Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator

Episode 26: When you stand in service, you can’t be nervous with Neen James

In today’s episode, I talk to Neen James. Neen is a sought-out, high-energy keynote speaker in the States who challenges her audiences to leverage their focus and pay attention to what matters most at work and in life. Audiences love her practical strategies they can apply personally and professionally, and meeting planners love working with her – they often describe Neen as the energizer bunny for their events. She believes that when you stand in service; you can't be nervous.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. In today's episode, I talk to Neen James. Neen is a sought-out, high-energy keynote speaker in the States who challenges her audiences to leverage their focus and pay attention to what matters most at work and in life.

In today’s episode, I talk to Neen James. Neen is a sought-out, high-energy keynote speaker in the States who challenges her audiences to leverage their focus and pay attention to what matters most at work and in life. Audiences love her practical strategies they can apply personally and professionally, and meeting planners love working with her – they often describe Neen as the energizer bunny for their events. She believes that when you stand in service; you can't be nervous.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How a happy little Aussie wound up killing it on stages in the US

  • The differences between Australian and US audiences

  • Why it’s important to change your focus and stand in service (and how this helps with overcoming nerves)

  • Understanding the importance of the three types of attention and how you can apply that to your facilitation

  • Her speaker role models (and the mad genius they focus on)

  • How the three types of attention drive profitability, productivity and accountability

  • Tips and tricks on how to contextualise your training content and marketing collateral

  • Strategies on how to engage with your audience.

About our guest

Neen James is the author of Folding Time™ and Attention Pays™. In 2017, she was named one of the top 30 Leadership Speakers by Global Guru because of her work with companies like Viacom, Comcast, and Abbot Pharmaceutical, among others. She earned her MBA from Southern Cross University and the Certified Speaking Professional designation from National Speakers Association. She has received numerous awards as a professional speaker, is a partner in the international education company Thought Leaders Global, and is a member of the prestigious League of Heroic Public Speakers. Neen has boundless energy, is quick-witted and always offers powerful strategies for paying attention to what matters so you can get more done and create more significant moments at work and home.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Like this show?

Quotes of the show:

  • “I want to make sure that every interaction they have, they feel like they are getting the attention that they want and need and deserve.”

  • “When people are making behavioural shifts, that's far more important to me than a standing ovation.”

  • “It's not about you and it's not about them, it's simply about a conversation you're going to create in the room.”

  • “One of the best engagement techniques is to keep it really practical. So as soon as they leave your workshop, they can share with someone else what they learned and they can implement it in their everyday life.”

  • “There’s always the next opportunity, the next level of performance, the next skill to develop, the next way to challenge an audience”

Episode transcript

View the First Time Facilitator episode transcript with Neen James.

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Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator

Episode 25; Split brain workshop facilitation: How to balance the now with the ‘What’s next?' with Mark McKeon

In today’s episode, I talk to Mark McKeon about the parallels between creating high performance on the footy pitch; and high stake situations in a group workshop facilitation environment.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. In today's episode, I talk to Mark McKeon about the parallels between creating high performance on the footy pitch; and high stake situations in a group workshop facilitation environment. Need some inspiration and motivation?

In today’s episode, I talk to Mark McKeon about the parallels between creating high performance on the footy pitch; and high stake situations in a group workshop facilitation environment.

Need some inspiration and motivation? Mark provides that in this episode, along with some extremely practical tips which you can start implementing in your facilitation game.  We talk about the practicalities of workshop room setup, how to balance being in the moment with forecasting ahead to drive your workshop outcomes, maintaining energy levels and the key question he asks from client's to determine workshop outcomes.

Listen in to him when he talks about ways you can structure your day to be more productive using his Go Zone methodology.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How Mark pivoted from professional footballer, to high performance coach and facilitation/speaking

  • Parallels between playing and coaching in high performing footy matches/game day and preparing for a big workshop/stage

  • His requirements in terms of rooms setup and audiovisual setup (including practical takeaways for keeping your voice in check over a day’s workshop)

  • Why it’s important to be a little selfish during the day to maintain peak performance

  • The key question he asks clients to clarify the outcomes of a workshop (and why this is critical)

  • How to structure your day to get the most sustainable performance (and how we under-estimate the importance of recovery)

  • Why he channelled his inner James Bond to create a memorable message

  • What you need to know about using gimmicks and props in your workshops

About our guest

Mark McKeon is one of Australia’s leading experts on leadership, efficiency, productivity, work life balance and team cohesion. His latest book "Go Zone" reinforces all these factors.

