diversity and inclusion
What happens when we work with our anxieties, rather than against them
Why we really don’t need to “do” much to help others to step into vulnerability
How to create workshops and environments that are more inclusive

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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.

Connect to Manal:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

147 - How to live a facilitative life with Stephen Berkeley

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100

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 facilitative
The special things that happen when you start a workshop in silence
The three-question process Stephen follows to reflect on his workshops
Why a ‘bad’ or ‘failed’ workshop is a matter of perspective
How to nurture our natural curiosity so it easily extends into all facets of our lives
Stephen’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.

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?

Links

Link to the book including Stephen’s chapter

Connect to Stephen:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

146 - How to make a workshop fail? Insights from 20 podcast guests

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100

There are a few questions that come up every week - no matter who the guest is, no matter what our topic of conversation is.

One of them - and possibly my favourite - is:

“What makes a workshop fail?”

We learn so much more from our failures than our successes, which makes this section of the podcast a veritable goldmine of facilitation advice and learnings.

It’s only sensible, then, to share answers of 20 of the most appreciated podcast episodes.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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.

Answers to the Question

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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145 - Asking better questions to get cozy, juicy or real with each other with Jed & Sophia Lazar

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

A game is just a game - silly, playful, and only useful for breaking the ice, right?

Not if you ask Sophia and Jed Lazar, who have designed a card game that helps participants share, listen, and connect in a deep way.

Cozy Juicy Real has been tried everywhere from kitchen tables to corporate board rooms and its founding partners attest to the same results - strengthened connection and communication.

So, how have they done it? What are the misconceptions about games that they’re proving wrong? And can a board game really hold space for people to share their true selves?

Listen in for the answers to these questions - and many more!

Find out about:

Jed & Sophia’s journey into facilitation, facilitating together, and creating Cozy Juicy Real
How a game can be designed to hold space for a group
How Jed and Sophia have learned to incentivise deep listening
Why asking questions is a muscle we can grow, not an innate talent
How Jed and Sophia safeguard participants whilst creating space for deep, emotional connection

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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 Answers

[01:21] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator – and do you?

[03:56] What do a protest and a workshop have in common?

[04:41] What’s the story behind Cozy Juicy Real and when did you first start facilitating together?

[07:22] What’s one of your favourite questions in the game?

[10:56] Can a game hold space for a group and what does it take?

[15:03] How do you design a structure that incentivises deep listening and communication?

[17:09] What are the mechanics behind creating cozy, juicy, and real questions and how do they come together to help people connect deeply?

[19:51] What makes a good question? Is there one question in particular that gets people to connect?

[23:18] Do you think people can learn to ask more meaningful questions by playing the game?

[24:26] Can you learn to ask questions and, if so, how?

[28:35] What’s your favourite question?

[33:25] Do you have a question that turned into a gift for you?

[36:30] What are your observations from playing the game with friends?

[40:24] How do you manage judgement when it appears in a group?

[42:00] How do you create a game that allows for people to communicate deeply without risking trauma triggers and offence?

[45:56] What’s your role as the host – and could anyone do it?

[47:39] How do you handle check-ins and check-outs? Do you have favourite exercises for each?

[49:10] What makes a workshop fail?

[53:33] Is there anything that you’d like to share with the audience that we haven’t covered yet?

Connect to Jed & Sophia:

Jed on LinkedIn

Sophia on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

144 - From out of the box to unboxing: A mindset shift to facilitation and life with Jimbo Clark

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

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.

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

Jimbo’s Business: box.innogreat.com

Connect to Jimbo:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

143 - Why Facilitators are Crisis Managers with Thomas Lahnthaler

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

From reframing problems to taking tips from MacGyver, Thomas Lahnthaler is full of great advice for anyone who has to manage a crisis.

And as our conversation in this episode revealed, facilitators are never far from a crisis – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Thomas’ second time on the podcast brought just as much value as his first (episode 39), as we dive into the depths of crisis management, resourcefulness, reframing, creative activities, and why it’s so important to keep things person-centred rather than problem-centred.

Enjoy this exploration of facilitation and crisis management, you might be surprised by how much is relevant to you and your work!

Find out about:

What we fatally misunderstand about the order of importance in our crisis management
Why crises are, before anything else, a human issue
How to bring a group back from the brink of crisis
Why resourcefulness is the superpower of the crisis manager
Why knowing what the opposite of a crisis feels like will help us prevent future crises
How we can use playful, creative activities to talk about difficult or personal issues

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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.

Links

Thomas’ company (Crisis Compass) blog

Thomas’ Medium

Connect to Thomas:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

142 - Changing a Meeting Culture from Within, at Scale with Sonja Hanau

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Sonja Hanau is the person 99% of working professionals have prayed for at one point or another.

For Sonja is a Meeting Designer. In fact, Sonja is one of the best Meeting Designers you’ll ever meet.

And she’s the guest on this week’s episode, bringing her startling wisdom and clarity to our conversation in a way that truly energised me.

We discuss everything from the big picture of the future of work and how meetings work in it, to the minutiae of how she creates training sessions to empower companies to improve their meetings at scale.

Find out about:

Three key rules for creating better meetings
Why companies have bad meetings and what they can do to change it
What goes into Sonja’s corporate meeting design training sessions, from technical videos to experience design
How the changing world of work and our relationships with our jobs is changing how we meet
Why it’s essential to have both an online and offline facilitator in hybrid meetings
How one question at the end of your next meeting could totally change your meeting culture

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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 Answers

[01:08] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:58] What’s the story behind your role of Meeting Designer in a corporate setting?

[06:24] Why do corporates have such bad meetings – and are there any quick fixes for them?

[10:12] What does it take for managers and team leaders to embrace a new way of doing meetings?

[15:00] What is something you have learned to implement after watching your son’s online classes?

[16:38] How do you balance giving people the space to honour their feelings whilst also not wanting to disturb the flow of the wider group?

[19:30] You’ve delivered training sessions to teach teams the art of designing, hosting, and facilitating better meetings at scale. How was this? What did you learn?

[23:40] Which parts are best done independently, and which are best done together?

[30:03] Is there a way that corporates can quantitatively measure the impact of learning to hold better meetings?

[33:27] Would you say that, as meeting quality goes up, meeting quantity/frequency goes down?

[35:09] Is the changing world of work – and our perspectives about being ‘busy’ – changing the nature of meetings?

[39:57] What makes a meeting fail?

[42:11] What are your thoughts on hybrid? Is it the future in corporate? What else might it be?

[46:37] Do you have a favourite hybrid exercise?

[49:35] Was there anything else that you wanted to bring to this conversation that we haven’t covered yet?

[52:47] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Subscribe to her meeting inspiration (english) - 7 mistakes a meeting facilitator shouldn't do (substack.com)

Subscribe to her meeting inspiration (german) - Meetingschmiede | Einfach gute Meetings

Connect to Sonja:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

141 - Insights about Facilitation: Conversations at the NDB Festival

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Friday 19 November, 2021 marked the second NeverDoneBefore Festival.

In keeping with the spirit of the day, I elected to do something unique and, admittedly, daunting: a live podcast recording with anyone and everyone who wished to participate. No agenda, no plans, no idea what we’d discuss.

Eight wonderful conversations with eight wonderful facilitators from across the globe followed. Now we’ve brought those conversations together, turning them into micro-interviews and dividing them across three short episodes, to paint a picture of the NDB 2021 experience.

Listen along to hear how these facilitators reflected their learnings against their own practice, assumptions, and plans for the future. It’s a NeverDoneBefore moment - captured in time, preserved in podcast form!

In this part, hear from:

How facilitation is a dance between order and chaos, with Patrick Tiongson
Why we need to learn to think in the long-term again, with Saar Ben-Attar
How to intentionally design a workshop for slow thinking, with Jeremy Akers

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

140 - How to use Applied Improv to Enliven your Workshops with Shannon Hughes

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Using “yes-and”, following the flow, and focusing on the process as much as the outcomes… Is this improv or facilitation?

The two share a lot in common! When we combine them, we can create amazing, immersive workshops.

And that’s exactly what I discuss with Shannon Hughes in this week’s episode. Shannon dedicates her work to generating ‘aliveness’ – helping leaders come alive and bringing confidence, connection, and creativity to teams.

Now, she’s sharing the lessons she’s learned from bringing applied improv into corporate spaces – and how facilitators can bring a little more improv and play into workshops to amazing effect.

Find out about:

How beneficial it can be to remember that facilitators are guides, not teachers
The multiple skills we – as communicators, colleagues, and people – learn from improvisation
How to apply improvisation for conscious leadership (with a helpful acronym)
Why absence has a bigger impact than presence – especially when it comes to leaders
How we can become better listeners and help others to do the same
The tools you might already be using in your workshops that you can apply to improv

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

Part one

[01:15] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator – if you do?

[04:34] If you call yourself an experiential facilitator, what is the opposite?

[07:34] What brought you to imrpov and facilitation? And which came first?

[14:20] What is the mindset of improv that we see in facilitation, and how do you apply improv in facilitation?

[15:48] How do you bring this mindset into the room – do people pick it up or do you have to explicitly explain it?

[21:02] Are there building blocks for psychological safety in improv? And what does the concept really mean in improv?

[27:18] Where do you see the risk of applying improv – and especially the “yes and” principle?

[31:43] Exploring – and practicing – Shannon’s favourite exercise: The Pride Rant.

Links

Shannon’s website: www.enlivenedstudios.com

Connect to Shannon:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

139 - Breaking (Project) Management and Decision Routines with Karen Schmidt

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The building blocks of facilitation can be considered as quite practical, tangible things: workshops, agendas, exercises, timing, and tools. Underpinning these facilitation essentials, though, are intricate psychological and behavioural phenomena.

This week’s episode is the perfect testament to that truth.

Karen Schmidt – the founder of the international innovation community, ‘Over the Fence’ – joins me in this episode to discuss decision-making.

In many organisations, decision-making can be more of a routine than a process. Stakeholders might be left out, partners might be disenfranchised, and the best decision might not be made. Easing the friction in and reliance on management routines to improve decision-making is Karen’s fascination.

There can’t be many workshops work listeners who don’t feel the same way!

Find out about:

Exploring the integral role of alignment in any decision-making process
How to democratise our language and create alignment and unity
Why established routines can harm decision-making
How to identify and understand what decision-making ‘role’ we are occupying
Why it’s healthy to flex decision-making between detail-orientation and bigger picture ideas
Why decision-making, leadership, and ownership all tie in to the idea of taking and making space

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:13] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:20] What got you into facilitation in the first place?

[04:37] What’s the story behind Over the Fence?

[06:27] What can project managers learn from facilitators?

[08:13] What is the mindset shift between being a project manager and a facilitator?

[10:33] What do you think most people get wrong about the process of managing a project?

[12:41] When you talk about breaking management routines, what do you mean?

[14:55] What makes it so hard for project managers to empathise with and speak the language of their teams?

[16:03] An example of catching unclear language and adapting a workshop accordingly.

[21:58] What makes a workshop fail?

[26:34] Who needs to be in the small group that makes a decision?

[29:21] Why do humans find it so difficult to make decisions?

[31:50] The three leadership roles, as illustrated in Over the Fence’s Decisions Hats card set.

[37:19] Exploring the Decision Canvas.

[44:17] Is there an organisational equivalent of ‘subsidiarity’?

[45:59] Announcing the free of charge card games – and the conditions for using them!

[48:15] Is there anything else you wanted to share that we haven’t discussed yet?

Links

Over the Fence’s Creative Commons tools

Over the Fence’s Books

Decision Hats introductory video

Over the Fence’s Manifesto

Connect to Karen:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

138 - Facilitating Authentic Relations with Peter Munthe-Kaas

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0100

Urban planning is the discipline of creating shared, public spaces. It could easily be mistaken for large-scale facilitation by design!

Peter Munthe-Kaas can speak confidently for both disciplines, as a seasoned urban planner turned facilitator. He has such a unique perspective on what it means to create a beautiful, shared space and the missteps we can take in designing collaborative, communal experiences. I am so grateful that he was willing to share this perspective with me and the workshops work audience.

In our conversation, we explored the friction between safety and vulnerability, trust and openness, and design and environment. In an episode that was full of opposites and challenges, Peter navigated the discussion with balance, curiosity, and insight.

Find out about:

Why Peter has gradually come to depend more on depth and space, than tools and processes
How ‘naming’ our current state gives us permission to be present, rather than looking ahead
The parallels between urban planning and facilitation – two disciplines that are about people, before anything else
What it means to practice ‘invitation’ in a workshop and how we can lead the group by example
Why stepping back from a group in flow is an act of true facilitation
How Peter harnesses curiosity to bring his groups together

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:02] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[01:57] What key skills have crystallised for you over the last 20 years?

[03:20] What do you mean when you talk about tools and environments?

[05:25] Can you share a little about your previous life in urban planning – and how it impacts your work now?

[08:41] What can you do to break the atmosphere in a room and replace it with an inviting or experiential one?

[10:40] Are there differences between urban spaces and the room in which a workshop is held?

[15:53] Is it enough to just create a beautiful space, or do we need to commit to improving the conditions within that space?

[19:31] How do you translate your expertise in urban planning into the facilitation work you do today?

[23:06] Is there a risk in showing too much vulnerability – can it break trust in your authority?

[25:57] How can we move past the illusion of agreement?

[30:06] What can ‘naming the current state’ bring up in a group?

[32:17] How do you know if/when to go deeper with a group?

[36:35] Can you ask a positive, free-flowing group to consider what friction or discomfort sits in the environment?

[41:18] What makes a workshop fail?

[48:09] Do you have a favourite exercise or process?

[58:39] Is there anything you wanted to bring to this conversation that we haven’t yet discussed?

[01:01:44] How could the community support you with your mission?

Links

Peter’s website

Experimental Cities

Relational Spaces

Connect to Peter:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

137 - Creating space for connection with Jonathan Hefter

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0100

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.

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.

Links

Video Platform Circl.es

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

136 - Facilitating with and without Lego Serious Play with Sean Blair

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200

LEGO Serious Play is an increasingly popular method of facilitation and one that we’ve explored previously on the podcast, but I wanted to dive into a little deeper and with a slightly more critical lens.

I found the perfect person for the job - Sean Blair, a LEGO Serious Play trainer and facilitator and soon-to-be quadruple-published author on the topic. You could call him experienced in the subject…

And, to my non-surprise, we had the most brilliant conversation. So brilliant, in fact, that I had to split the episode into two parts to keep it at a reasonable length!

We challenge each other, we bring new ideas and possibilities to each other, and we definitely don’t always agree. All of which made for one of the most stimulating and exciting conversations I’ve ever had on the podcast.

Enjoy this episode - there is so much to take away from it.

Find out about:

How LEGO Serious Play helps us shift our focus from individuals to behaviours
Why ‘objectifying’ an issue is so effective at helping us communicate difficult things
Why LEGO Serious Play is effective for any topic, but not all objectives
Why we must always try to guard against ‘content ownership’ as facilitators
How to adjust to visually representing our thoughts using a ‘Tap and Tell’ exercise
What metaphors do to advance conversations and understanding

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

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 Answers

[Part one]

[01:02] When did you first start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:11] How have you changed from being a “bossy” facilitator and what have you become instead?

[05:05] How do you train other facilitators – especially in the art of dialling up and down their presence in the room?

[09:50] What does it take to create a learning space that encourages and values mistakes?

[13:54] How does speaking with your own voice play out in facilitation?

[18:28] What makes a workshop fail?

[20:55] How would you start a workshop for a group in which you know there is conflict and politics?

[25:13] What is the power in using LEGO to help us talk about difficult topics?

[28:11] Do you use ‘minifigures’ (avatars or representations of people) in your LEGO Serious Play workshops?

[32:01] How do you negotiate the risks of a representation being misinterpreted between participants and creating misalignment?

Connect to Sean:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

135 - A journey from Architecture to Facilitation with Florencia Ortelli

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200

When it comes to workshops, we often talk about “making space” for people to express themselves creatively and authentically.

It’s a metaphorical phrase, but there is a lot to be found in the more literal interpretation.

And who better to explore both sides of that interpretation than Flor Ortelli - an architect-turned-facilitator?

In this episode, we interrogate the impact physical spaces have on our creativity and collaboration, how to design spaces for collaboration, and why we should always prioritise people and the way they use a space should always take priority over its design.

Find out about:

● How architecture and facilitation share far more in common than we think

● Why it’s a fatal failing to build without considering by whom and how the space will be used

● How Flor is connecting dots between Agile, listening skills, and user-focus

● Why the pressure to have good ideas threatens even the best workshops – and how to release that pressure

● Why the value of sharing ideas is inherent, not dependent on our judgements of ‘good’ or ‘bad’

● Whether the attitude we bring into a space has more of an impact than the design of a space

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

[01:16] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:38] What made you choose this route, instead of doing what most architects do?

[07:19] What have you taken from architecture that informs your approach to facilitation?

[09:00] And what have you had to unlearn from architecture?

[11:29] What was your strategy for releasing control as you moved from design to facilitation?

[14:24] What is the relationship between physical space and facilitation?

[17:19] What makes an ideation process work – and do you have a favourite exercise for it?

[23:31] In your experience, what makes a workshop fail?

[31:21] What is your process for narrowing down ideas and choosing one(s) to move forward with?

[35:44] Could you share your opinion on hybrid working?

[39:47] If someone wants to build their own ideation room, what would you recommend they include?

[43:48] You are writing a book – can you tell us about it?

[46:14] What is it about Agility that you think is relevant to designers?

[47:46] What is the one tip you would give designers, in relation to your book?

[49:47] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Florencia's business

Connect to Florencia:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

134 - Unlocking creative potential through collective drawing with Chris Bent

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Chris Bent isn’t creative, he’ll happily admit.

Chris Bent is also the founder of Piccles, one of the best creative platforms I’ve seen.

If that doesn’t quite add up for you, the answer lies in collective drawing and its remarkable ability to help anyone and everyone communicate through creativity.

Since accidentally discovering the power of collective drawing, Chris has taken it in his stride and founded Piccles. Now, he helps groups of all backgrounds and interests access deeper communication through non-verbal creativity.

In this week’s show, Chris shares some incredible stories from Piccles workshops, describes some of the techniques he’s developed to help people access their creativity, and highlights the power of alternative methods of communication.

Find out about:

● How a self-described non-creative person founded a creative collaboration tool in Piccles

● The questions we ask that aren’t questions, but subtle challenges or expressions of doubts

● How drawing can be a tool to bridge the gaps between our thoughts and our expression

● How Chris sets groups up so they can surprise themselves with their creative abilities

● The real-world applications of collaborative drawing software – from rock concerts to education to Earth Day

● Why we often get in touch with our creative side we are when we feel stuck or in a rut – and how to harness that power

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Our sponsor this week is Facilitator Cards - the pocket-size deck of 60 processes you can use to be more creative and flexible no matter what you facilitate. Check out shop.facilitator.cards and use code WorkshopsWork for free markers for your Facilitator Cards.

Questions and Answers

[01:09] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator, if, in fact, you do?

[01:41] What does facilitation mean to you?

[03:07] What is Piccles? And what is the story behind its creation?

[08:35] What was the reception for Piccles like in a healthcare setting?

[11:41] What becomes possible when a group draws together?

[16:41] How do you help groups to reflect on specific ideas, draw, and then use it as the basis for a discussion?

[21:01] How did the room react when someone drew their superpower as loneliness?

[22:30] How do you then turn these highly personal, qualitative works into a deeper, wider insight?

[27:02] What makes a good – and a bad – prompt for a drawing activity?

[32:37] What makes a workshop fail?

[38:20] Where is Piccles going in the future? What’s your vision?

[43:09] What altruistic purposes could Piccles be used for?

[45:02] If somebody wants to try Piccles for the first time but doesn’t know where to start, what would you recommend?

[47:08] Is there anything you would have liked to share that we haven’t touched on yet?

Links

Connect to Chris:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

133 - The conversation I wish I heard when I started facilitating with Meg Bolger

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200

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 room

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!

Special Discount for WorkshopsWork listeners

Get 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

Links

Meg's Business page
Facilitator self-feedback form
Article on ‘Watching your game tape’
Emergent Facilitation video
Unlocking the Magic of Facilitation
Meg’s facilitator hat (watch the video version of the show on YouTube to understand!)

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

132 - Can we automate the facilitation of deep conversations? with Edric Subur

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0200

It was in the arid air of Burning Man that Edric Subur first felt Warmspace flicker in his mind and heart.

Connecting deeply, sharing widely, and being radically – Edric wanted to capture the feeling of genuine understanding and connection and bottle it. Or, to be more accurate, automate it.

Edric built, iterated, tweaked, and launched Warmspace – a tool that facilitates deep connection through guided video conversations – with that same desire still burning at its heart.

Now, a year and a half after starting the platform for human connection, Edric has plenty of lessons, insights, and observations to share about the format for facilitating connections between people… without ever being in the room with them.

What a wonderful episode!

Find out about:

The mechanics of Warmspace and the beating heart that drives it
Why connection is simultaneously a means to an end and an end itself
Which three guiding principles help Warmspace create psychological safety between strangers
What it looks like to take the principles and structure of Warmspace into a corporate space
How to encourage participants to use their voices when they feel there’s nothing to say

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!

Questions and Answers

[01:07] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:06] What label would you give yourself?

[05:01] What is Warmspace?

[10:17] What was it about Burning Man that sparked this idea?

[14:59] Where would you start with a group of people who aren’t comfortable being vulnerable?

[16:21] What effect does physical presence have on these conversations?

[18:44] Is there some kind of magic formula for facilitating deep human connections?

[21:06] How did you choose the prompts for these conversations?

[24:46] How do you hold the boundary between facilitating a conversation and coaching people?

[26:55] Do you see connections forming after just a few minutes?

[28:07] What makes a workshop fail?

[31:09] Do you check in on conversations or do you trust the participants to make their way through it safely and happily?

[32:37] Would Warmspace work in a corporate setting?

[43:01] What does psychological safety mean to you and how do you negotiate it between strangers?

[48:05] Do you have a favourite exercise?

[50:39] What is the one thing you’d like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Exclusive invite link to access Warmpsace (or use the invite code WARM)

Warmspace on Instagram

Connect to Edric:

Instagram

Or email ed@warmspace.io

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

131 - Facilitating Joy in Public with Jacques Martiquet, the Party Scientist

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0200

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 joy
The steps Jacques follows to facilitate joy in public
What an FIQ is and why lowering the barrier to participation can lie in raising the standard
Why the success of a workshop hinges on the way we engage with disengagement
How incremental, progressive actions can unify a group towards a shared experience they wouldn’t have thought possible
The surprising impact physicality has on our self-knowledge, openness, and mood

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

[01:40] 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?

Links

The Party Scientist's Lab: a newsletter and podcast for 1052 human connection

professionals

The Fun Intelligence Quotient: learn how to embody and facilitate fun

Connect to Jacques:

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

130 - Belonging in the Virtual Space with Jahnvi Singh

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Belonging is a complex topic at the best of times, but in an age of digital meetings, remote work, and physical distance, many more layers have been added.

As facilitators, our job is not to make everyone best friends, but we do have a responsibility to create a space in which participants feel open and accepted.

Which, in other words, means a sense of belonging.

I was delighted to speak with Jahnvi Singh in this week’s episode of workshops work, as she has some fascinating and unique perspectives on fostering belonging in digital spaces.

Jahnvi’s decade of experience at the intersection of design, heritage and culture, and learning makes her the perfect person to speak on this topic, as her work so often touches areas tied up in a deep sense of personal belonging.

Find out about:

Understanding the four distinct spaces of belonging
How we can weave the spaces for belonging into our workshops
Why Jahnvi believes boundaries and disagreement are key to successful workshops
Why ‘calling in’ our differences is foundational to our feelings of belonging
How Jahnvi approaches the delicate issue of cameras on or off in digital workshops
How to build in a layer of accountability and equity into group reflection activities

Don’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 read Sara Huang's article that has inspired Jahnvi's visual diamond shape framework.

And if you prefer to watch our conversation, click here for the Youtube video.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

[01:13] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[05:11] Could it be said, then, that you are often designing for two clients at once – the educator and their participants?

[06:31] What are the differences you see between facilitating and hosting a group?

[09:01] What is your concept of belonging?

[16:23] Can belonging be created, or is it some magical force beyond our control?

[19:28] If we are creating identity in a group, how do our differences fit in? Are they just as important as our similarities?

[24:34] Is the tension in the ‘camera on/camera off’ issue a good example of this?

[27:51] What is your experience of facilitating with cameras on or off?

[31:10] Do you have a particular exercise that helps to forge a sense of belonging?

[35:57] How do we juggle our awareness of our similarities and our differences at once? They can feel like such opposing forces.

[42:04] Where do you draw the line between being open and oversharing or domineering in a shared space?

[45:12] How can you try to adjust one person’s behaviour without risking the overall feeling of safety in the group?

[51:45] What makes a workshop fail?

[52:41] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Festival

Flow India

Enrol Yourself

Extended welcome speech by Training for Change

Connect to Jahnvi:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

129 - From vision to reality: The story behind the NeverDoneBefore facilitation festival with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0200

The microphone has turned, the seats have switched, and I am being interviewed on my own show!

This week, Michelle Howard takes up the mantle of workshops.work host and invites me to explore the origins of and process behind the NeverDoneBefore facilitation festival.

I’ve wanted to talk about NDB in detail on the podcast for a while, but worried about the self-promotional aspect of doing so. The novelty of relinquishing control and taking the role of interviewee felt like the perfect solution to discuss NDB in a way that truly represented it, my thoughts, and the process so far comfortably and fairly.

Michelle did a wonderful job of holding space for the conversation to unfurl naturally and helped me realise things that I, myself, had not realised about the festival.

This episode may well prove to be informative, educational, and revelatory for everyone involved!

