workshops work

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. 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[01:15] 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?LinksOle’s dedicated ‘podcast supplement’ webpage with exercise examples and guidesBigger Picture, Ole’s company websiteVisual Collaboration, Ole’s bookConnect to Ole:On LinkedInOn Twitter Support the showCheck out Dr Myriam Hadnes' NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Community and Facilitation Courses **Use the interactive podcast map to navigate all podcast episodes **If you enjoy the show, consider a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

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 designHow Jacob used facilitation skills with local climate groups to great effectHow we are using facilitation skills in our daily lives without realising itExploring barcamps – “ the anti-conference” – and how Jacob uses barcamps as part of in-house peer learning programmesFlattening the room in person and onlineWhy Jacob created ‘family workshops’ and how they are usedDon’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.Click here to download the free 1-page summaryAnd if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; why not explore it in more detail now?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 TemplateBarcampOpen SpaceSupport the showCheck out Dr Myriam Hadnes' NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Community and Facilitation Courses **Use the interactive podcast map to navigate all podcast episodes **If you enjoy the show, consider a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

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 expectHow 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 moreQuestions & 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 FestivalThe NDB festival agendaPodcast episode 043 with Michelle HowardSupport the showCheck out Dr Myriam Hadnes' NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Community and Facilitation Courses **Use the interactive podcast map to navigate all podcast episodes **If you enjoy the show, consider a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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