He spent 16 years as the high performance coach at Collingwood, with the team also outsourcing their entire fitness and training function to Mark’s team. He was also Club Runner for more than 250 games, an AFL record, and worked with Victoria’s State of Origin Team on five occasions.

Mark previously played football in the VFL with the Melbourne team, and represented Victoria in the VFA. He presents keynotes and tailored sessions, and along with his team, conducts workshops and conference programs in lifestyle, team building and leadership. Mark consistently rates as, ‘exceedingly funny with a great message’ or ‘best conference speaker’. He spends time with delegates, and can MC or facilitate as well as present keynotes and workshops.

Mark has an insightful and engaging style and his uplifting presentations have been a conference highlight with lasting impacts for many years.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Like this show?

Quotes of the show:

  • “You don’t have to be a prisoner to the structure you’ve set for your workshop…I’m forever swapping slides around and stopping, accelerating and changing the times, all hopefully to the benefit of the audience”

  • “The best clues are always in the audience”

  • “The best facilitators approach their workshops with an audience-centric mindset’

  • “Start with the end in mind. One of the great dangers is that your outcomes are vague and you don’t know what you’re trying to achieve.

  • “Work on your craft. Look for every opportunity to speak in front of a room”

Video: Mark channelling his inner 007

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Episode 24: How to develop a workshop using a team profiling tool (while keeping it light and fun) with Sean Lavin

In today’s episode, I talk to Sean Lavin about his experience with facilitation and the team profile tool called the ‘Team Management Profile’. Sean is a passionate, optimistic and friendly personality with a strong background in both hotel/services and open-cut coal mining operations.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. In today's episode, I talk to Sean Lavin about his experience with facilitation and the team profile tool called the 'Team Management Profile'. Sean is a passionate, optimistic and friendly personality with a strong background in both hotel/services and open-cut coal mining operations.

In today’s episode, I talk to Sean Lavin about his experience with facilitation and the team profile tool called the ‘Team Management Profile’. Sean is a passionate, optimistic and friendly personality with a strong background in both hotel/services and open-cut coal mining operations.

He is firmly focused on growth and learning, whilst simultaneously gaining as much insight and experience throughout the vast Human Resources sector. Sean’s favourite workshop theme is around networking, and giving people the permission to speak to each other. He believes that a great workshop is the one that is focused on interaction, with a sprinkling of humour and fun. 

Listen in to him when I ask him about his experience as a first-time facilitator and how that experience shaped him.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How to craft a team workshop using the Team Management Profile tool

  • The questions Sean uses to identify learner’s requirements for a workshop

  • Essential skills of a facilitator

  • What he’s changed since starting his facilitation journey

  • How his philosophy saying yes has opened up fantastic opportunities

  • Sean’s recommended opening icebreaker for a workshops

  • Strategies to keep a workshop light and fun.

About our guest

Sean is a professional, enthusiastic and passionate HR Graduate. His background stems from a mix of hotel/services management and open cut coal mining operations. Early in 2017, after obtaining his Master of Management (HR), he transferred internally from the coal face into the graduate program to begin his next professional adventure in the vast realm of human resources and facilitation. He's passionate about his family, consistently delivering high quality work outcomes and striving for personal happiness and fulfilment every day.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Like this show?

Quotes of the show:

  • “So when it comes to icebreakers, I think you've got all the resources you need in the room and that's just people.”

  • “The best workshops or the best say seminars and things you go to are the ones that are fun and get you laughing or you know thinking about something that's just completely silly and that's the sort of stuff that you take away. So if you can blend a lot of fun and humour with serious content the stuff that you're actually trying to get across to the audience I think it makes for a really good session.”

  • “I think the gold is in the conversation. So as a facilitator, it's about you know really trying to steer the ship as opposed to making sure it gets to its destination as fast as possible.”

  • “If the opportunity comes up or someone asks you if you want to do something, just say Yes!”

Episode transcript

View the First Time Facilitator episode transcript with Sean Lavin.