Find out about:

● How the vision for NeverDoneBefore emerged

● The iterations, missteps, and trial-and-error that led to NDB as it exists today

● What curating a festival has taught me about community

● How I’ve come to balance clarity and novelty, even with a festival built on novelty

● Why trying and killing new ideas has been foundational to developing a strong programme

● The question I come back to that has helped me build an accessible, appealing festival

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 you prefer to watch our conversation, click here for the Youtube video.

And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!

About Michelle Howard:

Michelle is a specialist facilitator with the skills and experience to manage diverse groups and processes with energy and integrity. She has worked in the government, private and not-for-profit sectors manage process of conflict, policy development, program evaluation and change.

She has been a guest on the workshops work podcast, in episode 43.

Questions and Answers

[02:41] What is NeverDoneBefore 2021 about?

[07:23] There is a huge diversity of experiences accessible through NDB, can you talk about that range a little more?

[12:32] How important is finding the perfect ‘stretch’ point beyond our comfort zone for learning novel things?

[14:29] What defines the NDB community – who is it comprised of and what do they have in common?

[17:13] Who are ‘Residents’ in NDB?

[19:36] What are you most excited about ahead of this year’s festival?

[21:56] Is the mentoring element of this year another means for people to stretch themselves?

[24:53] How has NDB helped you grow personally?

[30:15] You’ve just ‘handed the keys’ to Julio Muhorro for two weeks, whilst you took a break. How did you find that?

[36:46] What kind of ‘filters’ are you applying to help curate a safe, trusting community?

[43:06] What do you dare to dream about for 2022?

[47:09] What’s your invitation to people who are only just hearing about NDB?

Links

NeverDoneBefore

Connect to me and Michelle:

My LinkedIn

Michelle’s LinkedIn&

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

128 - What games can teach us about designing better workshops with Lily Higgins

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Games are fun, silly, not based in reality…

We can take our serious selves into games and embrace playfulness, but it’s a lot harder to take the playfulness back with us as we return to the ‘real world’.

But what if we see that ‘real world’ as a game itself?

What if we saw every interaction as a game?

We could press certain buttons, move certain facets, and play with expectations and beliefs that change everything. When a meeting is a game, when an interview is a game, and when relationships are a game, we can have fun – we can open up possibilities and find new meanings within established systems.

Join me and Lily Higgins in this week’s episode as we explore game design, facilitation, and the spaces in between.

Find out about:

How to see life and its constituent parts as a game
The six elements of game design that we can apply in non-game situations
Why playfulness can be so powerful
How different players see games differently and what we can take from that knowledge
What urban games are and how they can be facilitated
Why Lily likes to start sessions with an ‘Orchestra of Misery’

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

[01:01] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:00] Do you recall what caused you to shift to finally calling yourself a facilitator?

[06:06] What inspires your work? Is it a particular school of thought or practice?

[07:57] What’s the difference between game thinking and gamification?

[10:47] What are the helpful, deeper ways we can apply game thinking to create intrinsic motivation?

[14:13] Do you have to draw a line between seriousness and fun when applying game thinking?

[20:17] How much of the background, the rules, the detail do you share with clients?

[22:07] What tools are there within game thinking that help flatten the room?

[33:24] What are your thoughts on finite vs infinite games?

[36:14] What makes a workshop fail?

[37:08] What is an urban game?

[43:45] What did you take away from this urban game in Central Station that you apply in professional spaces?

[46:30] What would the equivalent be in an office?

[48:25] Do you have a favourite exercise?

[56:28] Was there anything else you wanted to bring today that you haven’t yet been able to?

[01:05:51] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Lily's business
Lily's website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

127 - How to set up a successful co-facilitation process with Shoba Chandran

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Co-facilitation feels like a wonderful, secret club.

Those who’ve experienced successful co-facilitation understand the impact it has on outcomes, as well as the experience of participants and facilitators alike.

Those who haven’t often look at it as a ‘nice to have’, rather than an essential tool in the facilitator’s toolkit.

Shoba Chandran, co-owner of The Innovation Matrix and vastly-experienced facilitator, is firmly in the first group – and she’s eager to see more co-facilitation.

It just so happens that I feel the same way, which leads us perfectly to this knowledge-filled episode of workshops work.

Listen in to explore what it takes to successfully co-facilitate, how to start if you’ve never tried before, and what to strive for and avoid in co-facilitated workshops.

Find out about:

● Identifying the boundaries, limits, and benefits of co-facilitation

● Why successful co-facilitation starts from practically the first conversation

● What the nuances of the co-facilitator dynamic are and how they show up

● Why personal connection tends to supersede professional competency

● How to align with your co-facilitator and set yourselves up for success

● What to consider if co-facilitating with a someone from the client’s organisation

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Thanks to our sponsor Deckhive. Click here to find out more about the new platform for using card decks in online facilitation. Use the code workshopswork to get the first month for free.

Questions and Answers

[00:57] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[03:57] How did you facilitate innovation in such a command and control environment as the Ministry of Defence?

[06:18] How did you spread the facilitation mindset?

[07:36] And how did you break the command and control mindset – in fact, did you at all?

[09:17] What were your key learnings from this period?

[11:48] What does co-facilitation mean to you?

[14:35] Do you always work with the same co-facilitator? If not, how do you select the ‘right’ person?

[16:47] What is ‘a good attitude’ in relation to co-facilitation?

[20:42] What are some of the glitches or roadblocks you encounter when co-designing a workshop?

[22:58] Do you have a process or a template that you use for co-designing workshops?

[25:35] Have you ever realised after a ‘norming’ conversation that a co-facilitator isn’t aligned with you?

[27:38] Does the co-facilitation dynamic develop in the same way a team dynamic develops?

[34:15] Why do you think so many early-career facilitators resist co-facilitation?

[36:23] Would you say Singapore has more of a culture of co-facilitation?

[38:03] What advice would you give to a new facilitator?

[40:42] What is your experience with co-facilitation with someone client-side?

[42:47] What makes a workshop fail?

[45:25] What are some red flags to look out for from clients who want you to ‘facipulate’? (Facilitate + manipulate!)

[47:00] Do you have a favourite exercise?

[51:16] Is there anything else you wanted to discuss today?

Links

The Innovation Matrix

The 6 ‘I’s of Innovation

Collaboration By Design, the book which Shoba

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

126 - The Paradox of Psychological Safety with Gustavo Razzetti

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Psychological safety is a bastion of facilitation, collaboration, and connection.

But has it reached a tipping point?

As the phrase permeates more corners of consultancy and the echelons of management, is it depreciating into another buzzword, losing its groundbreaking origins?

Gustavo Razzetti, acclaimed workplace culture consultant, will gladly admit that this is a controversial topic, but there are few better equipped to address it – and that’s what we set out to do in this episode of workshops work.

Join us for a challenging, inspiring, and rewarding discussion about the merits and limits of psychological safety.

Find out about:

● Why a top-down focus on psychological safety has a fatal flaw

● How reflection and action at an individual level form true psychological safety

● Whether personal integrity is a more valuable metric to measure

● The Catch 22 of psychological safety and the tension between safety and conflict

● How subcultures influence and make up wider company cultures

● Healthy, manageable ways to introduce risk and conflict into workplaces

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!

Questions and Answers

[01:48] Where do you see the paradox when it comes to psychological safety in organisations?

[03:18] What does psychological safety really mean? And what have people taken it to mean?

[09:44] Is it the leader that sets the tone and models psychological safety to their team?

[14:29] Do you think the desire of some leaders to return to the office is rooted in their desire for safety?

[17:19] How can leaders create psychological safety for themselves?

[20:46] Is it a mistake, then, to look to the leader to create psychological safety?

[24:18] How can we feel confident enough to speak up if we don’t feel safe? This is the chicken and egg situation!

[30:03] Would we be better placed discussing integrity? Why is there such a dearth of discussion around integrity in the corporate world?

[34:29] Can we feel psychologically safe if we operate from a position of defensiveness?

[39:44] How important is the art of asking questions and giving feedback? Is it something we can learn?

[42:46] If we need smaller groups to truly create psychological safety, how do we avoid silos?

[47:24] What happens if subcultures don’t trust each other?

[49:38] Is a lack of collaboration among middle management a structural problem or an issue of incentives?

[52:24] If we want middle management to change, would that be a problem for leadership to solve?

[54:10] How, then, would middle managers create an alliance if they all feel in competition with one another?

[56:29] How can we transform silos into subcultures that communicate and collaborate?

[57:32] Do you believe in hybrid?

[01:02:58] Are we experiencing a ‘mass avoidance’ event by focusing so much on the concept of hybrid?

[01:05:16] Would our work become more sustainable in an asynchronous model?

[01:10:21] How do you prioritise and protect idea-sharing after breakouts and activities?

[01:15:58] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Fearless Culture, Gustavo’s business

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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125 - A new way of thinking about hybrid work with Cliff Pollan

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0200

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 work
Examining and overcoming the linguistic traps in “remote work”
Why agency is at the heart of successful hybrid teams
Understanding hybrid work as a space, rather than just a collection of tools
Navigating the ‘laws’ of video calls, visibility, and presence
Facilitation as an essential professional and life skill
Why 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?

Links

WELO - Cliff’s company

Connect to Cliff:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

124 - Human activation as the foundation of facilitation with Patrick Cowden

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0200

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 protocol

Don’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?

Links

Patrick’s company page

The NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Festival

Connect to Patrick

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

123 - The Inner Work of Facilitation - with Quanita Roberson

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200

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 ever

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!

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?

Links

Nzuzu Consulting, Quanita’s website

Fire and Water Leadership, Quanita’s Rite of Passage course

https://www.facebook.com/groups/527006851373739

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

122 - How to create magical human moments (online) - with Jan Keck

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Magic isn’t stuck in children’s books and feel-good films, it’s here. It’s among us. It’s in our vulnerability, our connection, and our understanding.

The moment I met Jan Keck, I knew I wanted to speak to him on workshops work.

Jan has spent many years facilitating magical human moments - deep phases of connection and communication between people - and, well, isn’t that what so much of our work as facilitators comes down to?

So, join us as we weave threads between psychological safety, experience design, vulnerability, owning our mistakes and imperfections to find, when we look back, that we’ve inadvertently captured so much of what it truly means to be a facilitator.

It really is magical.

Find out about:

What it means to make magical human moments and Jan’s ‘campfire formula’ for them
How to design activities that level the playing field and suit different personalities
The power of stating out-of-bounds topics (such as small talk!) before an event
Why vulnerability is a gateway to connection
How Jan uses ‘cellphone sleeping bags’ to encourage connection in his workshops
The power of reframing and how it gives us permission to fail
What happens in the room when the facilitator admits something has gone wrong

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!

Questions and Answers

[01:05] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[03:41] What do you mean by “making magical human moments?”

[04:45] And what is it that makes magical human moments?

[10:29] How do you find the right level of vulnerability with which to open a workshop?

[15:09] How can we avoid the trap of falling into small talk?

[20:14] What’s a question you love to start with that isn’t “what do you do for work?”

[22:09] How do you handle the difference between individuals who sign up for a workshop with you and a team whose manager has brought you in for a workshop?

[24:05] How do you come up with creative ideas?

[26:56] What’s the story behind your ‘campfire formula’ for facilitating magical human moments?

[29:42] Explain to us your ‘cell phone sleeping bag’!

[32:30] Can you talk about the three different types of listening?

[36:13] What makes a workshop fail?

[40:44] Do you keep a list of the mistakes you’ve made?

[42:19] What is your favourite in-person exercise?

[47:17] What is your favourite online exercise?

[49:40] Was there anything else you wanted to bring to this conversation?

[51:35] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Website

Cards

Virtual Facilitator Training

Virtual Eye Gazing Experiment

Zoom Tips free PDF

YouTube

Connect to Jan:

Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

121 - Why mental fitness matters and how to improve yours - with Jodie Rogers

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200

We are experiencing a long-overdue explosion of information and awareness about mental health. Just as we’ve steadily developed great interventions for our physical ills, we are now developing similar solutions for our mental ills.

But prevention is always preferable to cures.

Developing our mental fitness can have a hugely positive effect on us as individuals, collectives, and professionals, but it’s not yet a prominent part of the public discussion around mental wellbeing.

Jodie Rogers, founder of Symbia, mental fitness expert, and published author, is on a mission to make mental fitness a key part of how we live and work. She joins me in this episode to share how we can start practicing better mental fitness individually and collectively.

Find out about:

What the difference is between mental health and mental fitness
The evidence behind mental fitness and Jodie’s work in the field
How Jodie coaches mental fitness in corporate settings
How we can all work on our mental fitness independently
The common cognitive traps we set ourselves and what we can do to increase our awareness of them
How and why to prime a group before a workshop
Why Jodie thinks it’s important to call out signals of discontentment, boredom, or disagreement in a group

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Thanks to our sponsor “Dancing with Markers”. Click here to get the workshops work discount for Lauren’s upcoming visual facilitation course.

Questions and Answers

[01:00] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator, if you do at all?

[04:20] Can you explain what mental fitness is?

[09:07] Would you call mental fitness a growth mindset?

[14:21] How do you go about teaching groups mental fitness?

[18:08] Does raising this group- and self-awareness improve our understanding of perceptual differences?

[19:50] Do you use any specific tools or ideas to help people understand how their attention works?

[25:56] Do you have a favourite tool or exercise for applying mental fitness?

[29:16] How do you recognise whether a group is mentally available or if there is tension in it?

[31:46] How would you advise someone about calling out visible tension in a group?

[36:04] What sort of scene-setting do you do to make ‘calling out’ possible in a group setting?

[41:03] What makes a workshop fail?

[43:26] What would be your advice for showing up even when we don’t feel very mentally fit?

[45:20] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Symbia, Jodie’s company

Jodie’s Mental Fitness Scorecard

Connect to Jodie:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

120 - Facilitating Group Dynamics with Grace Lau

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200

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 groups
Why it’s okay to interfere with a group’s dynamic for the sake of the workshop’s objective
Why we should reconsider the unnatural (and impossible) idea of neutrality
How changes in dynamics are often the result of patterns, not single events
Stories from Grace’s experience of facilitating workshops on group dynamics
How social cues have (and have not) translated to online tools, adjusting group dynamics without us realising
What impact hybrid workshops will have on group dynamics

Don’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

[01:04] 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?

Links

HSD site: https://www.hsdinstitute.org/resources/inquiry-is-the-answer-covid-19-recordings.html

Connect to Grace:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

119 - Using the power of analogies for your facilitation with Michel Barrett

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Analogies are a powerful tool - they’re communication kaleidoscopes, reflecting and refracting our ideas into a multitude of new, eye-catching alternatives.

It’s a tool that we use regularly. I know in my workshops, I will fall back on helpful analogies to explain complex topics. On this podcast, guests (and I) will use analogies to explain new concepts. In many conversations, you’ll find analogies cropping up.

It was about time workshops work dedicated some space to this powerful tool! Thankfully, I was able to speak to one of the best possible analogists - Michael Barrett, founder of Resonance, LLC and multi-hyphenate-careerist.

Michael’s thinking is a breath of fresh air and our conversation flowed beautifully. Journey with us as we explore the power of analogies in facilitation.

Find out about:

Michael’s portfolio career of massage therapy, consultancy, and facilitation
How massage therapy taught Michael to see organisations as organism
How interdisciplinary thinking helps Michael see the world in analogies
Why we shouldn’t always avoid pain, as it can lead to sustained relief
The neuroscientific reasons for using analogies when you facilitate
Knowing where an analogy’s limits are
Understanding the ground rules of using analogies effectively in workshops

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!

Questions and Answers

[01:38] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[06:52] Where do you see the parallels between facilitation and being a massage therapist?

[10:46] It sounds like the environment - making a safe space - matters just as much there?

[15:58] Do you think the focus on “fixing” afflicts massage therapists and facilitators equally?

[19:45] Can pain be productive and healing - as in massage therapy?

[21:33] Do analogies’ power in workshops come from adding personal, experiential relatability?

[24:33] How do you usually use analogies in your facilitation practice?

[28:28] Does knowing the science behind how analogies work allow you to use them in new, boundary-pushing ways?

[30:57] How can you determine what good and bad analogies are?

[34:06] Has a participant ever refuted or pushed back on one of your analogies?

[38:00] Are there specific moments when you use an analogy, or would you build an entire workshop around one?

[40:15] What makes a workshop fail?

[45:52] Do you have a favourite analogy?

[48:26] Is using analogies effectively a talent or a muscle?

[54:02] Do you have a favourite exercise?

[57:51] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Resonance Facilitation, Michael’s company

South East Association of Facilitators

Connect to Michael:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

118 - Unusual facilitation: Podcasting, theatre and audio-only platforms with Pilar Orti

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Facilitation is a creative practice, but I am constantly surprised by the intersections people find and create between it and other creative practices.

How about theatre? Podcasting? Audio-only social spaces?

Pilar Orti is interested in all of the above and has some fascinating insights to share from her experiments so far.

Join us in this episode of workshops work to explore facilitation using different creative media, the balance of process and outcomes, and for lots of light and laughter along the way.

Find out about:

How a career in theatre helped Pilar forge her path in facilitation
Why Pilar purposefully hosts online workshops with a ‘rough’, messy background
What it takes to facilitate an audio-only workshop
Whether a medium like podcasting could be a valuable facilitation tool
How facilitating through different media can empower teams to self-direct and collaborate
Why the process of experimental workshops is inherently valuable, regardless of outcomes

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Thanks to our sponsor “Dancing with Markers”. Click here to get the workshops work discount for Lauren’s visual facilitation course.

Questions and Answers

[01:23] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[03:04] What about theatre helps us create the space for collaboration?

[07:43] How do you debrief creative, theatre-based exercises?

[11:15] How did you come to start your company, Virtual Not Distant?

[15:14] How do you connect virtual meetings and embodied facilitation?

[18:20] What do you have to do when facilitating an audio-only conversation?

[22:58] How do you interpret silence in an audio-only setting?

[27:00] Can you share your experience of facilitating in a Twitter Space?

[29:54] How do you interrupt people – if you do at all – in an audio-only space?

[33:09] Could you explain the idea you’re carrying with you, of using a podcast as a facilitation tool?

[41:00] Is it so important that a team brings forth the outcomes of a workshop, or is the power in simply experiencing the process together enough?

[44:47] What is your favourite exercise?

[48:38] Can you use Clap, Jump, Go in online workshops?

[49:45] What makes a workshop fail?

[54:36] Is there anything you wanted to discuss that hasn’t come up yet?

[58:19] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Virtual Not Distant, Pilar’s company

Connect to Pilar:

On Twitter

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

117 - How to use systems thinking in facilitation with Johanna Tysk

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200

It’s not uncommon for guests on workshops work to introduce new and unique angles to the practice of facilitation, but I should have known things would jump to another level when I invited transdisciplinary, systems-thinking, complexity-loving Johanna Tysk to the show!

Our conversation was intriguing, challenging, daring, and endlessly enjoyable.

Join us in this week’s episode for an exploration of systems thinking, object constellations, modern physics, and many more beautifully intertwined topics.

Find out about:

Johanna’s background and belief in transdisciplinary design
What it looks like to disentangle different types of culture
What happens when we use our bodies to help us understand, perceive, and solve problems
Why letting go of our desire for control and embracing emergence will make us better facilitators
How Johanna creates safe spaces in workshops for creative self-exploration and -identification
Why the study of complexity needs communities to really make progress

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!

Questions and Answers

[01:31] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - do you call yourself a facilitator?

[02:24] What is the difference between facilitating and carrying the identity of ‘a facilitator’?

[04:17] Can you talk a little about transdisciplinary design and how it influences your work today?

[05:38] How would you define systems thinking?

[07:52] How do you approach the different systems within a group and work with them as a whole?

[11:51] Why do you think object constellations can be so impactful?

[17:31] Are there disciplines that combine particularly well together? How do you find that out?

[19:03] How does Chaos Theory come into your work?

[23:25] How do you bring people’s deeply personal object constellations together into group work?

[31:20] What’s your approach to gently introducing object constellations to a group?

[32:54] What do you mean by “bringing your body into the space”?

[37:45] What is your process for designing a facilitated session?

[41:24] How do you equip people to step out of the safe space you create in your workshops?

[45:45] What makes a workshop fail?

[49:22] When would you choose constellations instead of another creative medium?

[52:37] Are there any red flags you would encourage people to look out for if trying object constellations for the first time?

[55:35] Is there anything else you wanted to bring to this conversation that hasn’t come up yet?

Connect to Johanna:

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

116 - Process literacy: The new collaborative team skill with Ewen le Borgne

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Teams are embracing hybrid work - which means more asynchronous work, variable communication signals from person to person, and an opportunity for widespread adoption of facilitative skills.

It’s a huge opportunity, but it comes with more than a few occupational risks!

So, how can we help teams self-facilitate in the age of remote and hybrid work?

Ewen Le Borgne is betting on process literacy as the foundation of self-facilitation. Find out why and learn how he thinks we can make it happen in this electric episode.

Find out about:

How hybrid has been the catalyst for a new level of understanding in teams
Why humans’ innate decision-making nature means facilitation is a life skill
What the “magical superpower” is that Ewen believes we all have
The tools, techniques, and mindsets needed to distribute facilitative skills
Which facilitative school of thought Ewen believes is “The Silent Revolution”
How Ewen asks contributors to manage the running time of a workshop
Why we should all seek a state of ‘confusiasm’

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Thanks to our sponsor “Dancing with Markers”. Click here to get the workshops work discount for Lauren’s upcoming visual facilitation course.

Questions and Answers

[01:06] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:49] What is it about the label of ‘facilitator’ that many of us find to be restrictive?

[03:42] What do you mean by “the step after the facilitator”?

[06:00] Would a self-facilitated structure work for any kind of collaborative work?

[06:44] What skills do people need to balance the group dynamics and personalities?

[09:41] What do we need to learn – and unlearn – for process literacy and self-facilitation to work?

[10:49] Does the sensory nature of communication create a barrier for asynchronous work?

[12:58] Does my understanding of process literacy align with yours?

[15:44] The idea of “choosing not to decide things” has a fatal flaw, doesn’t it?

[17:01] How would you deal with the risk of certain people monopolising a conversation?

[20:11] What is your favourite exercise?

[25:02] What is the relationship between Liberating Structures and process literacy?

[28:12] What do you mean when you say that each Liberating Structure is like a word in a language?

[33:27] When and how can Liberating Structures go wrong?

[37:31] How do you use participants/contributors as part of your time management process?

[46:50] If we see conversations as a competition, do we lose the opportunity for progress?

[50:11] When you start distributing tasks throughout the group, do we dissolve the role of the facilitator?

[54:01] What makes a workshop fail?

[57:30] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Ewen’s 10 Commandments of Group Facilitation

Process Change, Ewen’s company

Ewen’s knowledge management blog: Agile Knowledge Management For Me… For You?

Connect to Ewen:

Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

115 - How to facilitate a winning culture with Viren Thakrar

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Every organisation has a culture. Whether its leaders pay attention to it or not. Leaving culture untouched is leaving money on the table and employee satisfaction up to chance.

That’s why Viren Thakrar founded In The Game - a consultancy that helps organisations build winning cultures, with the helping hand of facilitation.

Viren joins me in this episode to share the secrets he’s learned from years of work with team leaders and executives, as well as the story of how coaching junior soccer and selling sociometric training helped him hone his unique perspective on facilitation.

Find out about:

What it means to have a winning culture
What Viren learned about facilitation from junior soccer coaching
Why people leaving a business can actually be a measure of growth
How to track culture’s impact on organisational success
Which games, tools, and concepts Viren uses to facilitate culture
The multi-faceted connections that make up our experience of work culture
Where we should focus first if we want to build a winning culture

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Thanks to our sponsor “Dancing with Markers”. Click here to get the workshops work discount for Lauren’s upcoming visual facilitation course.

Questions and Answers

[01:08] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[03:39] What did you take from that first experience of facilitation that impacts your work now?

[04:27] You founded your company – In The Game – what’s the story there?

[08:08] What did you learn about facilitation from coaching junior soccer?

[10:26] How do you define a winning culture?

[12:46] Can something like personal growth be measured like other business results? If so, how?

[17:08] When is the moment to start working on culture? How do you start the process?

[18:26] What would your advice be to leaders who want their culture to keep growing?

[19:38] How would you facilitate the process of growing a better coach instead of a micromanager?

[22:41] How do you facilitate such a complex, potentially-harmful process?

[25:23] How does connection relate to building culture?

[28:54] If there are four key connections, which one would you start working with to develop a winning culture?

[34:30] What makes a workshop fail?

[35:35] What is this game, Quinks, about?

[37:09] How can leaders learn to be better coaches without being told what coaching skills are?

[39:05] Can you explain the different contexts of Quinks?

[44:32] How do you close out this game?

[46:00] How do people start implementing their learnings?

[48:00] What skills are needed for a successful one-on-one, rather than a team, meeting?

[52:43] Can Quinks be self-facilitated?

[55:45] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Viren’s Business: https://www.inthegame.com.au/

Connect to Viren:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

114 - How to facilitate alignment with Lindsay Uittenbogaard

Wed, 26 May 2021 05:00:00 +0200

Alignment would be one of the first words added to the facilitation dictionary, but the concept can sometimes suffer with a reputation as a ‘washy’ or ‘soft’ topic.

Lindsay Uittenbogaard is leading the mission to change that perception completely, with a data-focused, scientific interpretation of what it means for teams to be aligned… and misaligned.

Join us in this episode as we explore what it means when a team is misaligned, how we can measure and improve alignment, and why – in the end – absolute alignment should never be the goal.

Sharpen your skillset by spending an hour with Lindsay – you won’t regret it!

