Episode 102: Using body language to create a powerful workshop experience with Mark Bowden
You know when you run a workshop, every now and then you peer around the room to see who’s paying attention, who looks interested (and, who doesn’t!) and you make judgments based on what you’re seeing from up the front of the room? I thought that was a key part of being a facilitator - being observant of your participant's body language.
Well today’s guest has completely blown my mind on all of that. I wish I had spoken to this guy at the beginning of my career, this interview had a profound impact on me. I don’t want to give too much away before I share the episode, but I’ve got to say, it’s one of the most important conversations I’ve ever had - and not just because he played the Orc General in the Lord of the Rings movies, either!
My guest today is Mark Bowden, a global authority on nonverbal communication, voted #1 Body Language Professional in the world for two years running. He's a sought after keynote speaker internationally and president of the National Communication Coach Association of Canada, while also training groups and individuals on how to use their body language to stand out, win trust and gain credibility every time they communicate.
Mark is passionate about giving people the most influential and persuasive communication techniques to stand out, win trust, and build credibility every time they speak.
In this episode, you’ll learn about how you can project the brand image you want when you deliver a workshop, how to be a more 'lazy facilitator' and when to have/relinquish control.
If you'd like to watch Leanne Hughes' interview with Mark Bowden, you can watch it over on YouTube.
About our guest: Mark Bowden
Mark is the founder of communication training company TRUTHPLANE® his clients include leading business people, teams, and politicians, presidents and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and Prime Ministers of G7 powers.
He is a bestselling author of 3 books on the subject of body language and human behaviour, with his first book Winning Body Language now translated into five different languages. Presentation trainer for The Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA, ranked #1 in the world by The Economist, Mark is also a member of the TED community having spoken at TEDx Toronto. Mark can be seen regularly on Canadian network CTV’s daily talk show The Social as the resident Body Language expert.
Resources mentioned:
Watch the interview! Leanne Hughes chatting to Mark Bowden on the First Time Facilitator podcast
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Quotes:
“Non-verbal communication can trigger other human beings into feeling like they have a very accurate assessment of what’s going on in somebody’s mind.”
“Stars are guiding light in the sky that in the darkness you can still navigate and get to where you want to be. Actors are like stars, we’re taking the journey with them to an emotional place.”
“Branding is the experience we want our audience to feel about us.“
“I avoid the idea that I need to be aggressive with the audience, what I need them to do, is to know that it’s fun and it’s safe around me.”