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Episode 23: Facilitation is the act of making something easier with Lynne Cazaly

In today’s episode, I talk to Lynne Cazaly. Lynne is a communication and engagement expert. She is obsessed with helping leaders lead their teams through transformation and change. She helps people distil their thinking, apply ideas and innovation and boost the engagement and collaboration effectiveness of teams. She believes that having the ability to build rapport and connect with people is essential in a facilitation workshop.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. In today's episode, I talk to Lynne Cazaly. Lynne is a communication and engagement expert. She is obsessed with helping leaders lead their teams through transformation and change.

In today’s episode, I talk to Lynne Cazaly. Lynne is a communication and engagement expert. She is obsessed with helping leaders lead their teams through transformation and change. She helps people distil their thinking, apply ideas and innovation and boost the engagement and collaboration effectiveness of teams. She believes that having the ability to build rapport and connect with people is essential in a facilitation workshop.

Listen in to when I ask her about what her thinking or her strategies were going into on the first day of her facilitation workshop.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How you can use visuals to explain complex activity instructions

  • Strategies to get your audience attention and get them engaged in a workshop.

  • Strategies on how to embed learning in a workshop.

  • Essentials of creating safe environment in a workshop.

About our guest

Lynne Cazaly is a keynote speaker, a master workshop facilitator, an experienced board director and a partner with Thought Leaders and on faculty of Thought Leaders Business School. She is a published author and delivered keynotes, workshops and sessions for leaders globally including Europe, USA, Asia & NZ. Her published books are:• Agile-ish: How to create a culture of agility• Leader as Facilitator: How to engage, inspire and get work done• Making Sense: A Handbook for the Future of Work• Create Change: How to apply innovation in an era of uncertainty, and• Visual Mojo: How to capture thinking, convey information and collaborate using visuals. 

Her programs in Sensemaking, Facilitation and Change are remarkable, impactful and innovative.

Send Lynne an email, say that you listen to the show and she'll share a great visual resource with you!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Like this show? Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally!

Click here to let Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!

Click here to tweet your thanks to Lynne

Quotes of the show:

  • “So you've got to have this ability to rapidly build rapport and connect with people because you need them to be on your side."

  • “Engaging with people when it's all talk is very difficult. But as soon as you've got visuals there. Bang! Engagement goes up.”

  • “So, if facilitation means to make ease, to make easier- visuals do that. They instantly help make engagement easier, communication easier, collaboration easier, impact easier."

Episode transcript

View the First Time Facilitator episode transcript with Lynne Cazaly.

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Episode 22: What clients really want from a workshop (and no, it’s not information) with Sean D’Souza

In today’s episode, I talk to Sean D’Souza. Sean is a cartoonist, author, online marketing strategist, a pretty good cook (judging from his social media photos) and an energetic facilitator who applies his skills in creating a different kind of workshop. He reads on average 100 books a year. Teaching runs in his blood, as his father, mother and grandmother were teachers too. He's that good, I flew to Singapore to attend one of his three-day workshops.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. In today's episode, I talk to Sean D'Souza. Sean is a cartoonist, author, online marketing strategist, a pretty good cook (judging from his social media photos) and an energetic facilitator who applies his skills in creating a different kind of workshop.

In today’s episode, I talk to Sean D’Souza. Sean is a cartoonist, author, online marketing strategist, a pretty good cook (judging from his social media photos) and an energetic facilitator who applies his skills in creating a different kind of workshop.  He reads on average 100 books a year. Teaching runs in his blood, as his father, mother and grandmother were teachers too.  He's that good, I flew to Singapore to attend one of his three-day workshops.

In this episode, we talk about the motivation of the people coming to your workshops… are they really there for the information, or are they there for another reason? We explore workshop design and giving your participants time to reflect on content.  We also discuss creating a safe workshop environment - not only for the people in the room, but for you as well…because, as the facilitator - it’s important that you feel safe, too.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • Sean’s ratio for instructing vs group discussions and activities

  • The power of frequent breaks

  • Why it’s important to create a safe space for your participants

  • Why he shares his learning materials prior to a workshop

  • What clients really want out of a workshop (and it’s not information)

  • A winning formula that features energy, confidence and skill

  • The importance of feedbacks and testimonials in a workshop.