Find out about:

How data can assess, measure, and predict convergence and divergence
Why conversation is not always the best way to discuss alignment
Why data is essential to understand alignment, but is not enough on its own
How frameworks and systems offer us an entry point for improving alignment
The difference between agreement and alignment
The idiosyncrasies of misalignment in a remote working world
Tips for listeners who are interested in working on team alignment

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary.

Thanks to our sponsor “Dancing with Markers”. Click here to get the workshops work discount for Lauren’s upcoming visual facilitation course.

Questions and Answers

[01:09] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator? If you don’t, what do you call yourself?

[02:15] Is alignment measured in quantitative or qualitative data?

[07:22] How do you measure the ‘severity’ of misalignment?

[10:15] What makes starting to work on our misalignments so complicated?

[13:07] Is there a Catch 22 when it comes to addressing misalignment?

[18:46] Can you convince someone to align, even if you can’t convince them to agree?

[23:03] What’s an example of a situation in which misalignment is normal and fine to leave as it is?

[30:12] Can you ‘overalign’ by going too granular and focused in the work?

[33:33] Have pandemic-enforced remote work amplified the issue of misalignment?

[36:10] How can we demystify alignment and give people a clearer definition of it?

[42:39] What three questions would you advise a team leader ask their team to get an alignment ‘temperature check’?

[43:09] What are the risks in trying to align a team when you don’t know how to do so?

[44:40] What leads to increased frustration in teams, related to misalignment?

[48:05] Do you have a favourite exercise?

[49:21] What is the threshold for ‘acceptable’ misalignment and problematic misalignment?

[52:48] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

MirrorMirror Alignment

Connect to Lindsay:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

113 - Taoism, agility, and the essence of facilitation with Dov Tsal

Wed, 19 May 2021 00:00:00 +0200

Facilitation has many intersections, but one I didn’t ever think I would discuss on this podcast is that of Taoism and facilitation.

Yet, here we are, and it has proven to be an eye-opening, enriching experience.

This week, I am joined by Dov Tsal. Dov is a Scrum Master, coach, and transformation expert with an exceptional and unique perspective on facilitation.

Join us as we explore the shared roots and surprising similarities between this ancient Eastern religion and the practice of facilitation. I think you will be amazed by the connections Dov makes.

Find out about:

Dov’s connection to Taosim and how it complements and enhances his work
Why emotional energy is so important if we want to achieve transformation
How Dov differentiates between Taoist Agile and Agile
Dov’s secret to ‘always being right’
Why great facilitation comes from deep preparation that is loosely held
Why Dov believes so strongly in the value in emergent facilitation
How we can use silence in our workshop design
Negotiating our narratives about the past and future to help us be present

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:06] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[05:15] What other schools of thought have inspired you as a facilitator?

[07:21] If we are like neurons in a brain, what is our equivalent to synapses?

[09:05] When was the moment you connected Taoism with your work?

[13:02] What is something that people get wrong about what agile actually is?

[18:47] What does harmony look like in an organisation?

[21:13] What – if any – difference is there between Tao Agile and ‘normal’ Agile?

[23:41] How do you teach people to always be right?

[28:27] Could you read a short Tao poem for us?

[30:26] How do you relate this idea – of removing the self and accepting the whole – to facilitation?

[32:41] How do you prepare for a workshop?

[37:25] How would you normally start a workshop, if you have not prepared for it?

[41:48] What is the real role of a facilitator if a group can conclude a workshop without us?

[46:13] What makes a workshop fail?

[55:46] How do we negotiate workshops when people enter them with ‘history’ or preconceptions?

[58:57] How do you create space for participants to be fully present?

[01:05:02] Does the opening exercise of asking ‘why are you here?’ help to create that space?

[01:13:15] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Dov’s Podcast - The Agile Tao Podcast

Dov’s meeting cards: The Meeting Spicer

The Agile Tao book

Watch a talk between Dov with Peter Merel:here, or one about leadership: here

Connect to Dov:

Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

112 - Demystifying Visual Collaboration with Ole Qvist-Sørensen

Wed, 12 May 2021 06:00:00 +0200

I have always said that words make worlds, but language is just one lens through which we can see and decipher our experiences.

What of drawings? Colours? Icons?

Expanding our vocabulary and incorporating visual collaboration into our lexicon can only be a good, productive thing.

So, in an effort to better understand the application and impact of visual collaboration, I wanted to learn from one of the most experienced and clearest-thinking practitioners - Ole Qvist-Sørensen, author of Visual Collaboration and founder of Bigger Picture Aps.

So listen in, enjoy, and explore a new way of communicating and collaborating.

Find out about:

Why communicating complexity requires more tools than just language
Separating graphic recording, visual facilitation, and visual collaboration
How to manage the risk of miscommunicating when using visuals
How visuals can complement language, not replace them
Exercises and ideas for implementing visual collaboration in workshops
How we can address bias in our visual communication
Whether we should consider updating our cultural iconography for the digital world

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:15] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[04:09] Has your definition of facilitation changed over the last 20+ years?

[08:42] What’s the difference between visual collaboration and visual facilitation?

[12:39] How do you deal with things getting ‘lost in translation’ when we communicate visually?

[25:17] How can we prepare a group for visual collaboration and avoid having a long ‘training’-focused introduction?

[32:01] To what extent can visual communication be biased and how can we challenge this?

[37:37] What makes a workshop fail?

[40:07] What did you learn from your ‘failed’ experience?

[42:59] What would have been the best moment to introduce visual collaboration in this instance?

[49:14] Have you ever had a client that found visual collaboration to be ‘too alien’?

[51:09] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Ole’s dedicated ‘podcast supplement’ webpage with exercise examples and guides

Bigger Picture, Ole’s company website

Visual Collaboration, Ole’s book

Connect to Ole:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

111 - More Space for Innovation through Facilitation with Dan Levy

Tue, 11 May 2021 11:00:00 +0200

Facilitating innovation in times of need, the world of ‘futuring’, examining greys in a black and white world - these are big topics, but Dan Levy explores them with guile and clarity.

This is little wonder, as Dan is a deeply-experienced in a variety of fields. Moving from sports media to UX design and later to facilitating strategy and innovation, Dan’s CV is a rich, broad spectrum of fascinating experiences.

He joins me in this episode to talk about a little bit of everything - from the nuts and bolts of how and why he facilitates innovation workshops to creating wild ideas in the process of ‘futuring’.

It’s a real smorgasbord of thought-provoking nuggets. Tuck in!

Find out about:

How lateral thinking, design, and a little inspiration from his son led Dan to start his business
Exploring the grey areas and shades in a world obsessed with black and white choices
Understanding innovation as an outcome, not a process
Why facilitating innovation in-house should come before outsourcing it
Exploring ‘futuring’, its role in facilitation, and vice versa
Dan’s methods for empowering clients to get the right people in the room
How to deal with dissenting voices in a workshop – and why we shouldn’t simply try to silence them

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Thanks to our sponsor “Dancing with Markers”. Get the workshops work discount for Lauren’s upcoming visual facilitation course!

Questions and Answers

[01:01] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[01:53] What is “your world”?

[03:35] Which is more important in facilitation – confidence or expertise?

[09:34] What’s the story behind your company’s name – More Space for Light?

[13:23] What role do shades play in our lives?

[18:20] What are the opportunities and challenges in facilitating organisational innovation?

[23:23] Can you say a little about The Future of Now – the monthly talkshops you started last year?

[29:45] Where is the line between the urge to outsource innovation and being forced to innovate?

[32:49] What is ‘futuring’?

[34:40] Is it important to invite dissenting voices to a workshop?

[36:09] What makes a workshop fail?

[37:10] Whose responsibility is it to make sure the right people are in the room?

[39:46] Is there a sweet spot for the number of participants in a workshop?

[49:12] What’s your favourite exercise?

[52:40] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

More Space for Light’s website

The Future of Now, the monthly talkshops Dan organised following the pandemic

More Space for Light YouTube

110 - Facilitation as a Service - with Aleksandra Potrykus-Majewska

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0200

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 WeWent
Why procurement processes can limit the quality of workshops
Why cultural fit is as important as professional expertise when hiring a facilitator
The skills and certifications that are most in demand with Ola’s clients
Ola’s thoughts on the different ways to promote yourself as a solo facilitator
Why being rigid with methodologies and language can alienate potential clients
Ola’s thoughts on pricing, based on her own experience and the facilitators she works with

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast

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

[01:06] 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?

Links

WeWent website

Connect to Ola:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

109 - How to talk about soft topics with rational people with Marloes Sikkema

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0200

Purpose is becoming an increasingly important part of corporate culture, but how there are still misconceptions and doubts about its value - especially in ‘rational’ fields, such as engineering.

But the thing is, every company has a purpose - even if it doesn’t seem obvious to the people within it. How can we help clients understand purpose, empower their people to take ownership of their part in it, and take it away from theory and into ‘real world’ application?

Marloes Sikkema, the founder of AMICA Innovatie and designer of ZENITH (the Purpose Anatomy game), is the perfect person to ask… so I did!

Find out about:

Marloes’ technique for translating ‘elusive’ purpose into ‘rational’ language
Cutting through buzzwords and broad terms when defining purpose
Managing the risk of opening schisms and misalignments within a company
Why innovation and purpose share far more in common than we might think
Exploring ‘purpose in action’ – the real-world application of purpose
Marloes’ one piece of advice for anyone who wants to push their company towards a conversation around purpose

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:24] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator, if you do?

[02:54] What does facilitation mean to you?

[04:45] What do you think holds people back from really buying-in to purpose and believing that their voice matters?

[06:48] How do you align with a client before starting an engagement to help them get over the purpose ‘threshold’?

[10:33] How do you help groups understand that purpose is important to work on and how do you use games to help them do that work?

[17:07] Can you explain the relevance of animals in your game, ‘Zenith’?

[19:57] How do you overcome broad, corporate buzzword terms (e.g. ‘being trustworthy’) when working on purpose?

[23:11] Do you often uncover contradictions within a company when working on purpose?

[27:25] Whose responsibility is it to own and manage realignment from moments of contradiction?

[29:42] How much time do you spend on properly defining the words used to describe a company’s purpose?

[35:19] What makes a workshop fail?

[38:51] What’s your favourite exercise?

[41:47] When you ask somebody about their purpose, do you put them into breakout rooms or ask as part of the wider group?

[46:03] How do you bring the conversation about purpose back together after breaking it down into smaller parts?

[47:36] What’s the impact of the purpose conversation on the innovation conversation?

[50:02] What is the one thing you would recommend to someone who wants their company to start talking about purpose?

[51:42] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

AMICA Innovatie

Traction’s curated collection of business tools (including Zenith)

Serious game (& the Dutch version)

Information and guidance on when to use Zenith

Connect to Marloes on

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

108 - From frustrated leader to impactful facilitator with Bjarne Holmes

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0200

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 lesson
The perils of overpreparing and how to balance our need for safety with the group’s need for self-determination
The power in peer learning and handing participants and learners the reins
Why experiential education should be our priority and why the lecture format is the fastest way to lose a room
Exploring collective consciousness and group intelligence
The merits of online, asynchronous learning (and its drawbacks)

Don’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

[01:13] 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?

Links

Bjarne's Profile

InSpace

Bjane’s podcast: Relationship Matters

Connect to Bjarne:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

107 - Unleash your facilitation superpowers with Jacob Chromy

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0200

We use our facilitation skills in our work, but these are universally applicable skills. Negotiating with a toddler, hosting parties, working out which takeout to order!

Join me and Jacob Chromy in this episode of workshops work to learn how we can apply our facilitation skills in more walks of life - and how people from all walks of life can identify the facilitation skills they’ve been using this whole time!

It felt so liberating to explore the different ways our tools of the trade can be applied to make a difference in so many ways I hadn’t considered before. This conversation with Jacob really helped me see my work in a new light. I hope it will do the same for you, too!

Find out about:

What Jacob learned from product design that he applies to workshop design
How Jacob used facilitation skills with local climate groups to great effect
How we are using facilitation skills in our daily lives without realising it
Exploring barcamps – “ the anti-conference” – and how Jacob uses barcamps as part of in-house peer learning programmes
Flattening the room in person and online
Why Jacob created ‘family workshops’ and how they are used

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:20] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[03:15] What is ‘pen and paper role play’?

[06:18] Did you learn anything from Role Playing Games that apply in your work today?

[08:05] What do you apply from your past in product design to your present in workshop design?

[19:43] What is a barcamp?

[21:48] How does this differ from an open space format?

[27:50] Can you explain Troika consulting in a little more detail?

[34:54] How do you use barcamp at quäntchen + glück - what are ‘Donedays’?

[38:49] What makes a workshop fail?

[40:53] Do you treat ‘workshop’ and ‘process’ as synonyms?

[44:12] I feel like I can sense the room in a remote workshop, is that not the same for you?

[52:49] Could you talk about your family workshops?

[58:27] What is the one thing you would like listeners to takeaway from this episode?

Links

‘Doneday’ at quäntchen + glück

Rolepay/Rollenspiel & Facilitation LinkedIn Group (German)

Facilitating For Future and Climate Activists - Climate Roundtable (German) and Template

Barcamp

Open Space

Troika Consulting

Connect to Jacob:

Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

106 - From offline to online to hybrid meetings with Joseph Allen

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0200

This week, I am joined by Joe Allen – a meeting scientist, professor of Industrial Organisational Psychology, Director at the Center for Meeting Effectiveness, and co-author of Suddenly Virtual.

Joe’s dedication to the science of how and why we meet is helping to advance organisations’ understanding of how to have better meetings and, for the last year or so, his focus has been on the sudden shift we had to make to online meetings.

Now, as we start to emerge from the throes of the pandemic, he is predicting a rise in hybrid meetings - in which some people are on-site and others are remote.

Together, we explore how we can have successful hybrid meetings and how we can make meetings of all formats run more smoothly, efficiently, and enjoyably.

Find out about:

Why better meetings start with diagnosis, not solutions
The three most common issues Joe finds in meetings – and their solutions
Whether cancelling a meeting is helpful or harmful
What lessons Joe learned in writing his book: Suddenly Virtual
The positive and negative changes we’ve seen in the shift to online meetings
Exploring hybrid meetings: their limitations, potential, and use cases
How businesses and teams can prepare for hybrid meetings

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:01] You are a meeting scientist! What is that?

[03:16] Would you call yourself a facilitator?

[06:36] What gets in the way and creates the knowing vs. doing gap?

What are the top three issues you encounter with meetings?

[08:18] 1) Overload

[12:36] 2) Challenging personalities

[18:46] 3) Stale meetings

[24:25] What has been the impact of the switch to ‘Suddenly Virtual’?

[27:32] Did people at the top of the hierarchy struggle most with the shift to virtual?

[31:30] What is a hybrid meeting?

[34:17] What are the traps in hybrid meetings that facilitation can help us avoid?

[37:38] Do people naturally fall into ‘subgroups’ in hybrid meetings?

[43:47] Do hybrid meetings require more facilitation than other formats?

[45:20] What makes a meeting fail?

[52:00] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Joe’s website

Joe’s new book, Suddenly Virtual

The Meeting by Helen B. Schwartzman

Connect to Joe:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

105 - Facilitation beyond the Toolbox with Nadia von Holzen

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0100

Structure contains us and sets boundaries, it can’t make space for freedom or creativity… can it?

Liberating Structures says otherwise - and Nadia von Holzen joins me in this episode to discuss the benefits and practical applications of these methods.

Nadia is an independent facilitator and advocate for better meetings, collaboration, and creativity. I was taken aback by how many insights and great ideas she left in this episode, speaking with passion and conviction about a huge range of topics.

We danced from Liberating Structures and digital facilitation to thinking fast and slow and analysing the language we use to describe the people we work with. It was a wonderful conversation that I hope you will enjoy.

Find out about:

The importance of process thinking and why COVID has made it more urgent

Why Nadia doesn’t like to call people “participants”
Identifying a new zeitgeist of workshops, collaboration, and work
Why facilitative skills are needed in every area of an organisation
Why more content and inputs will rarely make a better meeting
How to get started with Liberating Structures
Finding the balance between fast and unhurried

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:09] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:58] How does facilitation change when you focus on the “how”, not the “why”?

[04:18] How do you bring your experience in knowledge management into facilitation?

[07:25] How has the pandemic changed the way you prepare and deliver your workshops?

[13:09] Is everyone equally in charge of the process, not just the facilitator?

[14:35] How can we strengthen our ‘process muscles’?

[18:12] Nobody intends to host a bad meeting, so why do they happen?

[19:14] What’s the minimum facilitation skill people should learn that would have the biggest impact?

[22:42] Could Liberating Structures be the holy grail for helping organisations have better meetings?

[24:46] What is beyond the toolbox?

[27:21] Is four the magic number of people to have in a breakout room?

[29:30] What makes a workshop fail?

[32:15] How do you select a person within an organisation with whom you will co-facilitate?

[37:09] Can you share more about speed and pacing?

[44:15] How does quality conversation and communication contribute to sense-making?

[46:04] Why confidence matters so much – and why it’s a constant work in progress.

[48:21] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links:

Nadia’s website

Liberating Structures

Unhurried conversations

Connect to Nadia:

Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

104 - How to use Integral Facilitation Quadrants to design successful workshops with Gabriel Couture

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0100

Empathy is a cornerstone of facilitation. Without it, we are only thrusting ideas and intentions on people. With it, we meet people where they are and work with them, as they need us too, to create the right outcome for that moment.

Gabriel Couture, a Learning and Service Experience Designer based out of Toronto, has been working on structuralising empathy - using a framework of integral facilitation quadrants that tap into people’s motivations, personalities, and moods.

We discussed integral facilitation quadrants at length, but also delved into the idiosyncrasies of facilitating large groups and the challenges of meeting online.

It was a wide-ranging conversation that flowed beautifully and uncovered some fascinating insights for both of us. I hope you will find it just as illuminating!

Find out about:

What integral facilitation quadrants are and why they are effective tools
Why orientation and alignment are the ‘true north’ of meetings
Why appreciating that we all have different starting points (orientations) is the key to guiding a group
How we come from different places, have different motivations, and need different things to feel comfortable
The differences between facilitating small and large groups
Applying integral facilitation quadrants in online spaces
How Gabe has adapted his practice for online spaces
Identifying where structure stops helping and starts hindering the group

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:20] When did you first call yourself a facilitator?

[04:08] To what extent did gaining a certification change the way your worked as a facilitator?

[08:12] Do the integral facilitation quadrants have a hierarchy? Do they have to be approached in a sequence?

[10:44] How important is it to understand your audience when using integral facilitation quadrants?

[12:28] Do you design online and offline events in different ways, to accommodate for the increased variance of personalities?

[15:57] Can we picture the quadrants as obstacles that we need to overcome to achieve a successful outcome?

[20:07] What have you learned from integrating quadrants in your workshops and events?

[23:00] Is it easier or harder to facilitate large groups online?

[27:06] What is your experience with bringing people back from breakout rooms?

[33:29] Why is it that we tend to over-explain or over-structure in online meetings?

[35:37] What makes a workshop fail?

[37:18] Do you have a silver bullet exercise to get people to buy-in?

[41:48] What do you do when you realise somebody doesn’t want to be in your workshop?

[45:58] It seems you’re applying a lot of your coaching tools to your facilitation work?

[47:17] How do coaching skills scale from working with individuals to working with a group?

[51:33] If you had a hashtag, what would it be?

[52:48] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Spring Strategies

Braindates

Cave Day

Connect to Gabe:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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103 - Facilitation and Jazz Music with Rich Goidel

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0100

This toe-tapping, energy-flowing, jam of a workshops work episode explores the similarities (and differences) between jazz music, strategy, and facilitation - with fabled facilitator Rich Goidel leading the beat.

Rich fell into facilitation from his career in creative planning and brand strategy and has been uncovering fascinating insights ever since, thanks in no small part to the unique intersections he finds between music, strategy, and facilitation.

We explore where these crossovers work and fall short, how we can all embody a bit more musicality in our work, and even find ourselves practicing a live activity using Rich’s industry-favourite Catalyst Cards!

Find out about:

Rich’s accidental journey from brand strategy to facilitation
How the need for alignment shows up in so many places in our lives
Joining the dots between strategy, music, and facilitation – and how they can each inspire new thought in the others
Hard skills vs. soft skills – and why soft skills are the hardest to master
Understanding who owns the ‘blame’ if a workshop doesn’t go to plan
Why preparation often takes twice as long as the workshop delivery itself
The tricky debate of whether we can own creative ideas
Why practice grants us the freedom to work with flexibility and creativity

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:08] When did you first start calling yourself a facilitator?

[04:32] What are the similarities and differences between strategy, music, and facilitation?

[09:05] What’s the magic ingredient in creating the space for leaders to be vulnerable?

[17:17] How do you help groups push themselves further and into discomfort – where real progress is made?

[19:57] Where do you draw the line between experimentation and taking the workshop off course?

[24:32] What does neutrality in facilitation mean to you?

[28:18] Who owns the ‘mistake’ if a workshop goes off track?

[31:43] What makes a workshop fail?

[35:50] What’s your stance on ownership of creative exercises? Can we own ideas?

[40:43] What is your favourite way to use Catalyst Cards in an exercise?

[45:34] Rich and I practice using Catalyst Cards mid-podcast!

[48:08] What would be the wrong way to use Catalyst Cards?

[51:32] If you had a hashtag, what would it be?

[52:41] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

dangerous.kitchen - Rich’s company website

Rich’s Catalyst Cards

Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision-Making by Sam Kaner

Rich’s article, Racing Against The Clock (A Facilitator’s Lament)

Connect to Rich:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

102 - The intentional facilitator: How to turn passion into business with Robin Muretisch

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0100

Forging your own career or business in facilitation isn’t easy. As so many of the guests on this podcast can attest to, it’s often the case that we don’t know that we are facilitators until somebody introduces us to the concept.

So, how can facilitators create a career or business in facilitation with intention, strategy, and confidence?

Robin Muretisch is a shining example of how to do this! She joins me in this episode to share such vital advice and insights into how facilitators can launch out on their own, run a business, and avoid the mistakes she made.

Find out about:

Starting a career as an independent facilitator with intentionality
Which certifications and experiences made up Robin’s journey, and how she weighs their importance
The key differences between facilitating in-house and independently
How Robin deconstructed a big dream into small, actionable steps
How to network in a way that feels natural, not transactional
How Robin got her first solo gigs
Why Robin sees the administrative work of running a business as a privilege, rather than a chore

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers:

[01:23] When did you first start calling yourself a facilitator?

[04:17] Looking back on your first facilitated session, what would you do differently today?

[06:57] How did you pursue certification and training as a facilitator? What were the lessons you learned?

[09:05] Can you be truly neutral as a facilitator?

[10:48] How do you separate what you want from what the group needs?

[12:36] How do you get people to really buy-in to something you are leading and/or facilitating?

[14:45] How did you go from internal facilitator to external, independent facilitator?

[20:22] What do you wish you had known before you started as an independent facilitator?

[28:20] How did you get your first client?

[31:22] Does word of mouth still work, or do you need to have an online presence, too?

[34:49] What makes a workshop fail?

[37:26] How does approaching a session as an external facilitator to differ? Is it liberating to not be too attached to the business?

[41:36] Do you have a favourite exercise?

[50:21] If you had a hashtag, what would it be?

[51:23] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Robin’s website

Connect to Robin:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

101 - How to facilitate process improvement - human-centred and data-driven with Mark Whittaker

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0100

How much of your workday do you really pay attention to?

From where you sit to how often you get distracted and what happens when you come back from a break, all of these moments that make up our days are automatic processes.

What would happen if you could track and analyse the way you work?

Dr Mark Whittaker does just that and uses the data he gathers to design human-centred processes that help teams work better than they ever imagined. Combining qualitative and quantitative data with facilitation, Mark’s software vFlow helps businesses optimise their processes by working with their people, not against them.

It’s a fascinating marriage of facilitation, data, workshops, and processes. You can learn all about it in this episode of workshops work.

Find out about:

How chemical processes translate to business and commercial processes
Why opinions and data usually show very different versions of our ‘most important’ processes
How our processes change unconsciously throughout our day
Ways to manage your workload and protect it from unconscious slips
Why the thought of freeing up more of our time can actually scare us
The beautiful neutrality in challenging data, not behaviours
The importance of listening, as well as observing, when gathering data

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:07] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[04:37] Can you explain what v-Flow is and does?

[06:28] What have you learned about business processes from chemical processes?

[08:20] Is it possible to find the optimal business process when there are so many variables that need to be considered?

[11:32] What is the process behind your data collection process and how you decide what to focus on?

[13:16] Why is there so often a difference between what we think is our most important process and what the data shows us is our most important process?

[18:03] Can you share an example of identifying unconscious/automatic ways of working?

[21:21] Is the energy we spend changing automatic habits worth the end result or can it create problems?

[27:19] How do you bring the data you collect into a workshop setting?

[28:28] How do people react when they see the story presented in the data?

[33:21] This information can be like opening a Pandora’s Box – how do you handle that?

[38:19] Can data that is about people truly be neutral? Is there not some emotional reaction that comes with it?

[40:07] Can you share an example of gamification in practice?

[45:45] How do you encourage comfort and relaxation in a closed-off room?

[47:52] What makes a workshop fail?

[50:43] Has debriefing become harder in the age of remote work?

[52:27] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

Links

Velresco’s website

vFlow’s dedicated website

vWall’s dedicated website

Connect to Mark

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

100 - The nuggets that make workshops work - with 14 listeners

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0100

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 facilitation
How to develop a facilitator’s mindset
The essentials of workshop design
What we can learn from other disciplines to improve our facilitation skills

Don’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

[00:48] 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 invitation

Links

My eBook, containing the summaries of the first 60 episodes!
NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Festival
E39 - Thomas Lahntahler
E7 - Jeremy Akers
E58 - Mary Alice Arthur

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

099 - How to Grow Your Meeting Culture with Elise Keith

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 07:00:00 +0100

Bad meetings are all too common, but they are merely the product of every bad meeting that has come before them.