  • Tips for facilitators starting their journey in facilitating and leading workshops in their own context.

About our guest

Sean D’ Souza is a cartoonist and an online marketing strategist who runs a zany online marketing site named PsychoTactics. He is also the author of “The Brain Audit” which is about how customers make decisions.

Originally working as a freelance cartoonist, Sean somehow found himself indulging his talent for marketing and understanding consumer psychology by helping out others with their marketing efforts. It wasn’t long before he started writing about his own experiences with marketing and slowly but surely, he began to gather an audience hungry to learn more. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Like this show?

Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.

Click here to let Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!

Click here to tweet your thanks to Sean. https://twitter.com/seandsouza?lang=en

Quotes of the show:

  • “What you have to really work on when you're teaching people is you have to get their confidence up, because when you get their confidence up, they use less energy.”

  • “You have to understand what causes people to be motivated in the first place and it's not your stupid bullet points; it’s not your content.”

  • What clients really want in a workshop and that is they want to leave the room and you say, “That's not possible!” Well, do this the next time you're having a workshop tell them, “Look, all of you are here for the information, right? And they'll all say “Yes!” and you go “Okay, so we're going to do this workshop until 9:00 p.m. tonight.” and then watch their faces.

  • “You have to be comfortable that you're going to goof up 50 to 60 percent of your early days before you start getting comfortable But breaking it up is always good because once you're confident, then you don't have to overcompensate. You don't have to be, ‘“I’m the boss here and you're just minions.’”

Episode transcript

View the First Time Facilitator episode transcript with Sean D’ Souza.

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Episode 21: Crafting your (remarkable) facilitator brand with Jane Anderson

I chat with Jane Anderson on her experience delivering workshops and content to over 50,000 people. She shares why personal branding is so important, how you can craft your own (remarkable) facilitator brand and how she developed the courage to share her brand with the world.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. I chat with Jane Anderson on her experience delivering workshops and content to over 50,000 people. She shares why personal branding is so important, how you can craft your own (remarkable) facilitator brand and how she developed the courage to share her brand with the world.

I chat with Jane Anderson on her experience delivering workshops and content to over 50,000 people.  She shares why personal branding is so important, how you can craft your own (remarkable) facilitator brand and how she developed the courage to share her brand with the world.

Jane is passionate about helping industry experts to be fully self-expressed and bring their authentic personality to life in their interactions with their customers to create influence and impact. She is best known for her ability to bring out the best in people in a pragmatic, resourceful and authentically inspiring way. She believes that being connected with the audience, getting their energy in connection and at the same time changing the room while she’s in there is the essence of a great facilitation. 

Listen in to her when I ask her about the tactics she uses beforehand to find out what the audience needs from their workshop.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • Great ways to hone your skills as a facilitator

  • How to craft your own facilitator brand and stand out in a saturated market

  • What it takes to be a remarkable facilitator

  • The difference between trust and credibility

  • The three key big things that you need to be able to do to build trust

About our guest

Jane Anderson is a Business Growth expert specialising in Personally Branded businesses since the age of 14. She has worked with over 50,000 personal brands to build more trust and influence for revenue and market growth.  Her clients include Virgin Australia, Lego, Ikea, Rio Tinto and Origin Energy. Jane’s blog was recently voted in the top 25 branding blogs globally. She is the host of the iTunes podcast "The Jane Anderson Brand You Show" and has been featured in Business Insider, Sky Business, Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.  Jane has been nominated for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards in 2014, 2016 and 2018, and the author of five books including her latest “EXPERT to INFLUENCER: 12 Key Skills to Attract New Clients, Increase Sales and Leverage your Personal Brand to Become an Industry Leader.”

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Like this show?

Quotes of the show:

  • “If you can solve people's problems and you can help them have the insights and have the empathy to help them understand their own challenges and you're able to care. If you know how to care and run a tribe, if you know how to do that and you can solve problems, you don't need an MBA, that's just not needed anymore.”

  • “I've always been a cheerleader in someone else's corner but you know one day the time comes where you've got to do it for yourself and you just got to step-up and say to yourself, let's do it!”

  • “Find your tribe, get around with the right people and get a mentor.”

  • “You've got to connect with the audience, my job is to change the room while I'm there so you just got to do everything you can to get that energy in connection.”

Episode transcript

View the First Time Facilitator episode transcript with Jane Anderson.

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Episode 20: Turn up early and read the room with Tyson Young

Tyson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Carisma, a digital application that allows your mechanic to provide you with your cars visual service history. In this episode, we talk about using humour in your deliver, adapting to your audience and using different tools and strategies to be a better facilitator. Tyson provides practical tips on calming those nerves before a big presentation and also shares a neat challenge he's been pursuing for the last 400+ days!

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Tyson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Carisma, a digital application that allows your mechanic to provide you with your cars visual service history. In this episode, we talk about using humour in your deliver, adapting to your audience and using different tools and strategies to be a better facilitator.

Tyson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Carisma, a digital application that allows your mechanic to provide you with your cars visual service history.  In this episode, we talk about using humour in your deliver, adapting to your audience and using different tools and strategies to be a better facilitator. Tyson provides practical tips on calming those nerves before a big presentation and also shares a neat challenge he's been pursuing for the last 400+ days!

What you'll learn in this episode: 

  • What Tyson learned from his first pitch

  • Things you should avoid right before a presentation

  • Why it’s important to read and understand your audience prior talking to them

  • Tools and strategies Tyson uses

  • Why Tyson is mindful of time keeping and respecting people’s time

  • Advice for a first-time facilitator

Like this show? Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally!

Reach out to Tyson on LinkedIn.

About our guest

Tyson is not only the CEO and Co-Founder of Carisma, he is an accomplished MC, speaker and facilitator who incorporates humour into his presentations and adapts his style by effectively reading his audience.

In his teens, Tyson joined the Army Reserve, he then graduated from the Queensland University of Technology, where he studied business and creative industries, advertising and communication design. Tyson claims that each opportunity leads to the next.

His start-up, Carisma is on a mission to become the leading authority in a new, transparent automotive industry. This application allows you to see exactly where your hard-earned dollars are going.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotes of the episode:

  • "Turn up early and read the room, walk the stage, do whatever you can to feel comfortable in the environment. A big part of that for me is actually speaking with the audience".

  • "People have this misconception that if it's corporate, it's like, 'Oh, it has to be serious'. At the end of the day, people are still people. People still want to laugh and engage with you".

Episode transcript

View the First Time Facilitator transcript with Tyson Young.

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Episode 19: Creating a learning atmosphere of “serious fun" with Dana the Trainer

In today's episode I talk to Dana the Trainer. Dana promises bright ideas and electric training, and likes to do things a little differently in her training environment. Her philosophy is really about ensuring that people learn the skills they need to learn, while having a really great time.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. In today's episode I talk to Dana the Trainer. Dana promises bright ideas and electric training, and likes to do things a little differently in her training environment. Her philosophy is really about ensuring that people learn the skills they need to learn, while having a really great time.

In today's episode I talk to Dana the Trainer. Dana promises bright ideas and electric training, and likes to do things a little differently in her training environment. Her philosophy is really about ensuring that people learn the skills they need to learn, while having a really great time.

In the show you’ll hear about how she prepares for her workshops and how she creates a fun training environment. Listen in to her response when I ask her to reflect on a time where things didn’t go so well in one of her workshops and what she learnt from that experience.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • Ways to make facilitation more fun, colourful and engaging

  • How to balance or lift your energy levels when required

  • What to do when things don't go to plan (hint: prevention is better than cure)

  • How to create content for new workshops

  • Key skills that take you from being just a normal training facilitator to being a next level one

  • Facilitation tips for first-time facilitators

About our guest

Dana James-Edwards is a dynamic professional in Corporate Training, Coaching, & Development. She provides technical and professional training with colour and enthusiasm, creating a learning atmosphere of “serious fun.” She develops training that moves from the practical to the theoretical — translating to learners’ day-to-day lives, and making business processes more effective and productive to propel work environments that are healthy and motivating.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Like this show?

Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.

Click here to let Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!

Click here to tweet your thanks to Dana.

Quotes of the show:

"There are so many things that you can do to bring learning, to bring a classroom alive to make things not so painful for people".

Even when you know the content and you're familiar with it, you’re still thinking, 'Who's going to be there tomorrow?', 'What if this exercise doesn't work?',  'What do I have as a backup for this?', 'Did I pack this thing?'