So, how do we break the cycle of unstructured, imbalanced, aimless meetings and create a structure and process that makes meetings enjoyable and productive?

There’s nobody better to answer that question than Elise Keith, founder and CEO of Lucid Meetings.

Elise joined me in this episode to discuss the essentials of understanding meetings, how we can use them as tools to impact our work for the better, and what we need to do to reclaim their power.

So, join us for a conversation that explores how you can start the important design and preparation work of creating a strong meeting culture within any organisation.

Find out about:

Why good meetings are the result of structure and mandates, not chance
How to get the basics – like structure and meeting minutes – right
Comparing Amazon and Brené Brown’s meeting structures
How online meetings can act as a great equaliser
The most common thing we get wrong about meetings – and how to can avoid it
How the shift to online meetings has democratised and simplified facilitation… and thrown up new complications
How options for anonymity in online meetings can help us flatten the room

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:04] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[04:09] Is the structure of a meeting more important than its facilitation?

[06:29] Is there a silver bullet that makes people respect a meeting’s timing and structure?

[08:43] Is rotating facilitation in a meeting a good idea?

[12:14] How do we escape the Catch 22 of having ineffective meetings and the desire to stay up-to-date?

[15:01] What is the best way to produce meeting minutes?

[16:31] What is your meeting routine in your own company?

[19:49] Can a good meeting culture proliferate from one team across an organisation?

[21:26] What are the hallmarks of good meeting structure?

[23:35] How important are check-ins?

[27:08] Can we have good online meetings if we never had good offline ones?

[32:21] What is the one thing you think we get wrong with meetings?

[36:25] Is there an exercise you would recommend to a team that’s rethinking their meeting culture?

[40:31] How can we help people see their own blindspots?

[43:11] Have we learned anything from online meetings that we can apply to offline ones?

[49:22] What is your strategy to help the quieter voices in a meeting speak up and feel heard?

[52:03] What is the one thing you would like people to take away from this episode?

Links

● Elise’s business: Lucid Meetings

● Elise’s book: Where the Action Is: The Meetings That Make or Break Your Organization

● 5 things every company should do (article)

● Meeting tools

● Lucid Meetings Events

●&n

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

098 - Agile for Everyone with Judith Mills

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 06:00:00 +0100

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 software
Why Agile is more a communication tool than a project management process
The importance of protecting your time from ‘unplanned work’
Why the time it takes to do a task is an unreliable measure of your workload
How Judith uses facilitation skills to help teams understand Agile
Why empowering the individuals in a team strengthens the collective
The secret to effective retrospectives

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?

Links

Judith's website

Esther Derby and Diana Larsen’s ‘Agile Retrospectives’

Michael Wilkinson’s ‘The Secrets of Facilitation’

Connect to Judith:

Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

097 - Keeping facilitation human with Paul Nunesdea

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 07:00:00 +0100

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 facilitation
Why individuality and a lack of neutrality are actually key to our effectiveness
What Paul believes is the most important core competency of facilitators
Why it helps to have different versions of the same consensus across communities
What Paul considers his biggest discovery in 2020
How Paul pictures the future of facilitation – including the strengths and limitations of facilitation by AI
Understanding collaboration architecture and how it appears in workplaces

Don’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

[01:17] 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 books

Digital Collaboration Academy, co-founded by Paul in 2020

Connect to Paul:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

096 - The interconnections between leadership and facilitation with John Varney

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:00:00 +0100

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 about

How teams can find their flow state by aligning on their purpose
Why it’s important to focus on purpose, not short-termism
Why play, creativity, and co-creation are the cornerstones of alignment
How to respond when your workshop uncovers a deeper issue that needs addressing
Where facilitation and leadership overlap
The important distinction between leaders and leadership
What John’s learned about leadership from facilitating so many leadership teams

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?

Links

The Centre for Management Creativity, John’s business

High Trenhouse, John’s management workshop and retreat venue

John’s book, Leadership as Meaning Making

Connect to John on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

095 - Workshop Your Life with Gabrielle Santa-Donato

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 07:00:00 +0100

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 workshops
What life design is and Gabrielle’s fascinating journey in the field
Why reframing our constraints can open up a world of possibility
How to know when to prototype beyond your comfort zone and when to take smaller steps
How Gabrielle has shifted from teaching and facilitating life design to facilitating Airbnb’s managers
How we could workshop our transition out of the pandemic

[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?

Links

Visit Gabrielle’s website

Listen to Gabrielle on “The Everyday Worker”

Watch Gabrielle’s life design webinar for the Harvard Alumni Association

Learn more about the Life Design Lab at Stanford

Watch Gabrielle’s

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

094 - How to build your confidence as a facilitator with Lauren Green

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 07:00:00 +0100

From exploring human graphs as a way of completing her homework in high school to flourishing as a multidisciplinary facilitator, dancer, and visual consultant, Lauren Green has had the kind of journey I love to learn about. Uniting seemingly disparate worlds, Lauren’s unique perspective on facilitation is as refreshing as it is revelatory.

She joined me in this episode to discuss how facilitators can become more confident in the nascent world of virtual facilitation, how dance and facilitation have more in common than many would think, and why we should strive for silence, not conversation.

Find out about:

How to encourage movement when we’re all behind cameras
How dance and facilitation move in step together
Why the skill of following is just as important as leading
How facilitators can build confidence in a world of virtual workshops
Three essential roles in virtual workshops
Why we should embrace non-verbal communication

Questions and Answers

[01:10] When did you first call yourself a facilitator?

[02:41] How did your teacher and your class react to you incorporating facilitation in your project?

[03:45] What did you learn from this experience – did it shape your view of facilitation at all?

[05:11] How has the shift to virtual facilitation impacted your work and facilitate style?

[08:51] Can you explain the origin of your business name – Dancing with Markers?

[14:03] What does confidence mean to you, as a facilitator?

[19:41] How do you read an online room?

[21:53] Can we delegate roles to participants that make them part of the workshop process?

[24:02] Why can it sometimes feel so hard to embody “don’t just do something, stand there”?

[29:14] What – if anything – is the key difference in mindset and skillset between virtual and on-site facilitators?

[31:07] What tools do you use in the lifecycle of preparing, hosting, and closing a workshop?

[37:17] Are virtual workshops inherently more vulnerable than on-site ones?

[44:35] The importance of dress rehearsals – and disaster rehearsals!

[48:57] What makes a workshop fail?

[51:21] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

[53:20] What is the one thing you would like listeners to takeaway from this conversation?

Lauren’s Resources

Lauren’s Business Page

Friday Coffee Chat for Virtual Facilitators

Dancing with Mural (and Google Docs) (free templates)

Mastering the Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback (Blog)

Self-Affirmations and Setting Boundaries with Others (Blog)

Other resources mentioned:

Books
Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There

Visual Practice Book

Episode 079 with Melissa Dinwiddie

Appreciative Living Learning Circles

Connect to Laura

On LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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093 - Apply Design Thinking Principles to Unlock Potential with Jeroen Frumau

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 07:00:00 +0100

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.

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 & Answers

01:41 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 America

57:47 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?

Links

Read 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 Skrobe

Connect

Jeroen's LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

092 - A simple guide to engaged online meetings with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 02:00:00 +0100

Do you want to create meetings that participants actively engage with?

When online meetings fail, it’s almost always because the offline meetings were bad in the first place. If you want every participant to engage with the meeting, you must be intentional from the start. The last thing you want to do is leave anyone out! As the facilitator, you must try and involve all participants by giving them enough opportunities to think, speak, and contribute to the meeting.

In this episode of workshops work, I take you on a journey of discovery and let you in on some of my top tips to create engaging online meetings. I talk about why Zoom fatigue has become a widespread phenomenon and what you can do to ensure your online meetings engage, inspire, and motivate real change.

So, are you ready to put the life back into your online meetings?

If so, I hope this solo episode of the podcast helps you to do just that!

Find out about:

The real reason why facilitators have bad online meetings
Why you need to have intention from the beginning of the meeting for it to be engaging and effective
How to actively involve all participants
How to host engaging online meetings
Why online meetings fail and how to avoid boring meetings
Why preparation is so important when hosting an online meeting
Why you must allow participants to close the previous task before starting
How to give the team lead more headspace to listen and contribute

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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091 - Behind the standard template - How to create mind-blowing visual experiences with Shayne Smart

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 02:00:00 +0100

Do you want to get better at creating mind-blowing visual experiences for participants?

If so, you need to think about the story and method behind your canvas and its templates. A template is designed to guide participants through the various experiences of the workshop. You can think of it like a visual guide that provides participants with the instructions they need to follow. However, you can take your templates a step further and use them to create captivating visual experiences for your participants.

Shayne Smart is an architect, designer and highly versatile change consultant with 5000 hours of experience in workshop design, facilitation, and delivery. So, who better to talk to about creating mind-blowing visual experiences than Shayne? I had the pleasure of speaking to him in this episode of workshops work, where he shares some of his best tips and advice to help you create unique templates that use icons and layouts that participants understand from their natural environment.

Shayne also reveals how to create a template that works and how to guide groups through online collaborative experiences!

Find out about:

What a canvas is and the importance of designing captivating templates
Why facilitators must learn to lead groups through an equal-voice conversation
How to use prompts from the real world to design a space that participants can navigate as if it were in a place
Why a lack of alignment can lead to a workshop failing
How to know you’ve done well as a facilitator
How to create a canvas for participants who work in small groups or asynchronously
Why you shouldn’t reveal the complexity of a problem in one go
… and so much more!

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:47] – When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:15] – What does it mean to you to be a facilitator?

[05:17] – How do you translate the key task of a facilitator into the templates you create?

[07:47] - What do you think most people get wrong when they design templates for workshops?

[15:55] – What is the difference between designing a template where you want a group to go from A to B and designing a landscape where you want a group to go from A to B?

[23:15] – How can you reduce the fear of waking something for the user?

[26:52] – How can you create an environment that triggers curiosity, and the will to interact?

[33:23] – How do you create a new habit of using a journal?

[42:38] – What makes a workshop fail?

[43:02] – What is your favourite exercise?

[47:07] – What is the one thing regarding the design production of the MURAL that you would have liked to know earlier?

[49:17] – How can you design something with the end in mind if you don't know the end?

[51:10] – What is the main takeaway from our conversation?

Connect to Shayne Smart:

Shayne’s LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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090 - Facilitation is like Gardening with Lee Kim

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 02:00:00 +0100

Facilitators want to inspire, motivate, and cultivate change and growth. However, facilitators cannot see into the future. No matter how hard we try, we cannot predict what will happen to the seed we planted. Whether the seed blossoms into a beautiful plant or withers away depends on so much more than the facilitator.

While facilitators cannot guarantee a good crop, we can provide intention, care, and thoughtful leadership. A facilitator who understands how to do all three things (and so much more) is Lee Kim, the Co-Founder of Design Dream Lab and Design Thinking Facilitator at Cornell University.

Lee is driven and passionate about human-centred problem-solving. Through the Design Dream Lab, Lee helps others foster empathy, overcome challenges, explore new opportunities, and fulfil their wildest dreams. I was so happy to have Lee join me as a guest on this episode of workshops work, where we talked about why facilitation is like gardening – if you don’t nurture the garden and the outcomes of a workshop, the results will wither and fade.

Find out about:

How facilitation is like gardening
Why facilitators must be both humble and confident at the right times
How conversations foster human connection
A fun exercise to help participants connect and explore their inner desires
Why facilitators should never be arrogant
The importance of being intentional when pursuing success from a workshop
Why successful workshops always lead to a transformation
Why facilitators must be great leaders
How to encourage a team to get to know each other

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[00:15] – When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[01:56] – What is the difference between a coach and a facilitator?

[03:48] – What makes a successful experience or journey?

[05:35] – How can we measure the success if we’re not part of the aftermath of a workshop?

[21:33] – What are the shortcomings of design thinking?

[23:39] - Some clients have a solution already, and they are just looking for confirmation. Isn't this the red flag for a facilitator?

[29:53] - What is the role of soil in the ‘facilitation is like gardening’ metaphor?

[36:30] - What have you learned from facilitation about gardening?

[39:09] – Do you build stories into the design of your workshop?

[50:45] – What makes a workshop fail?

[51:38] – What is the main take away from our conversation?

Links

Connect to Lee Kim

Lee’s LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

089 - Improv on Paper: Unleashing Creativity in the Cartoonist Way with Jonathan Plotkin and Pat Byrnes

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 02:00:00 +0100

How can you use the creativity of a daydream to solve a very real problem? Being able to access creative thought when necessary is a skill and it can be taught, much like any other discipline.

Founders of The Drawing Board, Pat Byrnes and Jonathan Plotkin are cartoonists who facilitate creative workshops. They teach participants how to unlock creative thought using cartoonist exercises and processes. They can then use these tools in other aspects of their career to help generate creativity, problem solve, and more.

We had a fascinating discussion about the psychology behind cartooning, including why art creates a safe space to disagree and how you can surprise yourself through improv. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did, and that it inspires you to pick up a pen and start cartooning!

Find out about:

How cartooning facilitation works
How to access the discipline of cartooning to help your career
The three components of a cartoon and how they relate to the creative process
What exercises Pat and Jonathan use in their workshops and how they establish them as tools for future use
Why improv unlocks creative thoughts
The psychology behind combining your daydreams with reality
How doodling can help you engage
How art can be a safe space to facilitate disagreement

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:17] – Would you call yourselves facilitators?

[08:18] – What makes a good cartoon? How do you introduce quality into your group sessions?

[10:44] – How do you teach people to use a cartoonist’s way of thinking?

[13:51] – How do you get a group to improv using paper?

[18:08] – What do you mean when you say improv on paper?

[27:56] – Is focusing on a daydream to bring it to reality different in cartooning to drawing? Can we learn how to do it?

[36:16] – How can building a cartoon can help groups collaborate better or to solve a problem?

[42:41] – What makes a bad cartoon?

[43:30] – How would you turn a bad cartoon into a good cartoon?

[45:21] – What makes a workshop fail?

[49:12] – How do we find meaning?

[52:55] – What’s the one thing you’d like listeners to take away?

Links:

Connect to Pat and Jonathan:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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088 - A (Virtual) Museum as a Workshop Space with Roumayne Schepers

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 02:00:00 +0100

What is art-based learning? And how can art-based learning workshops be successful virtually?

In this episode of workshops work, I find out how we can facilitate deep insights through art and how to overcome the challenges of shifting this intimate workshop experience from a physical museum to a virtual one.

Here to answer all of my questions is Roumayne Schepers, an art-based learning facilitator at LerenVanKunst.nl. Roumayne speaks passionately about her role and reveals how she uses art-based learning to help people develop personally and build strong bonds with their teams.

Listening to her processes was fascinating, and I was especially interested to hear how she’s successfully managed to transition her workshops from in-person to a fully online experience. I hope you find this episode as eye-opening as I did and encourages you to approach art in a new and exciting way.

Find out about:

What led Roumayne to art-based learning and why she’s considered a facilitator
What art-based learning is and what it aims to achieve
How participants grow, and often surprise themselves, through the learning process
How to shift art-based learning from a museum to an online space
How to facilitate the online transition from a personal to a group experience
What art-based learning can bring to a team
How to facilitate a safe space for sharing ideas
What to bear in mind if you’re considering using art in your workshops

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:10] – When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:47] – How did you go from the pharmacy to the museum?

[05:44] – What does art-based learning mean?

[07:47] – What is art-based learning’s goal?

[12:26] – How do you choose the artwork?

[13:59] – How do you choose the question?

[16:25] – How does art-based learning work online?

[17:56] – How do you guide the group from a personal to a group experience?

[22:08] – Is it beneficial if learners know the artwork already? Or is it better to exclude them?

[23:18] – What is your experience transitioning from offline to online?

[27:59] – What is your strategy or your favourite exercise to create a safe space?
[30:19] – How can you find out what’s holding a participant back?

[33:00] – When you’re sharing stories, do you move as a group from artwork to artwork?

[34:18] – How do you approach a breakout room without disrupting a potentially intimate conversation?

[35:21] – What is your role in smaller group discussions?

[36:39] – What makes a workshop fail?

[37:21] – How do you create a safe environment?

[39:29] – What would you recommend for someone who would like to use art in their workshops?

[43:35] – What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

[46:17] – Do you use any exercises to help the group be present before starting?

Links

Connect to Roumayne:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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087 - Facilitation is about being in service with Jay Melone

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 02:00:00 +0100

Great facilitators aren't always subject matter experts. In fact, they may know very little about the workshop's topic. A successful facilitator acts in service of others and knows when to lead from the back, as well as from the front.

Jay Melone believes that being a great facilitator requires a unique mindset. He stresses that to be a good facilitator, you must practice curiosity, patience and leave your concerns about being the expert behind. After meeting Jay earlier this year, I couldn't wait to talk to him about his approach to facilitating, both as an expert in the field and as a "shy extrovert".

Jay is the Founder and Principal Facilitator at New Haircut, an innovation strategy firm. He shared many thoughtful insights into a facilitator's role and how you can effectively lead a group, even if you're not comfortable being the centre of attention. I hope this episode inspires you to step outside of your comfort zone and facilitate with confidence.

Find out about:

Why being curious makes a great facilitator
The difference between an expert and a facilitator
Why people are now willing to prepare for workshops ahead of time
How to leverage your personality type as a facilitator
How to design an agenda for measurable workshop success
Why Jay encourages everyone to step out of their comfort zones
How to trust your workshop’s design
Why you don’t need to be an expert to support a team

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:28] – When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:27] – What makes a good facilitator

[06:15] – To what extent is a facilitator a mix between a journalist and an engineer?

[09:40] – What is your experience placing yourself as a facilitator? Do you facilitate from the centre of the conversation or from the side?

[20:01] – What did you learn about being a participant in an 1,800 person workshop?

[21:36] – Do you think it's easier or more difficult for an introvert, or shy facilitator, to guide groups online versus on-site?

[28:42] – What would you advise aspiring facilitators who think they’re too shy to be a good facilitator?

[34:56] – What makes a workshop fail?

[36:06] – How do you know when your workshop is failing due to a design problem or an external problem caused by the group?

[44:01] – What is your favourite exercise?

[48:35] – How do you trust yourself to lead your team?

[52:51] – What is the main takeaway from our conversation?

Links

Connect to Jay Melone

Jay's LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

086 - Foster Your Team’s Resilience Through Positivity with Lisette van de Sandt

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 02:00:00 +0100

To achieve great workshop collaboration, participants must find a way to work together. In times of change, positivity is often the magic ingredient that makes workshops work. However, being positive doesn’t mean you neglect relevant problems. Positivity is about embracing uncertainty and stating things as they are so that you can work out a feasible solution.

Lisette van de Sandt is one of the most positive people I have ever had the pleasure to meet (virtually or otherwise). She is a spirited optimist that believes positivity is contagious. She helps organisations and facilitators work together using positivity to help people “be positive about what works today, and optimistic about what you could do better tomorrow.”

In these uncertain times, we could all do with more positive thinking in our lives, so I asked Lisette to join me in this episode of workshops work. This has been one of my favourite conversations because Lisette shares what it means to be positive. She helps us practice positive thinking more often in both our personal and professional lives.

Find out about:

Why positivity should be viewed as a mindset
The difference between positivity and optimism
How to build your positive thinking skills and resilience
How to alter your positivity through positive thinking
How connecting informally can help build your team’s resilience through positivity
Why you should start group conversations by focusing on small wins
Why workshops must focus on solving the real problem to be successful

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:20] – When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:29] - What do you think distinguishes a good workshop from a bad workshop?

[05:33] - What are you doing to be mindful about positivity and mindset across the group? And, how can you lift it without neglecting the troubles and emotions that people are going through?

[09:36] – Do you think check-ins and asking how people are doing needs more time in a workshop session?

[11:24] - How can an unexperienced manager create and build resilience as a team together in this time?

[13:53] - Are there tricks to boost positivity within a group without forcing it?

[18:47] - What is the difference between positivity and optimism?

[21:23] – How can we nurture this positivity or even resilience? What is the difference between resilience and positivity?

[27:34] - How do you bring positivity into a conversation without sugar-coating or just ignoring the negative side?

[36:59] - What is the story with these positive experiments?

[40:39] - How do you measure positivity, happiness, or satisfaction?

[41:42] – What makes a workshop fail?

[43:42] – What is the main take away from our conversation?

Links

Connect to Lisette van de Sandt

LinkedIn
Email: lisette@lisettevandesandt.com

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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Bonus Episode: Behind the Scenes of the NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Festival

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 07:00:00 +0100

Since March 2020, almost 100 facilitators have collaborated to bring to life a bold vision: A 24 hours long, global facilitation festival.

In this bonus episode, Michelle Howard, collaborator and facilitator at the NeverDoneBefore facilitation festival (and guest on episode 043 of the podcast) interviews Myriam Hadnes who initiated the project and invited all podcast guests to host workshops in a way that they have never done before.

In this episode, you will hear about

What facilitation means to me (Myriam Hadnes) and why it is so close to my heart to bring the community together.
How the festival idea came to life.
My biggest learnings from the process.
What participants can expect
How can we use the different time zones, participants will be joining from as bridges, uniting us instead of challenges we need to overcome.

Curious about the NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Festival and Community?
Click here to find out more

Questions & Answers:

[01:54] What drives your enthusiasm for facilitation in general and NDB in particular?

[04: 15] What have you learned about supporting collaboration?

[06:59] How does NeverDoneBefore fit into this picture you draw about the facilitation community?

[10:42] Can you tell us about this very collaborative and very new process of how NDB is organised?

[16:33] What can the audience expect to experience and what might people take away?

What do people need to know about the platforms and what if they feel nervous about not being good or skilled enough?

[24:28] What is the mindset that people shall bring to the event?

[26:32] What do you hope people will take away from the festival?

[33:34] What are the options to join and how can people sign up?

Links:

The NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Festival
The NDB festival agenda
Podcast episode 043 with Michelle Howard

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

085 - Help Groups Work Better Together Online with Robert Skrobe

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 02:00:00 +0100

As the facilitator, it’s up to you to act as the group’s vehicle and guide them from one place to the next. You do this by providing the context that enables the group to work better together by building trust, communication, and collaboration.

Of course, helping groups work better together online is an entirely different story in many ways. I wanted to learn more about how facilitators can help groups work better together, which is why I reached out to Robert Skrobe and invited him to join me on workshops work.

Robert trains people to use design sprints effectively, and he shares what he has learned from hosting a series of global virtual design sprints. Professionals from across the globe come together to collaborate with the same goal to showcase their work in the best possible light.

I really enjoyed learning more about the Global Virtual Design Sprint, and Robert shared a lot of tips to help participants align and work more effectively together. I hope this episode brings you clarity and inspiration to help your groups communicate and collaborate better online.

Find out about:

What the Global Virtual Design Sprint is and why it’s so useful
Why workshops fail when participants leave without learning anything new
How online and offline moments leads to meaningful collaboration
How to make sure that participants align on a certain way of working together
How to bring participants together with help from a sketching exercise

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[03:41] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[05:14] What have you learned from this project of organising the community of the disabled children for the work you're doing today?

[06:29] What was the moment you decided to fully engage in that project and scale it the way that you did?

[09:58] What do you think creates the opportunity to connect in a meaningful way online?

[12:18] How do you facilitate connection amongst teams who have never met offline?

[15:29] How do you encourage engagement on slack?

[20:20] What do you think most people get wrong about the concept of a design sprint?

[22:13] What are your biggest learnings in terms of the hybrid process?

[29:37] What makes a design sprint fail?

[38:28] What do you think is the context that really facilitates the team to make the best use of these four days they spend together?

[40:14] To what extent are the personalities of participants in each group relevant?

[44:22] What does your code of conduct consist of at its core?

[53:44] What would you like listeners to take away as the one nugget from our conversation?

Links

Connect to Robert Skrobe

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

084 - Beyond Zoom: Behind the Scenes of Toasty, a new video conferencing tool with Kevon Cheung

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 02:00:00 +0100

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.ai
How to change the dynamics of an online meeting
What Toasty is and how facilitators can use it to create engaging meetings
Why participants need to open up and how to make people feel comfortable to do so
How to stop participants from getting distracted
Why you must have a plan but also the freedom to adjust according to the flow of the session
How to stimulate a group’s creativity using fun exercises

Don’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

[01:45] 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?

Links

Toasty.ai

Connect to Kevon Cheung

Kevon’s LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

083 - Use analogue prompts for better online meetings with Jacinta Cubis

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 group
How to avoid wasting time in breakout groups
How to use your time more efficiently by nominating time keepers
Tips for getting participants to use both parts of their brains
Why poor facilitation is one of the biggest reasons why workshops fail

Don’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

[01:17] 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?

Links

Connect to Jacinta Cubis

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

082 - Facilitator, find your message. A visual workshop with Ingrid Lill

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 facilitate
Why you need to put yourself in your client’s shoes
How to gain a better understanding of your clients
How to use the “thinking pen” to find your message
Why you should avoid using technical language in your messaging
A fun exercise to help you better understand your clients

Don’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

[01:34] 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?

Links

Connect to Ingrid

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

081 - What if more Facilitators Mastered the Art of DJing with Howard Gray

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 02:00:00 +0200

Creativity is the string that weaves through most (if not all) facets of life. As a facilitator, you design workshops that bring people together around a specific theme. If you think about it, workshops are a lot like parties, and every party needs good music. In many ways, facilitators are similar to DJs because they both create an experience for a group of people in hopes that it moves them from the mental place they were before to the new and refreshed place they are now.

I wanted to explore the analogy of designing workshops like a mixtape further, so I invited Howard Gray onto workshops work. Howard’s work focuses on “amplifying creative people and businesses to increase discovery, access, connection, and opportunity.”

Howard and I talked about what facilitators can learn from DJs about workshop design to create even better workshops that participants will remember for a lifetime.

Find out about:

What you can learn about workshop design and facilitation from a DJ
How to design a workshop like a mixtape
Why you should pre-plan your workshops but be open to adjusting quickly when necessary
Why you need to focus on the experience you create for participants
What makes a great mixtape and how you can translate that to a fantastic workshop design
How the movie storyboarding exercise works
How to get better at “reading the room”

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[01:26] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[03:26] If you had to put a hashtag on your own forehead, what would it be?

[04:32] What did you learn from your DJ career about workshop design or facilitation?

[08:56] To what extent does a DJ adjust their set to fit the room?

[11:10] What would make a workshop fail?

[13:28] What is your strategy to prepare for this diversity that you will face?

[15:36] Do you research the groups you’re facing?

[18:12] What do you think is more important, the facilitation, or the design aspect?

[24:31] What makes a good mixtape and how can you translate that to a good workshop design?

[29:46] With the shift from offline meetings to online meetings, did you adjust the design of the sequence with more contrast or less contrast?

[32:52] How can we expect someone to make the mental shift just by putting a different URL in the browser?

[35:55] What is your favourite exercise?

[40:35] How would the world of facilitation look if more facilitators would master the craft of a DJ?

[44:28] When you say, “reading the room,” do you think it’s based on intuition or is it something facilitators can learn to do?

[50:03] What do you hope listeners will take away from our conversation?

Links:

How to DJ properly by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton

Connect to Howard:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

080 - No more workshops without provocation with Diana Ying Liu and Kandis O’Brien

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 consultant
How to use provocation to create friction and encourage people to step outside of their comfort zones
The different levels of provocation
Exercises to help people ‘loosen up’
How to make people feel comfortable and safe enough to share
The importance of understanding the culture of the organisation and the problem statement of the session
The advantages of having pre-interviews before the workshop

Don’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

[01:13] 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?

Links

Connect to Diana Ying Liu and Kandis O’Brien:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

079 - The mindset and toolset to get your creativity rolling with Melissa Dinwiddie

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 leader
How to avoid falling into the “comparison trap”
A useful mirroring exercise for leadership and listening
How to keep people engaged
The ‘golden formula’ to everything good

Don’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

[01:23] 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?

Links

Connect to Melissa

Facebook
@a_creative_life
Instagram

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

078 - Facilitating as an Avatar in the Virtual World with Tracy Cosgrove

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 facilitating
How to set up a virtual office
The importance of doing your research as a facilitator
Costly mistakes to avoid when choosing a platform to help you host virtual workshops
What to consider when renting a virtual office space
Helpful and creative team building exercises you can use virtually

Don’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:

[01:35] 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?

Links

Passport to Success Myanmar (PTSM)

Connect to Tracy Cosgrove

Email Tracy at Tracy@passporttosuccessmyanmar.com
Facebook

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

077 - Use your voice for better impact with Joep Hegger

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 occasion
How to identify a ‘pressed voice’ and the value of incorporating hearing exercises during voice training sessions
Tips to help train your voice and use your voice for better impact
What ‘vocal health’ is and why it is so important
How to gain better control and awareness of your voice

Click here to download the free 1-page summary

Don’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?

Links

The Vocal Coach

Connect to Joep

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

076 - Facilitating powerful personal transformations with Júlio Maria Muhorro

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 Africans
Why personal experience and relatability is essential if we want learning to stick
What learners and trainers can do to strengthen knowledge retention
Why time for reflection is one of the most powerful tools any facilitator can have
What the three goals are that trainers should aim to achieve for a successful workshop

Don’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

[01:27] 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?

Links

Connect to Júlio

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

075 - Behind the Scenes of Facilitating the MURAL Backstage Pass with Hailey Temple

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 design
How MURAL have created virtual workshops to help their customers
What Hailey does to engage and involve a passive audience (by design)
What makes a good co-facilitator
What to do when technology goes wrong (because it always will!)

Don’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

[01:33] 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?

Links

Connect to Hailey

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

074 - Rules of Talking: what we can learn from sports teams about communication with Tim Harkness

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 field
The differences between one-on-one and group conversations
How we can all have better conversations
What facilitators can learn from the biggest sports teams on the biggest stages
Tips for creating better conversations with challenging interlocutors

Don’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?

Links

Connect to Tim

Tim's LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

073 - Facilitating the Shift Towards a Pluralist Mindset with Hina Shahid

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 started
What the nuances of bias, prejudice, and hate are and why they are important
Why being not-racist and not-prejudiced isn’t enough
What is harder and easier about facilitating young people, compared to professionals in a corporate environment
Why curiosity and honesty are at the heart of work towards ending hate

Don’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

[01:33] 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?

Links

Project Pluralist’s website

Project Pluralist on Instagram

Project Pluralist on Twitter

Project Pluralist on LinkedIn

Connect to Hina

Hina’s LinkedIn

Hina’s Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

072 - An Introduction to Systemic Coaching and Facilitating Constellations with Laura Beckingham

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 is
How families and businesses share some similarities
Why long-term change has to be holistic and made within the context of a person’s entire life
Why Systemic Coaches – and facilitators in general – are a constant work in progress
How alchemy, physicality, and incrementality combine to create great coaching

Don’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] 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?

Links

Connect to Laura

Laura's LinkedIn

Laura's website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

071 - Forum Theatre as a Facilitation Tool to Understand Human Interactions with Pernille Jacobsen

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 impactful
How Forum Theatre works on a practical level, and how Pernille uses it in a facilitative setting
What Forum Theatre has taught Pernille as a facilitator, and what facilitation has taught her as a Forum Theatre practitioner
How, if at all, Forum Theatre can be translated into a virtual environment
What facilitation and Forum Theatre might look like in the future

Don’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

[01:11] 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?

Links

Klods-Hans for Viderekomne - Pernille's Forum Theatre venture
Forum Theatre
Snapstories - Pernille’s conversational game
Augusto Boal – the inventor of Forum Theatre/theatre of the oppressed
Katrin Byreus – Pernille’s biggest role model when it comes to Forum Theatre and facilitation

Connect to Pernille

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

070 - The Art of Asking Questions with Elke Wiss

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 questions
Why “why” questions can be simultaneously revelatory and destructive
Whether we can train our curiosity to be childlike again
How to create spaces in which you can ask questions that might usually feel unsafe
How we can all start asking better questions

Don’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

[01:25] 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?

Links

Brené Brown’s TED talk
Elke's Book - Socrates in Sneakers (with an English preview of the book to download!)

Connect to Elke

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

069 - Unflattening: An Attitude that will Expand Our Thinking with Nick Sousanis

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 idea
The most important question Nick believes we need to answer in this moment in time
Why unflattening is a journey, not a destination
Why images aren’t simply aesthetic, but communicative in novel and detailed ways
How creative constraints and limits help us learn, grow, and unflatten

Don’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

[01:44] 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?

Links

Connect to Nick

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

068 - Use Your Facilitation Superpowers to become a Better Public Speaker with Sarah McVanel

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 it
How facilitators have some amazing transferable skills for public speaking
What Sarah believes facilitators can learn from public speakers
What it means to ‘FROG’ and some examples of how Sarah practices this beautiful act

Don’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

[01:27] 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 McVanel

Sarah’s website

Sarah’s LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

067 - How Strengths-Based Facilitation can Improve the Results of your Workshop with Murray Guest

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 it
Why strengths-based workshops are at their best when they are flexible and responsive
Why embedding learning is the only way to truly deliver lasting results
How enforced remote work is helping and harming teams, and what we can do to shape a new normal that is healthy and productive for everyone
Why challenges and care are interlinked, and are blunted without each other

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?

Links

Connect to Murray Guest

Murray's LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

066 - How to Guide Teams Through Conflictual Conversations with Marcus Crow

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 03:00:00 +0200

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 change
How Marcus helps teams face up to their conflicts whilst fostering an environment of safety
What we can learn from ‘low stakes’ conflicts and how we can use these situations as practice for bigger conflicts
How Marcus helps his clients ‘depathologise’ conflict
Why Marcus believes a ‘Royal College of Facilitation’ would help advance our industry

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 Crow

10,000 Hours’ website

Marcus’ LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

065 - How to stay on track while going off script with Rebecca Sutherns

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 muscles

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

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

064 - How to Use Design Principles of Stories to Design Impactful Workshop Experiences with Bastian Küntzel

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 participants
Why storytelling is such a powerful design principle for workshops
What the eight steps to story design are
How to apply the eight steps to workshops – at both the design and output stages
Why storytelling is one of the easiest design principles to incorporate into any workshop

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 check

Connect with Bastian

Bastian’s website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

063 - Let’s Bring Some Appreciative Inquiry To Your Workshops! with Laure Cohen van Delft

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 workshops
What Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is
How AI can be practiced in workshops
Why AI can be so effective
The outcomes made possible by designing a workshop around AI

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 check

Connect with Laure

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

062 - How to Find Out the Real Topic of Your Workshop with Britt Andreatta

Wed, 27 May 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 workshops
Britt’s strategy for helping clients define the real purpose of their workshop
How designing psychological safety for the group and for the leader differ
How Britt ensures the right people are in the room
Why asking diagnostic questions at every stage of your workshops will improve them

Britt is also offering Workshops Work listeners a free chapter of her book, Wired to Grow. Get your free chapter!

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 check

Connect with Britt

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

061 - What Facilitation Without Agenda Really Means and How to Make It Work with Nadja Petranovskaja

Wed, 20 May 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 practice
Why identifying the group’s “why” is the starting point of a meaningful workshop
How to effectively run a workshop with no agenda
How Nadja is navigating the shift to virtual workshops
How to take the BarCamp structure and apply it in corporate settings

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 check

Connect with Nadja

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

060 - Finding Insights Through Play – A Focus on the Public Sector with Sara Huang

Wed, 13 May 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 results
The importance of play if we want to create movement and possibility
How to encourage creativity and open-mindedness
When transparency can be useful (and not)
How to flatten the room in an organisation with strict hierarchies

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 check

Connect with Sara

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

059 - From Agile Coaching to Conscious Facilitation with Nisaar Jagroep

Wed, 06 May 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 today
Why making processes small makes change more achievable
How to flatten the room, with an Agile twist
What Conscious Leadership is, how we can apply it in organisations, and why it’s so important
What Nisaar believes the future of facilitation is

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

Connect with Nisaar

Nisaar's LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

058 - How to Master the Art of Facilitation and Hosting with Mary Alice Arthur

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 03:00:00 +0200

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 crises
Why our individual and collective stories hold so much power
How to use challenges and potentially destructive tools to inspire great change
Why Mary Alice values resonant learning and collective wisdom
How to direct our energy away from fear and towards excitement

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 Alice

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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057 - How to Use Elements of Video Game Design for your Workshop Design with Coline Pannier

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 common
Why humility is essential for facilitators
The power of frustration and challenges, and why we should embrace them in workshops
How restriction boosts creativity
What facilitators are responsible for, what they can control, and what they should leave behind

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 check

Codesign-It

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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056 - What Comes After the Prototype? with Douglas Ferguson

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 prototyped
How the interface between users and tech vs. teams and workshops share similarities
Why you need to embrace either fidelity or ambiguity
How to spot and manage typical issues that arise in prototyping
What designing for frustration and managing expectations looks like
Why labelling emotions build connection and empathy in a room

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 check

Douglas’ company, Voltage Control
Douglas’ book, Beyond the Prototype

Connect to Douglas Ferguson

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Bonus Episode: A Fishbowl Conversation with 73 Participants

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 07:00:00 +0200

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 check

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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055 - Bringing Beauty into Workshops with Eike Niclas Schmidt

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 practice
What it takes to hold space as a facilitator
How to make people shine
Whether it is possible to facilitate beauty
Where in our work it is most important to curate and encourage beauty

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 check

Episode 047 with Tim Ferguson on Outputs and Outcomes
Episode 049 with Sunny on the Third Facilitator in the Room
Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea: The circle Way: A Leader in Every Chair

Connect to Eike Niclas Schmidt

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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054 - How to Promote Change with More Impact, Less Pain and Some Joy with Eugenio Moliní

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 02:00:00 +0200

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 one
What Eugenio has learned about facilitation from the most unexpected sources
How we can identify anxiety and hold it in our shared spaces
Why solving conflicts isn’t often necessary or helpful
Why self-acceptance is the root of all change

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 check

Connect to Eugenio Moliní

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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053 - Four Perspectives on Facilitating Virtual Conversations

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +0100

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.

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 Check

Virtual Collaboration Campus

Judith E. Glaeser: Conversational Intelligence

Sponsor: www.workshops.work/mastermind

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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052 - How to facilitate a transition from power hierarchy to purpose hierarchy - with Heleen Kuiper

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +0100

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 connected
How to create team spirit in holacratic systems
What the differences are between holacratic and traditional facilitation

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 Check

Holacracy

Tactical Meeting Structure (pdf)

Deep Democracy

Empowerment Dynamic vs Drama Triangle: powerofted.com

Art of Hosting

Theory U

Sabotage Line (Dutch only): deepdemocracy.nl/over-deep-democracy/tools-en-methodiek

Connect to Heleen

Heleen's website

Twitter

Podcast – Reinventing Organizations in Nederland

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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051 - How To Facilitate AgileHR - with Eoin Cannon

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +0100

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 facilitation
Why it can be so impactful to make leaders co-facilitators
How behavioural change creates cultural change
What HR really means
Advice for first-time experience mapping
An explanation of the Agile HR process

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 Check

Episode 50 of Workshops Work
Agile Manifesto
Agile origins: Mindset not processes: principles on how to work in Agile Behaviours: Article on Behaviours
Scrum: Scrum mindset
Scrum process video
Detailed explanation of framework: Scrum book video explanation

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050 - What happens when you get 11 facilitators into an organised but unstructured group conversation?

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +0100

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 workshops
Why it’s so important to give participants and their discussions space
Whether neutrality should be the facilitator’s goal – and whether it is even possible
How best to tease out conflict in a safe and healthy manner
Our experiences of our discussion – from excitement to discomfort

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 discussion

Links to Check

007 – Mindset Management – with Jeremy Akers

011 – How to design brainstorming sessions for huge groups – with Frans Scheepens

020 – Create experiences for your audience to achieve results – with Rein Sevenstern

021 – How to use Liberating Structures to translate the purpose into a process – with Max Brouwer

030 – The day after! How to effectively document to achieve results – with Mireille Beumer

037 – How to facilitate group decisions in 4 easy steps – with Marjolijn de Graaf

041 – Presence, Mindfulness and Facilitation – with Amaranatho Robey

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049 - Who is the Third Facilitator in the Room with SunShine Céline BenBelkacem

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +0100

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 workshops
How graphic recorders and facilitators work together
How she translates buzzwords and jargon into something of depth
Whether the skills required to be a graphic recorder can be taught or are innate
What changes in a room when you have your back to its occupants
How imagery differs between cultures

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 Check

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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048 - Workshop Facilitation Through The Lens Of Photography with Markus Püttmann

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +0100

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 translation
How to combine photography and facilitation in workshops
What he does to help his groups relinquish control and tension
When and why he will change his plans according to each group
The things photography and facilitation have in common
How photography shows us things and helps us tell stories we cannot articulate

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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 Check

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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047 - Outputs and Outcomes: The Two Sides of Workshop Results with Tim Ferguson

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +0100

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.

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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 Check

Connect to Tim Ferguson

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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046 - How to Facilitate Facilitators with Holger Nauheimer

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +0100

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 facilitator
Intentionality
Mindset management
How he started Berlin Change Days and the lessons he has learned
The role of control
What failure really means.

I’m amazed by how much we managed to discuss!

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Questions and Answers

02:13 – 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 Check

Connect to Holger Nauheimer

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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045 - How to create unpredictable workshop experiences (that predictably work) - with Leanne Hughes

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0100

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.

Don’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

[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?

Connect to Leanne

on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram @leannehughes

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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044 - What is the role of facilitation in the future of HR - with Enrique Rubio

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0100

On episode 044 I speak with Enrique Rubio, founder of Hacking HR - the fastest growing online community of HR professionals.

This show is different compared to the other podcast episodes as we don't explicitly speak about workshops and workshop facilitation. Instead, we dive deep into the topic of the Future of Work and the future of HR and the role of facilitation in both.

Enrique shares his vision of the role of HR in the Future of Work and the role that methods such as agile and Design Thinking play. As a facilitator of a huge online community, Enrique tells what it takes him to build bridges between the national chapters of the community and to share information easily.

Don’t miss the part when Enrique refers to the TV show Friends and what he learned from it about leadership.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:35] What’s the story behind “Hacking HR”?

[4:38] In your imagination, what is the future of HR?

[7:10] From what you are saying, does it mean that HR will become more of a facilitator in the future?

[7:59] Would you call yourself a facilitator?

[8:24] When did you realise that you were more interested in HR than in engineering? And when did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[10:01] Why did you call the movement Hacking HR and not "Disrupting HR"?

[16:28] How can you assure that "Hacking HR" doesn't remain an echo-chamber?

[20:02] Is HR using the wrong language for being heard by the leadership?

[22:14] To what extent can Design Thinking enable HR to better address the leadership?

[26:11] Would that require HR to develop a “facilitation skill”?

[28:16] What does it take to facilitate such a large online community?

[30:30] How do you create the space for sharing beyond the technical aspects?

[33:56] Are you applying organizational models such as Holacracy to the coordination of your chapters?

[34:24] Do you have a hack to stop hierarchy from avoiding people to ask questions in the workshops space?

[35:20] Is there any other way to address critical conversations with the leadership being present?

[36:35] In a movement of almost 100 self-organizing chapters, how do you make decisions and set priorities?

[38:48] How do you facilitate such a conversation where there are many equal opinions and no right or wrong answer?

[43:15] Would these leadership characteristics also apply to facilitators?

[44:22] What’s your favourite exercise?

[45:58] What makes an online gathering fail?

[47:12] How do you make sure that people will participate in the call and feel invited?

[50:48] Is there anything you would like to share that we haven’t talked about yet?

[52:12] what shall the listener take away from our conversation?

Links to check

Hacking HR
20 Things you must know about the future of work
Disrupt HR
Our sponsor Session Lab - Get your first 2 months for free!

Connect to Enrique

on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

043 - Being over Doing: On the relevance of presence for facilitation with Michelle Howard

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0100

On episode 043 I speak with Michelle Howard, a specialist facilitator and MD of collaborations in Melbourne. She has written a book on the relevance of presence and has worked in the government, private and not-for-profit sectors.

“The most valuable (facilitation) tool we have is ourselves.”
Michelle Howard

In less than one hour, Michelle and I explore many different spheres besides the relevance of presence for facilitation and, how we can learn to be more present. We also speak about the analogy facilitation and parenting, the ingredients of facilitation superpowers, the role of ego, and the limitations of accreditation programs when it comes to the assessment of "being" over "doing".

Unfortunately, the connection wasn’t really good but Michelle was able to compensate all the technical hiccups with great content and value bombs.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:36] How did you discover your superpower of facilitation?

[4:35] What have you learned from community work that you apply to your facilitation within organisations?

[5:54] What is the most important skill set a facilitator needs?

[8:42] In an earlier conversation we spoke about the analogy of parenting. What prompted this idea in you?

[12:21] Would you consider such behavior as “ego”?

[16:19] Can we learn presence and being as a facilitation skill?

[18:55] How do you create the trust a group needs to go with you through a sometimes uncomfortable process?

[22:17] Would you design for discomfort or is it something that naturally happens?

[24:20] If you were to train future facilitators on presence, what would be the first lesson?

[26:23] To what extent does this framework of learning your story to the concept of authenticity?

[29:52] What is the role of community for facilitators to find comfort in being enough?

[31:29] Is the notion of being over doing something that is agreed or discussed across your network?

[34:27] When it comes to accreditation, is the “being” part of the facilitation skillset something that can be evaluated?

[36:51] What makes a client difficult?

[41:17] What’s your favorite exercise?

[42:45] Would participants then bring their own images to the workshop?

[50:11] What makes a workshop fail?

Links to check

Michelle's business website: https://www.collaborations.com.au/
Michelle’s book
Victorian facilitators network
International Association of Facilitators
Our sponsor Session Lab - An online agenda builder and exercise library
Rein Sevenstern (Episode 020) from Experiential Learning - This episode's featured SessionLab user

Connect to Michelle

on LinkedIn

Follow Michelle on Instagram @collaborations_

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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042 - How to use gamestorming to design better workshops - with Dave Mastronardi

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0100

On episode 042, I speak with Dave Mastronardi, the CEO of the Gamestorming group. Dave is a business-focused strategist and facilitator who sees business challenges through the lens of game design. In our conversation, we speak about the structure and nature of games and the difference between gamestorming and gamification. In that line, we touch on topics such as experimentation to avoid repetition in the workshops that we deliver and improvisation, and, how professional facilitators turn into magicians of co-creation.

As Dave emphasizes the importance of scheduling sufficient time for the closing, he also provides all kinds of examples of how to close workshops in a creative way that doesn’t cut off the conversation flow.

Don't miss the part when Dave and I discuss the pros and cons of using an extreme stereotype versus a real stakeholder for the design of an empathy map.

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Questions and Answers

[1:30] What’s your story? What brought you to Gamestorming?

[5:02] What is the magic behind Gamestorming?

[13:44] What does it take to flatten the room? What is it a game can do that a normal meeting cannot?

[17:27] What is the best room set up for Gamestorming?

[22:32] What are you doing to avoid being bored with your own workshops?

[32:12] What is for you the biggest mistake a facilitator can make?

[33:52] How much time would you plan for the closing?

[35:37] Would this be your closing? It sounds like a part of the “storming” phase to me.

[38:07] Would you walk us through the "empathy map" exercise that you mentioned before?

[42:54] To what extent would you use a real person or make one up?

[48:18] What shall someone take away from the show?

Links to check

Gamestorming website: www.gamestorming.com
Gamestorming book on Amazon
Finite and infinite games by James Carse
Medium post on empathy map or game storming
Big head canvas on Gamestorming.com
Our sponsor Session Lab - An online agenda builder and exercise library
Rein Sevenstern (Episode 020) from Experiential Learning - This episode's featured SessionLab user

Connect to Dave

on LinkedIn

via the Gamestorming website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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041 - Learnings from a Monk-Life about Facilitation with Amaranatho Robey

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0100

On episode 041, I speak with Amaranatho Robey, who was a Buddhist Monk for 15 years and now applies his learnings to coaching and facilitation. He has run over one hundred retreats, workshops, and public talks around the world, impacting thousands of people.

Our interview comes in two parts: The first part introduces Ama's major learnings from his life as a monk for facilitation and coaching. In the second part, we explore what presence and mindfulness can teach us to hold space for our workshop participants and to control our ego. During our conversation, we touch upon many other topics such as anger and jealousy, about play and about leadership.

Don't miss the part when Ama tells the story why the monastery bought him a punch-bag and what that taught him about dealing with anger.

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Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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040 - Facilitating without Sticky Notes and an Introduction to Serious Games with Tamara Eberle

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0100

This interview with Tamara Eberle, trainer and facilitator of Design Charrettes and Organizational Game Designs comes in two parts. In this first part, we speak about "serious games" as an alternative to the usual workshop design.

You will learn the difference between 'gamification' of a process and a 'serious game' used to clarify or define a process. Tamara also answers the question for what kind of questions and challenges games can be a suitable option. Since serious games help the group to suspend reality and approach their topic from a new angle, they might not be for everyone. So, don't miss the part when Tamara explains how to distinguish "game-clients" and "non-game clients" and what it takes to turn the latter into the former.

Check out Tamara's business page and connect directly to her via LinkedIn.

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Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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039 - What if we stopped asking questions? - with Thomas Lahnthaler

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0100

On episode 039, I speak with Thomas Lahnthaler, co-founder of Groundwork, who worked in the field of conflict and crisis resolution and now applies his learnings and expertise to executive training and workshops.

On our way to the core topic - facilitation without questions - we touch many other themes, such as conflicts inside the workshop space and how we can effectively deal with them. We also speak about the relevance of psychological safety and how to create and maintain it and what to do if you realise that an exercise is not working in the way you expected it.

Thomas learned the art of not asking questions from experiencing a traditional conflict resolution ritual in the North of Australia. There, he realised the frustrating and empowering effect of taking away the tool. Since then, Thomas and his team use the technique for multi-day leadership training to help participants sharpen other senses and self-reflect in a new way.

Don't miss the part when Thomas and I brainstorm on how to adjust the technique of not asking questions to a mini-version that can be used as an exercise.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[2:30] What is your story? How did you get from development aid and conflict management to facilitation?

[5:22] In a nutshell, what have you learned from conflict management on the ground that you apply in trainings and workshops?

[6:49] How do you get participants to open their minds and listen to different perspectives in emotionally loaded situations?

[10:57] How do you facilitate the situation in which participants can show their emotions and anger and how can you deal with that afterwards?

[13:13] To what extent would you debrief an emotional situation?

[15:07] According to you, what is the difference between inviting participants to do something instead of giving them permission or asking them?

[21:42] What if we took away the tool of asking questions? And, why would we do that?

[30:42] What was the topic of the multi-day workshop in which participants couldn't ask questions?

[33:31] Could you think of a mini version of the technique that one can use in a one day workshop?

[37:46] How do you deal with a participant who wants to take over control and coordinate the group process?

[39:25] How much time would you allocate to such an exercise?

[43:04] What makes a workshop fail?

[45:38] When you say pre-talk, with whom would you have these pre-talks?

[50:00] When the facilitator shows vulnerability, the group can either react with appreciation or blame. What is the differentiating factor according to you?

[54:43] What is the nugget to take away from our conversation?