'You cannot be rigid, sticking to your lesson plan. The classroom is a place of surprise.  The best facilitators pull the learning out of what is happening in the room, instead of sticking to the script'.

Episode transcript

View the First Time Facilitator episode transcript with Dana the Trainer.

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Episode 18: Help! Suggestions needed for facilitating a two hour workshop. Listener Q&A

In today’s episode I respond to a listener’s question - I do these listener Q&A’s from time to time, to give you some practical insight into how I facilitate and approach situations.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. In today's episode I respond to a listener's question - I do these listener Q&A's from time to time, to give you some practical insight into how I facilitate and approach situations. Today's question is from Joanne Alilovic from 3D HR Legal.

In today’s episode I respond to a listener’s question - I do these listener Q&A’s from time to time, to give you some practical insight into how I facilitate and approach situations.

Today’s question is from Joanne Alilovic from 3D HR Legal. 

Like me, Jo likes to do things a little bit differently.

In her business she takes her legal knowledge, combines that with her HR skills to help create tailored polices and procedures for individual businesses.

Her question is:

I have a client who wants to throw out their existing human resources manual and start fresh.  We are thinking of creating documents such as a Code of Conduct, a performance management policy, complaints procedure etc.

In order to create something that is truly reflective of the workplace and the people who work in it, we decided it would be good to get the staff involved.

So we have scheduled a 2 hour facilitation session to discuss the types of policies and procedures they need, and the content for them.

Do you have any suggestions on how to run this session?

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the show?

If you have a question you’d like to send through, either tweet it to me @leannehughes or send me an email – hello@firsttimefacilitator.com.

Resources mentioned on the show

Like this show?

Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.

Click here to let Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!

Episode transcript

View the episode transcript for Episode 18.

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Episode 17: The 45 year group facilitation experiment (and how I'm still learning) with Bob Dick

Bob Dick is a change agent and facilitator who has been in the business 45 years. He believes that teachers don't teach, learners learn. In this episode we talk about the difference in process and content, the power of action learning, and how he helps his groups transfer learnings from a workshop, back into the real world.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Bob Dick is a change agent and facilitator who has been in the business 45 years. He believes that teachers don't teach, learners learn.

Bob Dick is a change agent and facilitator who has been in the business 45 years. He believes that teachers don't teach, learners learn. In this episode we talk about the difference in process and content, the power of action learning, and how he helps his groups transfer learnings from a workshop, back into the real world.

Bob also shares his thoughts on how we can teach leaders the facilitation skills that are rapidly becoming a vital skill.  The most inspiring part? After being in the game for 45 years he still experiments with his facilitation style and approaches. 

What you'll learn in this episode

  • The difference between content and process and how you can effectively manage a group by looking at the process

  • How strategically arranging furniture can change your participants' perceptions of the learning environment

  • Why teachers don't teach, learners learn

  • Strategies to keep learning and improving as a facilitator

  • Why Bob doesn't use technology in his workshops

  • How to deal with conflict within a group

  • Dealing with your nerves before a workshop

  • The importance of vulnerability and authenticity

  • How to turn commitment into action once the workshop is over

About our guest

Bob Dick independent scholar, an educator, facilitator, coach, and change consultant. He has 45 years experience and started an Industrial Psychology for the Department of Labour. He helps people to change their work, learning and life.

Resources mentioned in this episode

Action Research and Action Learning for community and organisational change

Like this show?

Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.

Click here to let Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!

Show transcript

View the full podcast transcript from my conversation with Bob Dick.

Quote of the episode

Bob describes his safety net: "If the process isn’t working, I will drop the content and engage with the participants about why the process isn't working.  I'll invite them to join me in figuring out what process will work better for all of us".

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Episode 16: How to strengthen your facilitation by connecting, teaching and landing with Adam Mustoe

In this episode, we hear from Adam Mustoe – a Gallup certified Strengths Coach and second-generation pastor. He uses an assessment tool called CliftonStrengths to help people find the intersection of their unique talents and rewarding work.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. In this episode, we hear from Adam Mustoe - a Gallup certified Strengths Coach and second-generation pastor. He uses an assessment tool called CliftonStrengths to help people find the intersection of their unique talents and rewarding work.