Links to check

Thomas business page: https://www.groundwork.no/
Our sponsor Session Lab - An online agenda builder and exercise library
Rein Sevenstern from Experiential Learning - This episode's featured SessionLab user

Connect to Thomas

on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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038 - The silent power of visual facilitation - with Sam Bradd

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0100

On episode 038, I speak with Sam Bradd, graphic recorder and facilitator, change-maker and principal of Drawing Change. With his team, Sam contributes to positive change by helping their clients to solve complex problems and distil big ideas that promise to make the world a better place.

Sam helps me and the audience to grasp the complexity of visual facilitation - we begin with the basics, such as the difference between visual facilitation and graphic recording, explore the concept of the graphic recorder being a "public listener" and dive deep into the concept of psychological safety.

You will learn techniques to get the maximum impact from the visual recording - in terms of the connection between the participants, their engagement with the topic and their contribution. I was particularly intrigued by Sam's view on workshops and group dynamics - from the perspective of the graphic recorder, the observing facilitator.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[2:00] What is the story behind your company's name "Drawing Change"?

[3:41] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

[7:09] What do you have in mind when you refer to visualisation as a translation?

[8:58] How do you organise information in a visual?

[10:54] What is the difference between a visual recorder and a visual facilitator?

[15:02] How can you create a safe space for a group while your focus is on the drawing?

[22:06] Are visual facilitators always working in duos?

[22:55] Would you have a conversation about the visual with the participants during the session?

[30:18] How long did it take you to stop overthinking everything you draw?

[34:16] What is the best way to integrate the visual in the post-workshop process?

[36:51] Do you have a story that showcases the impact of the visual?

[39:53] From the perspective of the "public listener", what makes a workshop fail?

[44:08] Which exercise provides you with the most insights for drawing?

[50:31] Do you also work with corporate clients?

[37:55] This means that you would first expose all the extreme differences in perspectives?

[50:31] And then it comes to decision making in step 4?

[54:13] What is the nugget to take away from our conversation?

Links to check

Sam's business page: www.drawingchange.com
Anthony Weeks on "Public Listening"
Episode 033 with Oscar Trimboli on Deep Listening
Kelvy Bird, levels of listening and generative scribing: kelvybird.com
Sam's articles on how to use photo facilitation cards
Our sponsor Session Lab - An online agenda builder and exercis

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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037 - How to facilitate group decisions in 4 easy steps - with Marjolijn de Graaf

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0100

Episode 037 is all about decision-making! On the show with me is Marjolijn de Graaf, decision designer and change architect, and author of "Decisions by Design". On the show, Marjolijn guides us through the 4-step approach that she developed to assist organizations with complex decision-making.

We speak about the art of decision-making and how a simple design process can lead to decisions that will be implemented. On the show, Marjolijn walks us through the 4-steps and uses clear analogies to explain that a decision-making process can take between 5 minutes and several days.

You will learn the importance of exploring differences before seeking agreement and what you have to do so that the final step of making the decision appears natural to the group.

Don't miss the part when Marjolijn explains how she uses the 4 steps approach to decide on the most suitable workshop format with her client!

Questions and Answers

[1:47] When did you start calling yourself a decision designer?

[3:32] What makes it so difficult to make decisions, why would we need a designer for that?

[5:01] You have developed a multi-step process for effective decision-making. Could you guide us through this process?

[8:35] Which would be the four steps?

[9:31] What is your role as a facilitator in this process and what do you consider the biggest challenge for them to make a decision?

[13:10] Who would you invite to that decision-making workshop?

[14:20] Would you invite different people to the different phases?

[17:03] How do you help groups to include perspectives that they wouldn't have thought about at first?

[19:10] How do you sort these facts to help the group to make a decision?

[26:01] Must the group be together for step 1, the fact discovery?

[27:50] What is the time span you calculate for the first two steps?

[31:47] How did you come to realise that you had to adjust the workshop format and how did the client react?

[35:02] How do you facilitate the step where you open the discussion to the group level?

[37:55] This means that you would first expose all the extreme differences in perspectives?

[40:45] And then it comes to decision making in step 4?

[41:50] Are you seeking consensus?

[42:53] What makes workshops fail?

[46:24] Would delay the decision making when you feel the group isn't ready?

[48:23] What is the nugget to take away from this episode?

Links

Marjolijn's business: https://www.impactcompany.nl/
Her book "Decisions by Design"
Download the free Decision Design Canvas. This strategic tool maps the entire route of group decision-making, in one handy overview.
Episode 03 with Frans Scheepens on Brainstorming with huge groups

Connect to Marjolijn on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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036 - How to find the perfect facilitator for your workshop - with Kirsty Lewis

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 07:00:00 +0100

Episode 036 is special because we are shifting perspectives: Kirsty Lewis, founder of the School of Facilitation joins me for a conversation about how corporates or "clients" can find the most suitable facilitator or trainer for their needs.

After a corporate career, Kirsty started her own training, coaching and facilitation business. Since 2012, Kirsty grows and nurtures her tribe of expert facilitators and trainers to grow and develop their skills together.

In our conversation, we take the perspective of a client and assess what they can do to find the most suitable facilitator or trainer for their needs. We discuss various questions clients could ask to get a better picture of the person they aim to hire. We also discuss under which circumstances it makes sense to use internal facilitators, pair them with an external facilitator or hire externals uniquely.

Don’t miss the part when Kirsty shares what fellow facilitators and trainers can do to find their perfect client.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:58] How did you get from sales to facilitation?

[6:08] What topics can be covered by internal facilitators and for which shall we hire externals?

[8:16] Would you apply the same reasoning to facilitators?

[9:35] How can corporates assess whether they need a trainer or a facilitator?

[14:55] How can you do-design a session with your client given their time restrictions and lower experience?

[16:31] Do you think we can design a full agenda for someone else to facilitate?

[18:14] How do you know that you can trust the facilitator to find the balance between too much and too little guidance?

[19:06] What are the different 'energies' you can be looking for in a facilitator?

[26:38] Why do workshops fail?

[32:28] To what extent is the facilitator responsible for the outcome?

[35:10] What's your favourite exercise?

[40:36] How can corporates find the right facilitators for their needs?

[42:13] How can we as facilitators evaluate fellow facilitators? How do we know whether someone is good?

[46:19] How can we distinguish between someone having a different style from having poor skills?

[48:52] Is there anything else you would like to explore?

[51:35] How much time would you recommend clients to count for the preparation work?

[53:36] What are the pros and cons of pairing an external with an internal facilitator?

[55:32] If someone in the audience fell asleep after minute one, what shall they learn from our show?

Links to check

Kirsty's School of Facilitation
Episode 034 with Sean McGuire on Billboard Design Thinking
Episode 033 with Oscar Trimboli on Deep Listening
Episode 031 with Meghan Preiss on Workshops in the Woods
Our sponsor Session Lab - An online agenda builder and exercise library

Connect to Kirsty

on LinkedIn and on

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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035 - How to make virtual workshops work - with Wayne Turmel

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 07:00:00 +0100

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 tools

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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 check

Wayne's business page https://www.remoteleadershipinstitute.com/
Remote leadership certificate series
Wayne's book: Meet like you mean it
Our sponsor Session Lab - An online agenda builder and exercise library

Other episodes we mentioned

Episode 028 with Pam Hamilton on breakout rooms
Episode 030 with Mireille Beumer on workshop documentation

Connect to Wayne

on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

034 - All you need to know about Billboard Design Thinking - with Sean McGuire

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 07:00:00 +0100

On this episode, I speak with Sean McGuire, UX Architect with Microsoft in Vienna and co-inventor of the Billboard Design Thinking Method. Sean has started his career as a musician and board game designer and still uses the mindset and creativity he has developed back then.

Whether you are already a practitioner of Billboard Design Thinking or you have never heard of that method before, you will not miss out of new insights and food for thought on how to prepare your workshops for success. Sean shares with us the key stages in the preparation process and why he never asks participants to prepare anything upfront.

Don't miss the part when Sean explains why and how he prototypes workshops before delivering them and why he tests new designs with a group of colleagues who don't like Design Thinking!

Click here to download the free 1-page summary

Don’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

[2:39] How did you get from music to UX? What's your story?

[4:16] A board game is about winning, what is the equivalent of "winning" in a workshop?

[5:07] What makes a game exciting?

[6:49] At what point do you define the boundaries of what belongs in the workshop and what doesn't?

[8:19] How do you invite participants to prepare for emotionally difficult workshops?

[9:52] How do you assure that everyone is aligned on the workshop's purpose and goal beforehand?

[11:00] Is this predictability the benefit of the Design Thinking method or where would you see the advantage of Design Thinking?

[11:54] How do you know that the information is "correct" and how would "incorrect information" look like?

[13:05] How much information do you need upfront to design the poster?

[15:39] Can you explain what the Billboard Design Thinking method is in a nutshell?

[18:12] To what extent does the poster restrict the group's creativity?

[20:06] Do you design each poster from scratch?

[21:11] What makes the difference in preparing the workshop?

[22:44] What's your favourite way to stimulate creativity and ideas?

[28:24] How much do you need to know about the group of participants?

[30:58] What would be your advice on how to select workshop participants?

[34:38] What are the key stages to prepare a successful workshop?

[36:30] What's different in starting a workshop depending on whether the group are strangers or a team?

[40:24] How do you get the first person to open up?

[44:13] How do you debrief on this intro round?

[45:51] What makes a workshop fail?

[48:26] How do you manage expectations to avoid such misalignment?

[54:22] How do you help people to be heard?

[55:41] Is there anything else you would like to share with the audience?

[56:41] What would be your advice for a facilitator to find their own Design Thinking style?

[59:56] What shall someone take away from our conversation?

Links to check

Sean's Billboard Design Thinking Group on LinkedIn
Check out our featured SessionLab user Rein Sevenstern from Experiential Learning

Connect to Sean

on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

033 - The Art and Power of Deep Listening with Oscar Trimboli

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 07:00:00 +0100

This is part one of a two-part show with Oscar Trimboli, the author of "Deep Listening & Breakthroughs", professional speaker, leadership coach and facilitator.

In part one of the show, we focus on the skill of "deep listening" and the difference to "active listening". Oscar explains what it takes to listen deeply and how we can train ourselves to master the art.

Our conversation takes us to the question of how children listen and what deep listening and mindfulness have in common.

Click here to download the free 1-page summary

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links to check

Oscar's business website listeningmyths.com
The free guide of the five myths of listening
Design and manage your workshop agenda with Session Lab (affiliate link)
Check out our featured SessionLab user Rein Sevenstern from Experiential Learning

Connect to Oscar

on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

032 - Everything you need to know when planning workshops at scale - with Matthew Kelly

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode, I talk to Matthew Kelly from dotank - a business design agency that helps companies redesign their business and move their teams to action. Matt applies insights from Design Thinking and Story Telling to design, run and scale workshops. Matt and his team have facilitated events with 700 people and has learned how to plan and execute high impact events at scale.

In the show, Matt explains how to effectively harvest insights from very large groups, and - most importantly - how to structure that data so that you can tell a story that will engage the participants to remain engaged after.

We also discussed the difference in terms of facilitation between a small and large workshop, and what you need to keep in mind when briefing the co-facilitators.

Questions and Answers

[1:47] Since when do you call yourself a "Design Thinker" and how do you apply Design Thinking to Business Design?

[3:26] To what extent are you as "do-tank" involved in the doing after a Design Thinking process?

[8:20] If you were a hashtag, what would it be?

[9:37] How do you trigger creativity in a group?

[13:58] How can you combine standardization through canvas design with the individual treatment of each client?

[15:13] Can you give an example of how you vary the way participants are sharing ideas?

[19:42] What is the key difference between facilitating a small workshop of max 20 people and a 100+ event?

[26:46] What are the key characteristics or mindsets you are looking for in a group of internal facilitators at these events?

[30:27] How can you make sure that participants are taking the work necessary at such large events serious?

[36:18] How do you inform all participants about each other's output? Is this actually relevant?

[39:46] How do you analyse the qualitative data from all these sticky notes? How do you put the data into a system?

[44:13] What makes a large workshop fail?

[45:38] Can you explain in a nutshell what you mean by "participants facilitating themselves"?

[50:35] What is the nutshell a listener shall take away from our conversation?

Links to check

Matt's Business website DoTank
DoTank's high impact event services
Video of the conference mentioned in the show
Podcast episode with Mireille Beumer
Design and manage your workshop agenda with Session Lab (affiliate link)
Check out our featured SessionLab user Rein Sevenstern from Experiential Learning

Connect to Matt

on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

031 - Learnings from facilitating co-creation in the woods - with Meghan Preiss

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Meghan Preiss, a designer, researcher and corporate facilitator for RKS Design. Meghan works for corporate clients on service and product design and helps university students to use design thinking methods for finding their future career. She facilitates co-creation processes and supports groups in thinking outside the box.

Meghan was part of a project that invited participants for a co-creation workshop into the woods. In this show, she will share what she learned from this experience and also from the interaction between students, children and executive managers.

As Meghan used to be a shy person, we start our conversation on what it takes to become a facilitator when you have a shy personality. The core of the episode is Meghan's experience of hosting workshops in the woods, bringing together professionals, college students and school kids for a co-creation experience.

Questions and Answers

[1:25] How did you get into co-creation and what fascinates you about it?

[3:43] How did you grow into public speaking given your shy personality?

[5:13] What would you advise a shy person who wants to become a facilitator?

[6:08] How do you deal with shy participants in your co-creation sessions?

[7:27] Would you give shy participants the opportunity to prefer beforehand?

[8:12] If you had to summarise your vita into a hashtag - what would you be?

[9:47] What's the magic ingredient of a co-creation process?

[10:49] Would you invite students to workshops with clients?

[14:56] What is the impact of low-tech set-up in nature on the co-creation process?

[17:41] What is it about the woods that makes co-creation easier than in a creative room?

[19:44] How would you bring the woods to the corporate world?

[23:42] What is your favourite exercise?

[25:42] How do you select the best ideas then?

[28:53] What is the main difference in the way teams of students compared to professionals select ideas?

[31:49] Doesn't this awareness of budget constraints limit the creative thinking of groups?

[35:02] What can leaders learn from children in the co-creation process?

[36:40] Do you have a technique in mind to get rid of that fear of judgement?

[38:40] What makes a workshop work?

[41:41] Would you define roles to facilitate the co-creation session?

[45:00] Would you provide a group with guidelines on how to communicate?

[45:46] What would be the optimal group size?

[47:07] What would you like the listeners to remember from our conversation?

Check out our sponsor Session Lab and send me a soundbite with your reason why you use SessionLab to be featured in one of my upcoming sponsor breaks!

Links to check

Podcast episode with Frans Scheepens

Design and manage your workshop agenda with Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect to Meghan

on LinkedIn

Follow Meghan on Instagram @meghanpreiss_

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

030 - The day after! How to effectively document to achieve results - with Mireille Beumer

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Mireille Beumer, an engineer by training and facilitator by passion and profession. In her different roles, Mireille facilitates the process of knowledge transfer between people. And, she trains facilitators to master the skill.

On the show, we speak about the nitty-gritty bits of workshop documentation. The day after the workshop is the most difficult and most neglected one. What can we do to make it easy for groups and for workshop sponsors to keep the momentum and to follow up? Mireille shares valuable advice on what it takes to effectively capture the outcomes so that they translate into action.

You will learn how to "write" workshop minutes that catch the recipient's attention. And Mireille shares how you can get the participants to create their own documentation in an effective and fun way!

Do you want to know why you don't need a gym when working with Mireille? Then, stay tuned until the end and keep your pen and notebook ready: you'll surely need it!

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:01] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[2:34] What is the difference between a facilitator and a coach?

[4:11] How does your background in engineering impact the way you facilitate collaboration?

[5:49] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

[7:10] What's your favourite exercise to "bring power to the meeting"?

[10:20] How would you deal with the situation where too many participants state that they have a busy mind and don't want to be in that meeting?

[11:48] Do you allow participants to join late?

[14:33] What are the key skills of a professional facilitator?

[19:54] How do you document your workshop results?

[24:09] Do you use a template to capture the results in the form of a story?

[27:01] How can you help teams to keep momentum? What comes after documentation?

[28:46] Does the follow-up workshop need the facilitator or can it be done by the group/ manager?

[29:04] What is the best timing for the follow-up session?

[29:33] How do you prepare a follow-up with your client?

[31:19] How much time do you plan for the closing?

[35:02] What are the steps you need to take to make sure the follow-up becomes easy?

[37:46] What's your responsibility in terms of follow-up? Where is the line between facilitator and project manager?

[39:50] You refer to 4-hours workshops. Do you believe in 8-hours sessions?

[45:16] How can we capture results that will be read?

[48:31] From your experience what makes a workshop fail?

[49:37] What would you like the listeners to remember from our conversation?

Check out our sponsor Session Lab and send me a soundbite with your reason why you use SessionLab to be featured in one of my upcoming sponsor breaks!

Connect to Mireille

on LinkedIn

via her website: https://mireillebeumer.nl/

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

029 - Culture matters! How to apply Design Thinking across organisational cultures – with Bernhard Ferro

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Bernhard Ferro, a Senior Design Thinker and expert in user experience (UX) design with a background in behavioural sciences. We talk about Design Thinking and how its strict methodology can help us when dealing with difficult organizational cultures.

Although Bernhard believes that "Design Thinking cannot fix a broken team", he shares how a Design Thinking workshop once contributed to the team-building process. In the show, you will learn how you can prepare teams who have never experienced a co-creation workshop and what it takes to effectively manage expectations.

Don’t miss the part in which Bernhard shares how a CEO turned into a "prototyping machine" and what exercise triggered the magical effect.

"Everything can be prototyped.
Prototyping is a mindset."

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:16] What's your story? How did you get into Design Thinking?

[3:50] How would you summarise your vita in one hashtag?

[4:38] What have you learned from behavioural sciences that help you to design workshops?

[5:38] What's your strategy to remove distraction?

[8:17] Does the application of the Design Thinking methodology depend on the organisational culture?

[12:13] Within the workshop process, when are you more designer and when are you more facilitator?

[15:15] What is "interaction design"?

[16:25] How do you use your knowledge in UX in the workshop design process?

[18:29] Do you adjust your workshops depending on the group's culture? What would you do if you know the group tends to lengthy discussions?

[19:40] Can you have a successful Design Thinking workshop with a toxic team?

[21:33] Through the eyes of a behavioural scientist, what makes Design Thinking so favourable for team building?

[22:57] With whom are you aligning in the workshop preparation process?

[24:55] What's your role in terms of expectation management when it comes to expected results or outcomes?

[29:02] What does it take for a team to have a successful Design Thinking workshop?

[31:24] Why do workshops fail?

[35:40] How would you prepare a participant for a potentially difficult workshop situation?

[37:38] What's wrong about "group discussions"?

[41:27] What's your favourite exercise to get groups become familiar with prototyping?

[45:18] How do you prioritize ideas?

[47:51] What advice would you give someone who wants to run Design Thinking workshops?

[54:13] What shall a listener remember from our conversation?

Check out our sponsor Session Lab and send me a soundbite with your reason why you use SessionLab to be featured in one of my upcoming sponsor breaks!

Connect to Bernhard

on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

028 - How to supercharge your workshops and teams with Pam Hamilton

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Pam Hamilton, the author of “The Workshop Book”, facilitator and managing director of Paraffin. Pam is passionate about collective intelligence and how to unleash collective intelligence in groups so make great things happen.

On the show, Pam and I speak about the various roles and skills facilitators need to make workshops work. Using the analogy of hosting a dinner, Pam explained the different steps facilitators need to keep in mind when planning a workshop. In one of my favourite parts, Pam shares how we can disturb hierarchy in the working space and why it is important.

Don’t miss the part when Pam speaks about her recent passion project, the “Project Bridge” and invites you to get engaged and create a positive impact in your community.

You will find inspiration from her stories on how to replace competition by collaboration through a visioning technique.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:44] What's your story? When did your fascination for workshops start?

[4:44] What does it take for a facilitator to unleash a group's potential?

[8:50] How do you include the prep-work in your meeting?

[11:14] What are the capabilities that a facilitator needs?

[15:49] How do you deal with people who cannot commit to attend the full duration of the workshop?

[19:15] Would you consider workshops as hierarchy-free spaces?

[23:25] To what extent would you consider personality types of the participants and adjust your workshop design accordingly?

[30:50] Can you tell us more about the Project Bridge that you are currently working on?

[36:00] How do you facilitate these 'aha'-moments in a visioning exercise?

[38:43] How do you prepare participants of different power-positions for this hierarchy-free setting?

[41:21] Where do you draw the line for facilitators to be responsible for the follow-up?

[44:26] What did you learn from Project Bridge about teamwork?

[47:36] What makes a team? What's the difference between a team and a group of people working together?

[52:33] Has this exercise ever derailed where teams could not agree on one vision?

[53:11] If you were a hashtag, what would it be?

[54:13] What shall a listener remember from our conversation?

Related links for you to check out

Pam's Business page: https://paraffin.ltd/
Project Bridge Case study https://paraffin.ltd/casestudies/404/
Free templates and exercises to download, including the visioning templates https://paraffin.ltd/stimulus/
Register to Pam’s Workshop Training or buy the book or the Power Pack https://paraffin.ltd/shop/
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect to Pam

on LinkedIn (Please mention the podcast when you reach out to Pam!)

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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027 - Beyond the spreadsheet-brain: How to invoke participants' brains, hearts and bellies? - with Tenneson Woolf

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 07:00:00 +0200

On episode 027, I talk to Tenneson Woolf, a facilitator, workshop leader, teacher, blogger, and coach. Tenneson is committed to improving the quality of collaboration and imagination for groups, teams, and organizations. And, you can hear that and learn from that on the podcast.

Tenneson and I speak about the art of facilitation in general and what it takes to help individuals to collectively imagine and collaborate. We also spend time clarifying semantics, such as the differences between being a facilitator and a host and the meaning of “honest meetings”.

I particularly enjoyed our conversation about different art forms and how to use them to stimulate creative brains. Throughout the show, you will learn how to help participants to turn off their spreadsheet-brain to invoke their hearts and bellies.

Don’t miss the part when Tenneson reads out a poem and guides us through the steps on how to use it as an insightful ice-breaker. His multiple examples that will inspire you to deliver workshops that work.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[2:27] When did you start calling yourself a "facilitator"?

[5:15] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

[5:56] What makes a meeting "honest"?

[8:42] What would be a "dishonest" meeting?

[16:33] How does a facilitator help the group to fully explore a topic without derailing?

[20:37] How do you assure that everyone is aligned on the workshop purpose and topic?

[23:51] What does it take to help people to be "smarter together"?

[31:26] You use poems to start business meetings/ workshops - Can you share how you do that and why?

[40:35] What's your favourite exercise?

[46:44] What shall a listener remember from our conversation?

Related links for you to check out

Tenneson's business page: www.tennesonwoolf.com
Glimpses: 50 Poems by Jim Quigley (Amazon)
Our sponsor SessionLab

Connect to Tenneson

on LinkedIn
follow on Twitter @tennesonwoolf

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

026 - How to design meetings that we love to attend - with Gustavo Razzetti

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Gustavo Razzetti, a speaker, author, change facilitator and the founder of Liberationist. He is an active blogger and has written over 400 articles on change, on leadership and team development.

We speak about organizational and behavioural change, about leadership and about meetings that are an integral part of a change process. We discuss the difference between meetings and workshops and how you stop having meetings on auto-pilot.

Gustavo shares his concept of workshops being a tool for experimenting and practising new behaviours. And along these lines, he shares some of his favourite exercises that you can apply in regular meetings and which will help to foster communication across hierarchies.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[3:23] What do you mean when you call yourself a “change instigator” and to what extent is it different from a “change consultant”?

[4:34] How much will do you need from the organisation to really drive the change?

[5:53] What do you think is the biggest misconception of change?

[8:15] How do you help leaders to find comfort in this uncertainty?

[10:16] What does it take for a leader to trust their team?

[20:48] What is the key difference between a meeting and a workshop according to you?

[23:39] If you could change one thing in the way how organizations meet, what would you change?

[24:53] What is according to you, the best strategy to get out of autopilot?

[26:28] How do you get everyone to speak?

[29:58] How do you avoid auto-pilot in recurrent meetings that tend to follow the same structure every week?

[32:16] Do you believe in virtual meetings?

[36:48] Do you think this is related to the safe space?

[38:11] What would be your advice to a new team leader to have meetings that matter?

[41:15] How important do you consider courage for a team lead or for team leaders to be good meeting facilitators?

[47:03] What makes workshops fail according to you?

[49:19] What is your favourite exercise?

[53:27] How do you build the pairs of two?

[55:30] Anything you would like to share that we haven't touched upon?

[56:09] Would you have this conversation with a team?

[57:12] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[1:00:32] What do you want the audience to remember?

Related links you may want to check out:

Gustavo’s business page: https://liberationist.org/
Gustavo’s ultimate guide to successful meetings
Google study on remote teams
Gustavo’s blog post on increasing mistake tolerance.
Exercise: Who are you?
Template for accountability exercise.
Our sponsor SessionLab

Connect to Gustavo on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

025 - How can we foster positivity in vulnerable contexts? - with Paulina Santos Alatorre

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Paulina Santos Alatorre, a psychologist, social worker, educator and conflict mediator. We talk on how we can foster positivity in workshops on painful topics and in vulnerable contexts - such as domestic violence, gender equality and with participants who face challenging life situations such as asylum seekers.

Paulina was born in Mexico and has worked in Mexico, Uganda, Thailand but also in Europe. Her expertise is in mediation and conflict prevention. In the show, Paulina shares how she adjusts to different cultural and social environments and how she manages to keep positivity within the group. You will hear about different exercises on how to help participants communicate and connect within a challenging environment.

Don’t miss the part when we speak about how we can use an outsider’s perspective to close and reflect on a workshop.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:45] What’s your story?

[2:50] So what are the topics that you worked on?

[3:48] To what extent would you adjust the framework of your workshop to the different cultures?

[5:42] What brings them into the workshop and then if they are not aware of their problem?

[7:16] What does dance trigger in participants?

[8:20] How do you then introduce the “real topic” – would you reflect on the activity?

[9:52] How do you maintain the safe space then when you switch the topics and is it possible to have a fun workshop on such a difficult theme?

[11:32] what kind of exercises would you use for that?

[14:29] How do you then make sure that everyone still participates?

[16:59] Would you have a workshop, a mixed workshop on domestic violence with men and women in the same room?

[19:22] And you mentioned exercises for learning better communication. Can you give us an example?

[21:16] How do you raise the awareness or this empathy actually for the points of view from other people?

[24:15] Would you use meditation in your workshops?

[27:21] How do you adjust to different cultural backgrounds, e.g. between Asia and Europe when addressing difficult topics?

[29:11] what is your favorite exercise?

[32:05] What did you learn from the children that you can apply to help adults?

[34:06] What did you learn from your workshops working with people at risk about the workshops working with leaders and managers.

[35:25] What is the difference in your way of starting a workshop when you work with on a leadership topic, for instance?

[36:49] From your experience, what makes workshops fail?

[37:38] what would be the moment that you realize, oh now I need the plan B

[38:31] How do you bring them back then into mentally into the room?

[48:18] What do you want a listener to remember from our conversation?

Related links you may want to check out:

Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Other shows we mentioned:

006 - What managers can learn from the clown - with Steph Kinsch

Connect to Paulina

LinkedIn
Paulina’s website

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

024 - How to find comfort in uncertainty - with Grazyna Frackiewicz

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In episode 024 of the workshops work Podcast, I talk to Grazyna Frackiewicz, a stand-up comedian, improv teacher and facilitator about hacks to overcome uncertainty. She will share what she has learned from her career in sales and marketing and how she uses these skills to design a process that helps her to stay in the moment.

Grazyna now runs the Living Improv Academy to help facilitators and team leaders to find confidence in uncertainty by applying methods of improvisation theatre.

You will learn how to prepare in a way that you will eventually even feel addicted to uncertainty when hosting a workshop.

My favourite part of the show happens when Grazyna and I discuss her favourite exercise “count to 20” and what we can learn from it about communication, collaboration, uncertainty and strategy.

Don’t miss the part when Grazyna explains how she “thinks on her feet” when she merges her stand-up, improv and theatre acting skills.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:29] If you were a Hashtag, what would you be?

[2:41] So what's your story? How did you get from sales/ marketing to acting to facilitating?

[6:15] what did you learn from your life as a sales and marketing person?

[7:49] Would you consider facilitation and communication as a “soft skill”?

[12:08] Given your background in improv theatre and your connection to yourself, how do you deal with uncertainty?

[14:39] To what extent is it about the facilitator him or herself to get out of the way?

[18:50] How much planning do you put into your workshops and how much room do you leave for improvisation and uncertainty?

[26:45] How do you help groups to deal with this discomfort of listening to their bodies in front of colleagues?

[29:11] There is a large difference with respect to the script between stand-up, improv and traditional theatre acting. Which skill do you refer to when it comes to facilitation?

[29:51] What do you mean by “thinking or feeling on your feet”?

[31:18] How much “acting” do you apply in a workshop?

[33:07] What makes a workshop fail?

[35:30] What would you recommend to a facilitator on how to deal with uncertainty?

[38:56] What’s your favourite exercise to learn giving up control and being in the moment?

[40:35] Is this an intuition that gets us to speak at the right moment?

[42:36] Do you see differences between the way teams perform in this exercise as opposed to a group of strangers?

[46:23] What shall the audience remember from our conversation?

Related links you may want to check out:

Grazyna’s business page: www.livingimprovacademy.com
TED talk by Kelly McGonigal on relabeling stress
HBR Article on the correlation between speaking time and perceived value of meetings
Kurt Lewin’s 3-step change model (unfreeze – change – freeze)
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

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023 - Create FOMO for yourself: how to increase your workshop’s visibility - with May King Tsang

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to May King Tsang, a social media FOMO ("fear of missing out") creator and live tweeter. May King joined a live event I organised a day before recording the interview so that I could have first-hand insights on how she works and how FOMO works. In the show, we talk about how May King created visibility for a small and intimate event on social media.

In the show, May King shares the steps she took to create visibility: before, during and even after the event. She explains the key differences between the major platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and how we can use the algorithms to our advantage.

Don’t miss the part when May King explains why she doesn't directly refer to the event she creates FOMO for in her very first social media posts. And what she did to help me to increase my number of followers on Instagram by 6% and by 35% on Twitter without me even using my phone.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[2:00] If you had to choose a hashtag for yourself, what would it be?

[3:08] Can you tell us a little bit more about your story, making tea and making FOMO while making mistakes.

[6:05] What was your approach of creating pre-FOMO for the mastermind even?

[13:08] How can we protect us against being tagged without consent?

[13:49] We just covered the pre-FOMO strategy. What was then happening at the event itself?

[22:42] If we want to be more strategic, what would be the differences of the different approaches on the three different platforms being Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook?

[26:54] What is the ideal frequency of posting across platforms?

[29:32] Why was it important that you used my phone during the event to create FOMO?

[33:17] What is usually the result that you would hope for that you would bring forth?

[40:45] From your outside perspective, observing the events you create FOMO for: What makes a workshop or conference fail?

[47:09] How do you create post-FOMO? How can we keep the buzz alive after the event?

[52:09] What would you like a listener to remember from our interview?

Related links you may want to check out:

Neal Schaffer on influencer marketing
Andrew and Pete
Jannet Murray
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect to May King
on LinkedIn

Follow her @MayKingTEA

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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022 - Conversations matter! How to design group conversations - with Daniel Stillman

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Daniel Stillman, a conversation designer and host of the podcast “The Conversation Factory”. We talk about the difference and similarities between facilitation, conversation design and coaching. And, we talk a lot about power dynamics and how you deal with them and take them into account when designing group conversations that shall solve a problem. In the show, Daniel and I discuss a lot about the circumstances that determine our choices of exercises – depending on the purpose of a workshop, group dynamics, and stakeholder groups.

Don’t miss our arguments related to the “Fishbowl Conversation” that led us to explore how to evaluate which exercises were appropriate in specific situations.

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Questions and Answers

[1:43] What’s your story? How did you turn from a BA in Physics into a conversation designer?

[5:48] How did the experience of power dynamics impact you and your style of working in designing conversations?

[10:43] Is there actually a line between being a conversation designer, a facilitator, moderator and a coach?

[25:24] So what's according to you the most effective way to make a decision with a large group?

[27:54] To what extent do you believe does the facilitator has a responsibility to protect the group from their decisions being highjacked by the p[roblem-owner?

[29:43] What is the key skill according to you, since you are also teaching facilitating managers, what is the key skill that they should learn first?

[30:46] Can you learn that? Can you teach that?

[33:24] According to you, what makes a workshop fail?

[37:48] So how much time do you usually spend on understanding the participants before him?

[40:53] I would be curious to hear how you define the experience in the context of a conversation.

[43:21] What’s your favourite exercise?

[46:49] If someone fell asleep after a minute, just woke up and doesn't have time to listen to the entire show again. What do you want them to remember?

Related links you may want to check out:

Daniel’s conversation with Robert Bordone (Podcast,The Conversation Factory)
Timothy Gallwey “The inner game of Tennis”
Barry O’Reilly “Unlearn”
Conversation OS
The Fishbowl Conversation (Exercise)
Knowle’s principle of andragogy
Daniel’s book: "The 30 Second Elephant and the Paper Airplane Experiment: Origami for Design Thinking"
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Other shows we mentioned:

Rein Sevenstern on How to create experiences for your audience

Connect to Daniel:
on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter @dastillman

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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021 - How to use Liberating Structures to translate the purpose into a process - with Max Brouwer

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Max Brouwer, a change-agent, scrum master and facilitator who also runs a solo consulting business max.co. The core of our conversation is the method of “Liberating Structures” and we dig deep into different exercises (so-called “structures”) and how to effectively apply them in different contexts. We also talk about the role of managers as “facilitating leaders” and how to avoid the “leadership bias” when a senior manager joins a workshop.

I was particularly curious to learn about Max’ experience of organizing Meet-up events that bring together groups of unrelated people to learn and experience “Liberating Structures”. Amongst others, I learned from Max a nice add-on to my favourite “premortem” exercise: After a brainstorm on how to fail a goal, he asks participants to highlight those items that they are already doing and challenges them on how to stop doing that.

Don’t miss the part when Max shares how he dealt with the situation when a manager started co-facilitating the workshop and questioned the process. And don’t miss our heartful laughs throughout the show (which I decided not to delete just for the fun of it).

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:36] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

[2:26] What is a change agent?

[3:43] Can you learn to be a change agent and how do you become one?

[6:23] What have you learned from being a consultant about facilitation?

[9:09] Must the CEO be present in the workshop?

[11:10] Can you briefly explain the concept of “Liberating Structures”?

[14:49] Do you usually co-facilitate workshops with other practitioners of “Liberating Structures” (Liberating Structuralists??)

[20:05] Can you share the story about the manager who started co-facilitating?

[25:33] Can managers become “facilitating leaders”?

[28:03] Do you think we can create a “kitchen table” atmosphere at work?

[31:00] How do you adjust your string to different topics of a “Liberating Structures” Meet-up?

[34:08] Often I came across the method of ‘min specs’ – can you explain to me what this means?

[35:50] Which list is usually longer – the list of the dos or of the don’ts?

[40:28] How you design a Meet-up workshop for which you most often don’t know the group of participants?

[45:53] What makes a workshop fail?

[47:08] What shall the audience remember from our conversation?

Links to books and exercises we discussed:

Lean Coffee (Meeting format)
Impromptu Networking (Exercise)
Fishbowl conversation (Exercise)
Wicked Questions (Exercise)
Min specs (Exercise)
Triz (Exercise)
Worldcafé (Exercise)
Our sponsor Session Lab

Connect to Max on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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020 - Create Experiences for Your Audience to Achieve Results with Rein Sevenstern

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Rein Sevenstern, a facilitator, coach and managing partner of Experiential Learning, a consulting firm that designs and facilitates experiences for people to leave their comfort zone in a safe environment, to unleash learning.

Since Rein has lived and worked in many different countries, such as India, Malaysia, US, Belgium and the Netherlands, we talk about the impact of cultural differences on workshop preparation and facilitation.

The core of our conversation is the question of how we can create experiences in various workshop contexts and how we can take participants out of their comfort zone while protecting the safe space. We also speak about ego and about trust and what it takes to transform groups of colleagues into teams.

Don’t miss the part when Rein guides us through the beautiful workshop experience “The valuable object” that gave me goose bombs from just listening.

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Subscribe to our newsletter for a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more: https://workshops.work/podcast

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Questions and Answers

[1:31] If you were a hashtag, what would it be?

[3:58] What have you learned from the cultural differences while living and working aboard?

[5:32] Would you adjust your facilitation style to the different cultures where you conduct workshops?

[9:25] What would be your warm-up exercises depending on cultural differences?

[13:47] What is “experiential learning”?

[18:40] What makes the difference between a group of colleagues and a team?

[21:40] How important is it for the team building that each person discloses their own agenda?

[25:16] Do you build a ritual around the exchange of the “valuable object”?

[31:23] How do you bridge the gap between taking participants out of their comfort zone while still creating the safe space in which they can connect?

[41:58] In our briefing you shared about a leadership program of yours where you bring team members to a developing country to collaborate with NGOs. Can you tell us more about that?

[49:58] How do you assure the sustainability of the experience once managers come back to daily work?

[52:57] What makes workshops fail?

[54:30] What shall the listener remember from the show?

Related links you may want to check out:

Rein’s business page: https://experientiallearning.biz/
The “trust equation” by David Maister
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect to Rein on:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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019 - Workshop Tactics: Can we Design Workshops Without Experience? with Charles Burdett

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Charles Burdett, a UX Designer and the founder of Workshop Tactics, a card deck with exercises for workshop facilitators. I reached out to Charles after I saw examples of his early alpha version on Instagram. And, I was lucky enough to get him to honestly share his experience of developing a physical product for workshop facilitators.

In the show, we discuss the needs of newbie and professional facilitators in terms of tools that make workshops work, what we can learn from UX Design about workshop participants. And, we speak about the difference between workshop exercises, tactics and strategies, namely how wording can impact participants’ engagement in workshops.

Don’t miss the part when we make up the workshop hierarchy of needs that could fail your session despite high-quality content, precise tactic preparation and world-class facilitation.

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Questions and Answers

[1:53] You have a background in UX Design and developed Workshop Tactics. What’s your story behind this idea?

[7:44] What have you learned from UX for workshop facilitation?

[9:45] How does UX works when we think of workshop participants as users?

[11:34] You mentioned in a previous call how you knew an exercise similar to the “premortem” for design workshops. Could you run us through?

[15:15] What are the skills a facilitator needs to make workshops with internal and external stakeholders work?

[19:33] Can you briefly explain the concept of OKR?

[23:33] What are the prerequisites for a facilitator to be able to use your card deck?

[25:24] What would be your advice for someone who uses your card deck for the first time?

[28:20] Where do you think this ‘eye-rolling’ when speaking about workshops comes from?

[30:11] What do you understand by tactics when you speak about workshops?

[33:32] As a facilitator, what do you need to do before starting the tactical part?

[40:17] Do we need creative rooms to host workshops that work?

[44:05] What’s your favourite exercise?

[49:15] What do you want the audience to remember from our conversation?

Related links you may want to check out:

Charles' business page: www.workshoptactics.com
Radical Focus by Christina Wodtke
Lean UX by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Listeners of the workshops work podcast are prioritized for the beta testing! Sign up here!

Episodes mentioned in the show:

Alison Coward on Workshop Culture (Episode 013)

Jeremy Akers on Mindset Management (Episode 007)

Connect to Charles:

Twitter or Instagram @workshoptactics

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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018 - How to use Scientific Insights to Design Powerful Workshops with Myriam Hadnes

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +0200

This is my first solo show and I speak about the science behind workshop design and facilitation. Namely, I share how I use evidence from behavioural economics to come up with ideas that will help participants to experience meaningful progress during their working session. Before founding idayz I had a career in higher education – as a researcher, lecturer and strategic advisor. From all these roles I learned about human behaviour and how to best facilitate their collaboration.

In the show, I share the rationale behind my workshop design and some of my favourite exercises and I answer my own questions: How can we help participants to open up and engage despite hierarchical differences? How can we use the energy of nay-sayers for creative ideation and is courage one of the most important skills of a successful facilitator?

Don’t miss the part when I explain why I bring M&Ms to every meeting

Questions and Answers

[1:59] What would I be if I was a hashtag?

[3:30] Why do I call myself a “behavioural economist” and what does that mean?

[6:33] What’s my story? How did I get from a career in higher education to become a facilitator?

[10:59] Why did I call my business idayz?

[15:21] What have I learned from my previous roles in workshop design and facilitation?

[22:13] How do I use insights from behavioural economics to design workshops?

[29:22] What’s my favourite exercise and how do I use behavioural insights to design exercises?

[30:55] Why do I bring M&Ms to every meeting and workshop?

[32:54] What are the most powerful check-in exercises I use and why do they work from a behavioural perspective?

[41:45] Why do I brainstorm failures instead of successes?

[43:00] How do I help participants to cluster their ideas after ideation?

[45:41] Why do workshops fail?

[46:26] What shall my listener who missed the entire show remember?

Related links you may want to check out:

My business page: www.idayz.nl
Daniel Kahnemann: “Thinking fast and slow”
Cognitive Biases
Vipassana silent meditation retreat
Pat Flynn’s concept of “unfair advantage”
Patrick Cowden
Jean Marc Fandel
My blog post on check-in exercises
Teresa Amabile: The progress principle
Dan Ariely’s Lego experiment
Dixit board game
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect and follow me:

@myriamhadnes on Instagram or Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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017 - Master the Room! How to Create Engagement with Your Audience with Derek Bruce

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Derek Bruce. He is a Leadership Development Director, and has worked in HR, Learning & Development and is also an expert keynote speaker and event moderator and host.

Derek and I speak about the importance of engaging the audience - whether it is in a workshop, meeting or at a conference. When our audience feels engaged, they will listen to us and interact, they will feel enabled to act upon the content we try to bring across.

Besides engaging the audience, Derek and I touch on a million other topics: the skillset of managers to survive the “future of work”, the impact of preparation on our mindset and the workshop atmosphere, and: why you may want to ask your audience to take a selfie.

Don’t miss the part when Derek shares his lessons learned from facilitating a workshop where half the participants were physically present and the other half joined via video call. Tune in to learn how to assure that the virtual participants are as engaged as if they sat in the same room….

Questions and Answers

[1:32] If you were a hashtag, what would it be?

[1:53] What is your story? Where does your energy and your skill to engage the audience come from?

[2:56] What have you learned from your roles in HR and Learning & Development about facilitation?

[4:34] Where do you see the challenges and benefits of being a corporate versus an external facilitator?

[8:02] What is your experience in collaborating with an external facilitator?

[8:52] How do you measure success?

[10:32] What does it take to engage an audience?

[12:54] To what extent does seating matter and how do you set up the room?

[14:06] Do you use different approaches to engage the audience depending on whether it is a meeting, workshop or conference?

[19:50] When you say that engagement starts within the first minute and you often use humour. What have you learned from improv or stand-up comedy about engagement?

[22:59] Stand-up is scripted whereas improv is not. Would you script your first joke when coming on stage?

[24:41] So, does “humour” boil down to “authenticity”?

[25:35] What makes for you a good facilitator?

[28:26] Do facilitators of e.g. Design Sprints need different skills than facilitators who teach groups?

[31:18] How did you connect the virtual and physical participants in the beginning? What were the exercises?

[33:41] For anyone who hasn’t facilitated a partly virtual workshop – what would you advise?

[35:40] What is your opinion on the statement that in the future of work, every manager must develop facilitation skills?

[38:22] What’s the difference between soft and emotional skills?

[40:40] Are these emotional skills then also the ingredients you need to engage the audience?

[47:59] What’s your silver bullet exercise?

Related links you may want to check out:

Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Other shows we mentioned:

Episode 016 with Tamar Broadbent: Why every facilitator should take improv classes”

Episode 007 with Jeremy Akers: Mindset Management

Connect to Derek:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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016: Why every facilitator should take improvisation theatre classes - with Tamar Broadbent

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Tamar Broadbent, a comedian, writer, improviser, award-winning musical songwriter, and: my first improvisation theatre teacher! In our super fun talk, we speak about improvisation theatre and what facilitators can learn from improvisers. I claim that every facilitator who is serious about getting to the next level should take improv classes! In the show, Tamar shares the ground rules of improv and how they apply to live off-stage, we talk about listening, connection, and creating safe space through authentic positivity. Don’t miss the part when Tamar shares her experience working with teams in a business setting and how she prepares for these. Along our conversation, we draw analogies between on- and off-stage scenarios that will surely inspire you to design a new setting for fun workshops that work by delivering results.

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Questions and Answers

[1:33] Let’s start with your story. Where did you pick up all of these skills?

[3:21] As not everyone in the audience might be familiar with improv and long-form Chicago style. Can you give us the nutshell of what all of that means?

[5:17] Can you share with us the ground rules of improv and why they are so important?

[7:45] What makes a good scene partner in terms of shared responsibility?

[11:41] What did you learn for off-stage life? Do you still ask people how they are doing?

[13:13] Has improv helped you to become a better listener off-stage?

[17:33] Can you explain how we can say “no” in an improv scene without compromising on the rule of “yes and”?

[25:02] How important is authenticity for you as an improviser on stage? Can you be authentic or is it just a role you play?

[27:19] Playing improv is extremely vulnerable in the beginning, as a teacher, how do you create a safe space for your students?

[36:02] What’s your favourite game/ ice-breaker?

[38:05] When you do workshops with business teams where participants might not have signed up for improv voluntarily, how do you get them to “warm up”?

[41:47] Your classes were always incredibly structured. What was your approach to link the exercises to the general topic and goal of the class?

[46:03] What makes a workshop fail?

[47:50] What transformation do you observe in students who enrol in your improv course?

Related links you may want to check out:

Tamar’s website: https://www.mynameistamar.com

Improv theatre glossary

Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect to Tamar:

On LinkedIn

Follow Tamar: @tamarbroadbent

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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015 - How to Use Workshops as Solution Development Tool with Wouter Smeets

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In episode 015, I talk to Wouter Smeets, a rocket scientist, former innovation manager and (co-) founder of two companies, Glimpse and Prototype You, Wouter has worked on human-machine interaction and now focuses on human-human interaction to help individuals to pursue their dreams and change-makers to realise their vision of a better world. In this episode, Wouter shares how we can use workshops as a framework to apply innovation principles for solution development.

Don’t miss the part when Wouter praises the role of facilitators and emphasizes their importance in the solution development process! This will give you the right arguments at hand to get the budget and deliver workshops that work.

Questions and Answers

[1:49] I tend to say that workshop design and facilitation is no “rocket science”. What is your view as a rocket scientist?

[2:43] What’s your journey from being an innovation manager to becoming a founder?

[7:03] What have you learned from your time working on human-machine interaction for the work on human-human interaction that you are doing today?

[9:35] What makes the use of templates on workshops so powerful?

[11:47] How do you make sure that the groups solve the right problem?

[16:26] Can templates be too narrow in the sense that they don’t leave enough room for creativity?

[20:41] How do you deal with the situation when participants rank all ideas high in importance and urgency?

[23:14] How do you prioritize ideas?

[28:51] Who needs to be in the workshop room to drive solution development?

[30:32] What is so important about the facilitator?

[32:52] How do you make sure that the decision maker [aka workshop sponsor] doesn’t invite “yes-sayers” to the workshop?

[34:28] Who decides on the way to vote (whether it’s democratic or the leader who decides)? And, how do groups react to different scenarios?

[36:59] How do we know that the group arrived in developing “the” solution?

[39:47] When you run several workshops to develop the solution, what is the responsibility of the facilitator that the group does “their homework” in following up?

[42:20] What information must be present on the final template to make sure the team can work on the next steps?

[45:06] Do you have a better way of reading the room and guiding the group than gut-feeling?

Related links you may want to check out:

Wouter’s business pages: www.glimpse.nl and www.prototypeyou.nl

The Mom Test

Eisenhower Matrix

WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First)

Ikea Effect

Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect to Wouter on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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014 - What it Takes to be an Authentic Facilitator with Lily Gros

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this very-early morning and truly authentic show, I speak with Lily Gros, a facilitator, entrepreneur and youtuber. Lily started La Minute Facilitation, her business with which she facilitates workshops for (mostly non-profit) clients, trains facilitators on their mindset and runs her own workshops on authenticity and perfectionism.
In the show, we talk about “authenticity 360 degrees” which includes the facilitator and the participants. And, we talk about mindful facilitation which becomes crucial as soon as challenges come up.

Don’t miss our very honest exchange on how we dealt with challenging situations. These lessons we learned will surely inspire you to anticipate problems so that you can make your workshops work.

Questions and Answers

[1:37] What are your different roles as a facilitator?

[7:36] Authenticity became quite a buzzword. How do you define it and what does it mean to you?

[10:54] How did you learn to be authentic?

[12:43] How did you come up with this topic?

[15:16] How do get your groups to be more authentic?

[16:27] You get to know your participants before the workshop?

[17:30] What would be an icebreaker for a “cold” group of participants?

[21:35] Why does it feel so scary to be authentic?

[24:21] How do you approach the puzzle that a team might accept imperfection and vulnerability and still show high performance?

[31:34] How do you test the water in terms of openness of your participants?

[34:20] How did you manage to create the safe space after this tricky situation?

[41:02] What is your way in dealing with such a difficult participant?

[45:05] What makes a workshop work?

[47:55] What shall the audience remember from the show?

Related links you may want to check out:

Lily’s business page: https://lilygros.co/
The white paper (book) Lily wrote with Ze Change Makers (in French)
Brené Brown’s TED talk
Lily’s interview with Peter Krishnan (summary)
Jim Tamm on Radical Collaboration
The five keys to a successful Google team
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Shows we mentioned:

Mindset Management – with Jeremy Ackers
Getting it right by starting it right – with Patrick Cowden

Connect to Lily on LinkedIn

Follow Lily: @laminutefacilitation

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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013 - How to Make Meetings Better by Using Workshop Techniques with Alison Coward

Wed, 29 May 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In episode 013, I talk to Alison Coward, a founder, facilitator, book author and keynote speaker. Alison runs Bracket, a consulting agency that helps teams work better together. We talk about “workshop culture” and the fact that not every professional gathering must turn into a workshop. Instead, we can use workshop elements that will help boost team collaboration and creativity in meetings and everyday business. In the show, Alison shares how to create a workshops culture with groups who are not used to post-it notes and sharpie markers. Alison’s reflections on creativity at work will inspire you to design and deliver workshops that work.

Questions and Answers

[1:11] What’s the story behind your company name “Bracket”?

[5:15] What did you learn from your time working with creatives about the facilitation of business meetings and workshops?

[6:43] How do you get management teams to become more “creative”?

[7:48] How do you facilitate creativity without getting into the “touchy-feely” zone and how do you turn the outcomes into something productive?

[9:45] What will you then do with these ideas to get to the productive bit?

[11:53] What is the timeframe you advise your clients to take for a workshop to tackle a specific problem?

[13:21] What is the difference between a workshop, a group discussion and a meeting?

[15:48] How can we bring the dynamic part of a workshop into a meeting?