In this episode, we hear from Adam Mustoe – a Gallup certified Strengths Coach and second-generation pastor.  He uses an assessment tool called CliftonStrengths to help people find the intersection of their unique talents and rewarding work.

The CliftonStrengths assessment is based on 40 years of research by the Gallup corporation where it reveals 34 potential strengths- our natural ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. 

Adam shares his story on how he found his strengths in 2009, how it changed his life, and how he is changing the lives of others – one workshop at a time.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How to bring out the element of “surprise” in your workshop delivery

  • How Adam developed his storytelling skills

  • Story of how he found his “Strengths” in 2009 and how this changed his life

  • His experience on some challenging workshops he facilitated and some practical advice for first time facilitators

  • The 50 mile rule and how, as a facilitator, you can use this to your advantage

  • What prompted Adam to get the Clifton Strengths accreditation

  • Adam shares his top 5 strengths and how it helped him in his career

  • How to use your strengths outside of the corporate world.

Resources mentioned:

Connect with Adam

Like this show?

Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally!

Click here to let Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!

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Episode 15: Facilitating and leading with your head and heart with Therese Lardner

In this First Time Facilitator episode, you’ll hear from Therese Lardner, a psychologist, leadership coach, speaker and workshop facilitator. She shares how being thrown into the deep end helped build her confidence in public speaking, and why your choice of words matter as a facilitator.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. In this First Time Facilitator episode, you'll hear from Therese Lardner, a psychologist, leadership coach, speaker and workshop facilitator. She shares how being thrown into the deep end helped build her confidence in public speaking, and why your choice of words matter as a facilitator.

In this First Time Facilitator episode, you’ll hear from Therese Lardner, a psychologist, leadership coach, speaker and workshop facilitator. She shares how being thrown into the deep end helped build her confidence in public speaking, and why your choice of words matter as a facilitator.This is why Therese dedicates her career to teaching people how to use their vocabulary more effectively. 

We also talk about employee engagement and creating strong work cultures; and discover what organisations need to consider to improve the employee experience.

About our guest

Therese is a leadership and engagement coach, workshop facilitator, speaker, executive coach and psychologist with a simple, no-nonsense approach to building leaders and businesses. Her natural way of engaging with people means that she is just as comfortable in the boardroom as she is on the factory floor. For Therese, connection at work is the key to success, developed through personal insight, alignment with company culture and cohesive teams.

What you’ll learn

  • How she adjusted her academic language to connect with diverse audiences

  • Some advice she was given that took the weight off her shoulders when she was a first time facilitator

  • Why it’s important to develop your vocabulary (and your emotions) as a leader and how you can do that

  • How she landed a speaking gig at a positive psychology conference in New York City

Resources

Desperately Seeking Emotional Vocabulary | Therese Lardner | DisruptHR Talks from DisruptHR on Vimeo.

Episode transcript

Click here to view the episode transcript with Therese Lardner

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Episode 14: Q&A: Share some of the amazing facilitation tricks you’ve seen, Leanne!

This is the first solo episode I’m recording and it’s come in response to some feedback I received from a listener, Aminata N’Doye from Toronto, Canada. She asked me if I could incorporate listener questions periodically. I think it’s great suggestion, it allows variety for the show and typically, we’ll keep these ones short -they won’t run for longer than 15mins.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Hello fellow first time facilitators and welcome to the show this week. This is the first solo episode I'm recording and it's come in response to some feedback I received from a listener, Aminata N'Doye from Toronto, Canada.

Hello fellow first time facilitators and welcome to the show this week.

This is the first solo episode I’m recording and it’s come in response to some feedback I received from a listener, Aminata N’Doye from Toronto, Canada. She asked me if I could incorporate listener questions periodically. I think it’s great suggestion, it allows variety for the show and typically, we’ll keep these ones short -they won’t run for longer than 15mins.

From time to time I’ll incorporate these episodes, either as an add-on feature for the week (I’d originally planned to call this Workshop Weds) ; or a standalone episode, depending on the length of my response!

Would you like your question answered on the show?

Given Aminata had the idea for this segment, I threw it over to her to ask the first question, and her question is this:

Along the way, you've seen a number of tricks from fantastic facilitators. What were some of the amazing tricks where you thought, "Wow! I need to add this to my facilitation!"? 

Listen to the show to find out the facilitator tricks that have stunned me (in a good way)!

Resources mentioned in this episode

Notes1.jpg
Notes2.jpg

The Air-dropped workshop notes from Sean DeSouza's workshop:         Andrew Tarvin's Walk/Stop icebreaker or energiser: Create your own game show using Kahoot.

Click here to view the episode transcript.

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Episode 13: A facilitator is an entertainer (even if you think it’s all about the content) with Greg Mitchell

Greg Mitchell is a bit of a superstar in the education world. He does many things - cartooning, MCing, consulting and of course, facilitating. In this episode, we talk about some band-aid fixes you can use when participants threaten to de-rail your workshop, why you need to treat facilitation like entertainment, why unpredictability can also help hook your audience and to notice and realise that facilitation is an emotional job.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Greg Mitchell is a bit of a superstar in the education world. He does many things - cartooning, MCing, consulting and of course, facilitating. In this episode, we talk about some band-aid fixes you can use when participants threaten to de-rail your workshop, why you need to treat facilitation like entertainment, why unpredictability can also [...]

Greg Mitchell is a bit of a superstar in the education world. He does many things - cartooning, MCing, consulting and of course, facilitating.  In this episode, we talk about some band-aid fixes you can use when participants threaten to de-rail your workshop, why you need to treat facilitation like entertainment, why unpredictability can also help hook your audience  and to notice and realise that facilitation is an emotional job.

In this episode, you’ll learn

  • Why it’s important to snap your participants out of their constant way of thinking

  • The lowest common denominator for engagement (hint: It’s our favourite topic)

  • Some incredible, simple activities you can throw-in to a workshop to create variety

  • What to do when you have a spare 30mins left at the end of your workshop

  • What he perceives the error of focus is for first time facilitators and how you can direct your energy to create more engagement

  • Why you need to keep your participants moving (literally!).

Like this show? Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally!

Click here to let Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!

About our guest

Greg Mitchell has been engaged with the world of education since he was four years old.  Since them, he has been a student, a parent, a teacher, a writer, a cartoonist, an assistance principal, a university lecturer and a consultant.  He has worked for both the Catholic and Government education systems and is currently enjoying being self-employed, having finally found a boss that he really likes.

Greg suffers from enthusiasm, a condition which helps him deal happily with issues such as Stress Management, Positive Intelligence, Multiple Intelligences, Boys’ in Education, Conflict Resolution, Resilience, Values Education and Building Collaborative Communities.

Resources

Episode transcript

Click here to view the episode transcript for Episode 13 with Greg Mitchell.

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Episode 12: The two hats: Switching your mode between facilitating and presenting with Paul Hellman

On Episode 12 of the First Time Facilitator podcast, I interview Paul Hellman from Express Potential about his secrets for communication in a distracted world.Paul believes presenters only have 8 seconds to grab their audience’s attention.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. On Episode 12 of the First Time Facilitator podcast, I interview Paul Hellman from Express Potential about his secrets for communication in a distracted world. Paul believes presenters only have 8 seconds to grab their audience's attention.

On Episode 12 of the First Time Facilitator podcast, I interview Paul Hellman from Express Potential about his secrets for communication in a distracted world.Paul believes presenters only have 8 seconds to grab their audience’s attention.

In this show you’ll learn

  • How you can break through to ensure your message is heard (even in a distracted world)

  • How he likens facilitation to conducting a job interview

  • The great advice he received when he started leading workshops about wearing two hats (and why it's dangerous if you mix them up)

  • Why you need to use stories and analogies in your workshops to add more colour (even if you're just presenting facts)

  • How to create a stronger, more confident presence (even though most of us think that presence is a mythical beast)

  • How he has personally developed his communication skills (and how you can do it too

  • Why there is a performance element in every interaction, including email and why warm-ups help to create a positive mood.

Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider using your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.

About our guest

Paul Hellman consults and speaks internationally. He has advised thousands of executives and professionals during his career. Companies hire Paul to get faster results from presentations, meetings, emails. His latest book is You've got 8 Seconds: Communication Secrets for a Distracted World.  His columns have appeared in leading newspapers like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

Resources

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