[19:30] How would you initiate this transformative process of introducing workshop culture into a team?

[26:08] Do you have ground rules that come along with what you call “workshop culture”?

[28:05] What are the ingredients you need to bring workshop culture into a “normal meeting”?

[28:36] With what kind of exercises would you use for that?

[29:38] Not every team can afford hiring a facilitator for a “normal” meeting. Could a team member take on this facilitation role?

[34:33] Do you believe in taking mindfulness into meetings?

[35:50] How do you deal with a situation where a check-in comment risks to take the meeting somewhere else?

[36:54] What’s the magic that gets work done in a workshop?

[38:06] To what extent is the facilitator responsible for the follow-through of workshop outcomes?

[40:37] How can we bring the energy back up in a full day workshop – especially after everyone comes back from lunch?

[45:03] Why are organisations today so much more aware of the benefits of collaboration compared to 10 years ago when you first started? What has changed?

Related links you may want to check out:

Alison’s business page: https://www.bracketcreative.co.uk
Her book: “A pocket guide to effective workshops”
Alison’s blog post on the creative process of workshop design
New York Times article on 36 questions
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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012 - Put Your Meetings on the Wall: The Power of Visual Facilitation with Mathias Weitbrecht

Wed, 22 May 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Mathias Weitbrecht, a visual facilitator and book author. When he started, 15 years ago, Mathias was one of the co-founders of visual facilitation in Germany. Mathias runs Visual Facilitators, a company that brings forth people’s potential by adding a new dimension to the process of collaboration – through visuals. We talk about the skillset facilitators need to use visuals in their workshops. And, you will learn that being artistic is not amongst them.

Don’t miss the part when Mathias explains the breakthrough visual facilitation can bring to the group by giving introverts and shy participants a voice. Tune in to learn how to use pen and paper to deliver workshops that work.

Questions and Answers

[1:24] What brought you to the field of visual facilitation?

[3:17] How can someone become a visual facilitator who cannot draw?

[6:03] How can you make sure that the images you draw represent the content participants hear?

[8:06] Can you facilitate and visualize at the same time?

[11:09] Does the group you facilitate require specific skills, such as speaking in metaphors?

[12:14] What is the skillset a visual facilitator needs?

[14:38] How much background knowledge about the specific workshop topic do you need to visualize the minutes in real-time?

[15:47] Are there specific workshop types that (dis-)qualify from visual facilitation?

[16:40] Would you use this technique in your private environment? And, how do your counterparts react?

[21:27] In an earlier conversation you mentioned that we cannot reduce complexity but only make it more digestible. Can you elaborate on that?

[22:41] Is there a risk of over-simplifying? What are potential drawbacks of visual facilitation?

[24:53] Does it happen that a group finds a completely new perspective on their issue through the visualization?

[26:48] What are the exercises you would incorporate in your workshop design?

[31:54] What is your advice to someone who wants to test the field of visual facilitation?

[29:30] How do you perceive the risk of interpreting the content instead of translating it? How can the visual facilitator remain neutral?

[32:43] What makes workshops work?

[33:37] How do introverts react to visual facilitation?

[34:42] What are you doing in workshops to get the energy back?

[35:53] Do you use pen and paper or an iPad/ digital tools for visualization?

[37:38] What shall the listener take away from our conversation?

[38:42] How can we find you, reach out and hire you?

Related links you may want to check out:

Mathias’ business page: www.visualfacilitators.com
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Other shows we mentioned:

How to facilitate huge brainstorming sessions – with Frans Scheepens

Connect to Mathias on LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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011 - How to Design Brainstorming Sessions for Huge Groups with Frans Scheepens

Wed, 15 May 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Frans Scheepens, a brainstorm designer, entrepreneur and certified facilitator. We talk about conducting brainstorming sessions with very large groups as he has designed and facilitated groups with up to 650 participants. Frans founded Brainfuel a company that helps groups to generate many ideas that will solve important problems.

In the show, Frans shares hands-on advice on how to design and facilitate large group brainstorming sessions. He shares suitable ice-breaker exercises, voting techniques and best practices on how to deal with upcoming challenges and distractions. You will learn how to make sure that all ideas count and how you would have to instruct facilitators to support the sub-groups in the process.

Don’t miss the part when Frans explains why brainstorming sessions have such a bad reputation and what you can do to deliver brainstorming workshops that work.

Questions and Answers

[1:16] If you were a hashtag, what would it be?

[1:28] How do you define ‘brainstorming’?

[2:08] Is a brainstorming just a nice concept for a meeting without agenda?

[2:59] Where does the bad reputation of brainstorming come from?

[4:05] What questions qualify for a brainstorm?

[6:25] When you advice to include ‘people from the outside’ in the session, who do you mean?

[7:28] Is there an optimum number of people to include in a brainstorming session?

[8:47] How do you avoid outsiders to create resistance regarding their ideas?

[9:43] Would you give participants homework for the preparation of the brainstorm?

[11:25] What is your favourite icebreaker/ check-in exercise?

[13:00] How much time would you consider for such an exercise?

[14:23] What is a ‘daring brainstorm’?

[14:46] What’s the maximum size of a brainstorm session you did?

[15:18] Who would facilitate these sub-teams?

[17:00] How do you manage distraction for such a large group?

[18:30] What would you advise on how to deal with distraction or side-talk during a session?

[22:39] What is the perspective that you need to empathize with when designing such brainstorming sessions?

[25:55] What is a ‘brain-dump’?

[27:33] What is your method of brainstorming?

[28:18] Can you walk us through the superhero method?

[32:06] In a very operational way, what is your approach to brainstorming?

[39:46] How do you choose the best ideas?

[44:37] How do the sub-groups then share their results with each other?

[45:59] To what extent does the facilitator has a responsibility on the follow-up of the brainstorming session?

[47:02] Would you also engage in the follow-up?

[51:00] What makes workshops work?

[51:38] What shall someone, who missed the last 50 minutes, takeaway from the show?

[52:32] How can interested listeners get in touch with you?

Related links you may want to check out:

Frans business page: www.brainfuel.nl
A short video about Frans' sessions
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect to Guest on

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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010 - Design and Facilitate Successful Strategy Workshops with Dirk Verburg

Wed, 08 May 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Dirk Verburg, a management consultant and executive coach who has the mission to help leaders and management teams to implement their business strategies, business plans and strategic initiatives (such as important projects). We talk about how facilitators can structure workshops that enable participants to execute what they have committed to. We discuss how management teams can keep momentum when being back in their daily routines. In the show, Dirk shares interventions that will help the management team to follow through decided strategies and the role of leaders in that process.

Don’t miss the part when Dirk explains how he handles the double role of being a consultant and a facilitator of strategic projects. This conversation will inspire you to design strategy workshops which participants will feel motivated to carry on.

Questions and Answers

[2:05] What is your story?

[3:20] What makes strategies and business plans fail?

[3:49] Do participants in your workshops usually have a clear idea already how the strategy looks like?

[5:47] How would you approach such a discussion? Would it be a guided discussion with all team members around a table?

[6:34] How often does it happen that the team hears the same words but understands something different?

[7:12] If there is disagreement, how do you deal with the tension?

[8:03] How do you secure the buy-in?

[10:00] After you clarified disagreement and achieved buy-in, what is the next step to assure the follow-up after the workshop?

[11:52] What are the next steps toward execution?

[13:06] How do you collect the participants’ ideas regarding the specific translations of the strategy? And how do you make sure that everyone is contributing?

[15:08] When participants work in pairs: how do you build these and will they remain the same over the duration of the workshop?

[15:45] How do you get introverts to voice their opinions?

[16:45] How do you deal with the bunch of action items?

[19:28] How do you get the team to prioritize action items?

[21:04] How do you then divide the tasks for execution?

[22:16] Would that mean that the person who has an idea is in charge of the realization?

[27:06] How do you get the team members to follow through with their responsibilities?

[28:42] This sounds so easy in theory but the reality is that many managers have competing commitments. How do you coach the leader to assure progress?

[34:22] How can you as a facilitator help the team to follow through and to make it fun to stick to the commitments?

[37:06] How do you walk the line between being a facilitator and being a consultant?

[38:49] How do you assure that the CEO doesn’t lose face in such situations?

[39:33] I like to ask my podcast guests for a DIY exercise that always works, no matter what. What would be your contribution?

[40:40] How do you finish the sentence: “Workshops fail if…”?

[41:13] So what is a “sound facilitator”?

[42:37] If a listener fell asleep after a few minutes, how would you summarize our conversation?

Related links you may want to check out:

Dirk's business page: www.dirkverburg.com
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Episodes mentioned in the conversation:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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009 - Make Conflict Your Ally In Workshops with Meg Mateer

Wed, 01 May 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Megan Mateer, former corporate strategy consultant and now founder, facilitator, and changemaker. She founded Empatiko, a movement that aims to be a catalyst for human connection in the workplace and therefore accompanies organizations through that cultural transformation.

Meg and I talk about conflict in group settings and how to use conflict as an opportunity for insight, clarity and connection in the context of workshops. You will hear about the difference between healthy and unhealthy conflict and how to deal with the latter when it arises in different shapes. Also, we speak about another form of conflict in the workshop space: a conflict between the facilitator and the group.

Don’t miss the part where Meg runs us through the process of avoiding conflict by using the example of someone coming late to a meeting. Tune in to learn tools to make healthy conflict your ally and avoid unhealthy conflict from derailing so that your workshops work.

Questions and Answers

[1:20] How did you get from being a corporate strategy consultant to becoming the founder of Empatiko.

[6:55] When you say that conflict can create a connection, what do you mean by that?

[7:51] What are the elements that trigger conflict?

[9:00] Would you say that we most often ignore conflict to then deny it when it comes up?

[10:41] Since conflict is triggered by differences in assumptions, values and needs, how do you deal with conflict once it comes up?

[11:53] Would you explicitly ask self-reflection questions in the workshop space when you feel that there is conflict?

[16:52] At the moment you feel “an elephant in the room”, how would you deal with it?

[19:28] Why don’t you walk us through the concept of non-violent communication?

[24:45] As this doesn’t sound like “conflict” anymore to me, how would you actually define conflict and how do you avoid conflict to derail into something unhealthy?

[27:32] How do you deal with what you call “explosive conflict”?

[30:21] Would you then call a break when conflict arises and how would you then continue?

[31:56] How can we deal with a situation when the conflict is about us as facilitators?

[37:14] Coming back to the resolution of conflict among participants, how can you use the energy created by the conflict?

[41:46] What is your favourite exercise that usually works?

[43:17] For what kind of topic would you use the framework of the fishbowl?

[44:34] How would you finish the sentence: “Workshops fail if…”

[45:17] What would you like the listener to remember who fell asleep after minute one?

[46:42] If someone wants to reach out, connect to or work with you, how can they find you?

Related links you may want to check out:

Meg’s business page: www.empatiko.org
Non-violent communication (Wikipedia)
Liberating Structures
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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008 - How to handle ineffective power differences in meetings with Marcel van de Hoef

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Marcel van de Hoef, a journalist, coach, and podcaster. Marcel hosts The Meeting Strategist podcast and helps leaders to transmit their mission through mass communication formats. Everything he does has to do with communication, so we talk about power structures in conversations and namely in meetings and workshops.

In the show, Marcel shares how he raises awareness of the impact of power differences to reduce ineffective effects on conversations. We also speak about journalism, leadership, and how to use power for role modelling.

Don’t miss the part when Marcel shared his experience being an editor in chief at age 22 and what he would do differently today. The conversation will inspire you to reduce unproductive power in workshops to make them work.

Questions and Answers

[2:28] How did you get interested in the topic of power? What’s your story?

[12:01] How would you define “unproductive power differences”?

[14:33] How can we avoid the negative impact of power differences?

[16:05] So power differences are not necessarily tied to differences in a hierarchy?

[18:00] In the context of professional gatherings, how can you make participants become aware of such power differences?

[22:21] When you feel power differences, how can you get participants to share information without risking the safe space?

[27:27] Do you have a trick that helps those in power to lower their guards in meetings or workshops?

[33:01] What is the role of ego in power games?

[35:51] What is the magic ingredient that distinguishes a good from a bad meeting?

[38:18] How can you keep the balance between contributing, connecting and time boxing in a meeting with a tight agenda?

[47:26] If a listener just woke up and missed the core part of the show, what do you want them to remember?

Related links you may want to check out:

Marcel’s website, including his blog and podcast: www.meetingstrategist.org
Marcel’s mentor Mauk Mulder http://maukmulder.nl/ (in Dutch) and an article in English
Priya Parker’s book: The Art of Gathering
Celeste Headlee on Coaching for Leaders
Amy Edmondson’s case study of the Chilean mine rescue
Marcel’s conversation with Oscar Trimboli on Deep Listening
Dale Carnegie’s book: How to win friends and influence people
Marcel’s short blog about Dale Carnegie’s book

Connect to Marcel:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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007 - Mindset Management with Jeremy Akers

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Jeremy Akers, an agnostic agile coach, trainer and public speaker. He accompanies businesses through their agile transformation with Wemanity and is associated with Instituut Core, an institute for management training programs.

Jeremy and I speak about the facilitator’s mindset and what it means to be fully present in a workshop. He shares how he deals with his own discomfort and why it is important to share feelings of discomfort with the group. Tune in to hear about deep-democracy and techniques we can apply to decision-making processes that include everyone’s perspective without derailing into unproductive discussions.

Don’t miss the part when Jeremy explains why he prefers hand-voting over dot-voting. This conversation will surely inspire you to explore your own areas of discomfort and will help you design workshops that work.

Questions and Answers:

[1:23] What does “agnostic agile” mean?

[3:12] How did you become an agile coach?

[7:19] How would you apply your concept of awareness to a group context?

[7:35] How do you teach awareness?

[12:40] What is the mindset according to you that you need as a facilitator?

[15:30] How did you train for being able to be fully present with the group?

[18:50] Would you apply a different method to provide a safe space when you work with individuals or with a group?

[20:10] How can you become better in being fully present?

[22:33] What reaction do you get when you share your discomfort with the participants?

[27:11] What makes workshops fail?

[28:44] How do you snap the group out of an unproductive back and forth of arguments?

[34:26] How do you walk the thin line between providing safe space by agreeing and being the sparring partner who challenges the ideas of the group?

[37:56] How can we get to a clear decision while “yes ending” each other?

[40:43] How do you make sure that you get all concerns on the table?

[43:35] When it comes to voting, what are the pros and cons of different techniques?

[46:00] If our listeners fell asleep and just woke up, what shall they take away?

Links we mentioned during the conversation:

Instituut Core Management Training: https://www.instituutcore.nl/en/
Vipassana meditation: www.dhamma.org
Ray Dalio’s “Principles”: Episode 7 on Youtube
Chris Voss book “Never split the difference” and the concept of tactical empathy
Systems centred therapy: Functional subgrouping (Youtube)
Deep democracy, Lewis method: https://deep-democracy.net/
Liberating structures: http://www.liberatingstructures.com

Reach out to Jeremy via LinkedIn

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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006 - What managers can learn from the clown with Steph Kinsch

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I talk to Stephan Kinsch, a trained chartered accountant who turned into a TEDx speaker, successful executive coach, opened the circus Zaltimbanq and runs a clown school. Others say about Steph that “he doesn’t take himself seriously but does things very seriously.”

We talk about similarities between the circus and meetings and what circus directors can teach managers and facilitators about structuring effective working sessions. This interview may change the way you thought about breaks and teach you how to better leverage their value. Steph guides us through several exercises that help participants connect and open up.

Don’t miss the part when Steph shares what he learned in a business meeting that he now applies in his clown workshops (and I witnessed the effectiveness myself). The clown will surely inspire you to think of meetings differently and help you design workshops that work.

Related links you may want to check out:

Stephan Kinsch’s business page: https://www.bebop.lu/
Steph’s circus school: https://www.zaltimbanq.lu/ and Facebook Page
His TEDx talk
My blog post after joining Steph’s Clown workshop
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect to Steph Kinsch:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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005 - Artistic Intelligence: The new Design Thinking? with Romas Stukenberg

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 07:00:00 +0200

In this episode, I speak with Romas Stukenberg, a graduate of the prestigious THNK school for creative leadership and founder of Artistic Intelligence, a creative consulting agency that helps leaders to tackle strategic challenges through artistic means. We talk about the difference between being creative and artistic. Our conversation dives deep into the topic of self-leadership and the role of individual courage for successful workshops.

Don’t miss Romas' practical advice on how facilitators can drive groups from creative exploration back to the strategic application. Romas’ artistic approach will inspire you to deliver workshops that work.

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Subscribe to our newsletter for a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 100-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more: https://workshops.work/podcast

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Questions and Answers

[00:56] If you were a hashtag. What would you be?

[02:09] According to you, what is the biggest misconception about design and art?

[03:33] According to you, what is the true value of a designer in the business world?

[05:16] You started a project that you call “artistic intelligence” – AI. What is your story behind this project?

[07:19] How difficult is it to get business people to answer “big existential questions” by using art as a tool?

[08:35] The concept of “AI” addresses strategic questions with open ends - What are good examples?

[09:18] What is the difference between artistic and creative?

[10:55] To what extent does artistic intelligence differ from Design Thinking?

[11:57] Is AI then about slowing down?

[13:45] In your AI workshops, is it the mindset and philosophy of art you apply or do participants also get their “hands dirty”?

[15:17] To what extent are business leaders ready for this jump?

[18:08 How do you converge the group towards results after the artistic exploration?

[22:17] What is the impact of the physical workshop space on the dynamics?

[23:09] What do the artists who facilitate your sessions differently compared to facilitators from the usual business environment?

[24:49] In a review of one of your workshops I read that you ask participants to explore their fears. What can we find in our fears that would reveal our strengths?

[29:30] How do you make sure to those who might judge themselves as not being creative enough?

[32:28] What would be for you a “meaningful closure” of a workshop?

[34:46] What can you do to avoid a “biased” group check-out?

[36:07] What would be the transformation for a team due to artistic intelligence?

[37:31] What makes a workshop work?

[38:54] What can a facilitator do to assure that the quality of space is maintained?

[41:30] What is the nutshell you would like the audience to take home?

[42:04] How do you encourage courage?

Related links you may want to check out:

Romas' business page: www.artisticintelligence.de and www.namename.eu (German only)
THNK School of Creative Leadership: https://www.thnk.org/
Our sponsor Session Lab

Connect to Romas:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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004 - How to keep office politics out of the workshop space - with Mark Lambertz

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode, I talk to Mark Lambertz, senior agile coach, entrepreneur, and book author about “intelligent organizations". We talk about human dynamics in the workshop space and how to deal with strong personalities and office politics. Mark shares why it doesn’t make sense to hire him when his client only seeks confirmation, why he would invite participants to step on the table and how he reacted to a crying workshop participant.

Mark runs IO (Intelligente Organisation), a consultancy service that helps companies to become “intelligent organizations”. He published a playbook on organizational complexity in January 2019. His goal is to implement agile, scale agile and to make systems work.

Don’t miss our whole-hearted laughs when Mark shares how he uses humour to deal with emotionally loaded situations and how he deals with his double role of being a coach and facilitator. Our conversation will surely inspire you to deliver workshops that work.

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Questions and Answers

[01:16] With all your experiences what job title would you give to yourself?

[02:55] How do you understand the relation between agile and lean and how does it translate for meeting environments in organizations?

[05:19] Do you translate your mantra of “customer first” to how you design your service to your own customer (being the organizations you help transform)?

[06:52] Given that you won’t necessarily do what the customer asks for, how can you select the customers you work for?

[07:55] So, you are an external disruptor?

[09:15] In what way does an “intelligent organization” deal with office politics?

[12:34] How do you make sure that everyone contributes to the discussion and not only the “extroverted” or empowered participants?

[14:11] What does “OODA loop” mean?

[15:23] To what extent do you include the group in your thought process about what is happening in the room?

[16:29] It seems to me as if tensions are good, but emotions disturb. How do you deal with situations that become emotional?

[17:32] How did you deal with the situation you described when a participant started crying?

[19:35] What is the difference between a “normal” and an “intelligent” organization?

[25:13] Do you believe that every team can become a “red team” or at least one where team members challenge each other in a supportive way?

[28:35] How do you deal with “ego” that may destroy the flow of the workshop?

[32:40] What do you think of developing rules with the group?

[33:37] Can you separate your roles of the coach and facilitator?

[35:13] What is the nutshell you want the audience to take away from our conversation?

Related links you may want to check out:

Mark’s business page: http://organisation.io/
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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003 - What Facilitators Can Learn from Story Telling with Christopher Marks

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode, I talk to Christopher Marks, a storyteller and branding specialist. We talk about the art of storytelling and what it taught him about workshop design and facilitation. We talk about the importance of conflict for telling a compelling story and how we can craft exercises that will spark creativity and generate novel ideas.

Christopher runs Story Sprints with companies and entrepreneurs and currently sets up the Creator’s Club. He helps brands to put their audience first and is a multi-talent, silver bullet when it comes to writing, scripting, filming, directing and editing content.

Don’t miss the many practical advice on how to go through exercises and what mistakes to avoid. And don’t miss the great fun Christopher and I had to compare workshop participants to mini-volcanos! He has been my mentor and I am that he shares his knowledge in this episode to help you to deliver workshops that work.

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Questions and Answers

[1:25] Tell me what a storyteller is!

[3:13] What did you learn from storytelling for designing story sprint workshops?

[8:10] How do you create a safe space to get to the essence of the story your client wants to tell?

[11:32] Can you guide me through the process after the silent brainstorming exercise? How do you guide the group through clarifying questions?

[12:26] So, at this point there is no discussion about the individual ideas yet?

[17:07] How are you making sure that everyone is on the same page about the decision-making process?

[19:10] So, the heatmap kicks off a discussion on a deeper level?

[20:03] Can you share with the audience how you capture the key ideas and create meeting minutes?

[25:20] What is the one thing you do in your workshops that always works?

[28:12] Is this exercise run in silence?

[31:20] I wonder about the impact of the ritual of folding the paper together. What is your experience with that?

[33:51] What is the nutshell you want the listener to take home from this show?

Related links you may want to check out:

Christopher’s webpages: www.christophermarks.nl | www.storysprint.nl | www.creatorsclub.nl
James Clear’s Blog post on Warren Buffet’s “avoid at all cost list” [29:10]: https://jamesclear.com/buffett-focus
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)

Connect to Christopher and follow him:

LinkedIn
Insta: @christophermarks
Twitter: @chrismarks

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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002 - How NLP can help you become a better facilitator - with Margreet Jacobs

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode, I talk to Margreet Jacobs, a master practitioner of neurolinguistic programming (NLP) and speaker’s coach. We talk about the similarities between speaking in front of an audience and hosting a workshop. How can we overcome the fear of speaking up? How can we make sure that our content resonates with the audience? How can we keep them engaged?

Margreet runs StageHeroes, a coaching agency that helps leaders to deliver talks that would change how their audience feels and acts. Margreet used to be a professional dancer and dance teacher. Today, she is a speaker herself and a constant source of wise inspiration.

In the show, Margreet shares how speakers and facilitators can become more confident by making sure they start with the end in mind. By being clear about the purpose of a speech or a workshop, we can shift our mindset and engage our audience.

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Questions and Answers

[1:01] How did you shift from being a dancer to becoming a speaker’s coach?

[8:52] How c.an you tackle workshop participants’ fear of speaking up?

[12:00] How can we make sure that every participant is aware of their contribution?

[17:19] How does the fear of success get into our way?

[21:29] What was your “perfect failure” in a workshop context and how did you fix it?

[23:10] How can you make sure that a workshop is giving you positive enegergy instead of draining you?

[29:06] What can a facilitator do to create a safe space in which participants thrive?

[30:39] How can we deal with “big egos” who would not like to share their vulnerabilities?

[35:00] How can we create an anchor that workshop participants can relate to even time after the workshop?

[37:17} What is the one thing our audience shall remember from this episode?

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Related links you may want to check out:

Margreet’s business page: https://stageheroes.nl/
Our sponsor Session Lab

Connect to Margreet:

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

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001 - Getting it Right by Starting it Right. The Power of Connection - with Patrick Cowden

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode, I talk to Patrick Cowden, founder of Beyond Leadership, an agency that helps organizations to unleash their full potential. By introducing a new way of leadership, Patrick empowers organizations to master future challenges.

Patrick is a book author, TEDx speaker and enhancer of collaboration. In this episode, we talk about the importance of human connection in workshops. Patricks shares how facilitators can change the game and deal with egos and politics by kicking off working sessions with a simple check-in exercise.

Don’t miss the hands-on advice, tips and tricks and Patrick’s energy that will spill over and inspire you to deliver workshops that work.

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Questions and Answers

[1:38] What is wrong with the way we gather professionally at work?

[4:08] What can we do to combine joy and results in meetings and workshops?

[8:06] Can we achieve the same results when we meet remotely?

[14:45] How can we create human connection in workshops?

[17:20] Can you explain how the “connect exercise” works?

[23:19] To what extend do you explain why you are doing specific exercises? Do you achieve the same results when you do the connect exercise in 3 minutes versus 30 seconds?

[28:11] How do you shift from the connection exercise to the “real” business-related topic of the meeting?

[33:45] How can you assure sustainable results of your intervention?

[35:13] Can you adjust the “connect exercise” to other topics without compromising the effect?

[38:19] What is your advice to facilitators to achieve results, foster connection and fight egos?

Related links you may want to check out:

Patrick’s organisation: http://www.thebeyond.company
Patrick’s Book “Neustart”
Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and Nobel laureate
From my desk on the value of check-ins: “You need one key to make meetings successful”
Our sponsor Session Lab

Connect to Patrick:

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👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈

000 - Introduction of the workshops work podcast

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0100

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.

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

Support the show

👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