Episode 56: The small truths of facilitation (and taking care of yourself, systematically) with Tim Pence
As I’ve explored in earlier episodes, when you’re up delivering and facilitating workshops, you’re not only using a lot of mental load, but it’s very much a physical job, too. Today’s guest recognises that and he’s a pretty cool system of checking in and making sure he handles that physicality, I’ll let him explain in the show how he does that.
As I’ve explored in earlier episodes, when you’re up delivering and facilitating workshops, you’re not only using a lot of mental load, but it’s very much a physical job, too. Today’s guest recognises that and he’s a pretty cool system of checking in and making sure he handles that physicality, I’ll let him explain in the show how he does that.
His name is Tim Pence and he owns a company called smalltruths. Tim is based in Melbourne, Australia and I met him recently at a ‘Train the trainer’ workshop in Sydney. On more than a few occasions he has been called the 'smiling assassin' because while he likes to have a bit of fun he never forgets that the reason why he's up on the stage is to challenge individuals/teams/organisations and drive performance outcomes.
On this show, we also explore neuroscience and neuroleadership and how it helps to communicate with people who need scientific data, storytelling, and Tim shares his advice for First Time Facilitators.
On this episode you’ll learn:
The career pivots that led Tim to starting his company, smalltruths
How, as an introvert, he developed the confidence to speak and facilitate in front of large groups
How he uses a system to track how well he’s taking care of himself
How Neuroleadership has helped him connect with technical members of his audience
The advice Tim was given by a professor, that helped him realise it was okay to give it a go in front of a room
Tim’s take on the key skills for fantastic facilitators
Why he values the CliftonStrengths tool and how he uses it to help individuals and teams
His advice for First Time Facilitators
About our guest: Tim Pence
Tim's entire career has focused on human development and performance improvement and he channels this in the areas of leadership development, culture change, coaching, personal diagnostics and targeted skill development.
He has worked with incredibly diverse populations along the way which have helped him to consider, reflect on and adapt to various perspectives
Before founding smalltruths, Tim was a Principal in the Leadership & People Development Practice at the Nous Group. Tim believes that his diverse career journey makes him well suited to contemplate life's 'small t' truths and help individuals, teams and organisations improve their performance.
Although Tim is an introvert he is passionate about facilitating and loves to be up on the 'stage'. His feedback forms regularly include comments about his effective use of humour and high energy to facilitate positive outcomes.
Resources mentioned in this episode
Tim Pence’s website, smalltruths
Screenshot this video and DM me on Instagram @leannehughes
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Episode 55: Facilitating once in a lifetime workshop experiences with Steve Sims
Today’s guest runs the coolest workshops I’ve ever heard of, no joke. And how does he embed learning at the end of these workshops? By making people practice the skills they’ve learn, when they rock up to Sir Elton John’s Oscars after-party.
Today’s guest runs the coolest workshops I’ve ever heard of, no joke. And how does he embed learning at the end of these workshops? By making people practice the skills they’ve learn, when they rock up to Sir Elton John’s Oscars after-party.
Not too many people can say that to their clients...But today’s guest, is a one of a kind guy.
His name is Steve Sims. Steve is the man who created Bluefish, a company that makes once-in-a-lifetime events happen for the rich and famous reveals to the rest of us his trade secrets for making things happen. With his help and expertise, his clients’ fantasies and wildest dreams come true.
Steve is the author of the Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen, and he has a podcast of the same name. Steve has spoken at Harvard and the Pentagon, twice. Getting married by the Pope in the Vatican, being serenaded by Elton John, and connecting with powerful business moguls like Elon Musk are just a few of the many projects he has worked on.
I really wanted Steve on the show to talk about a few key things - the assumptions we have about asking for things, how confidence; and your approach can take you far and (literally) open doors. We also talk about the perfectionism beast.
If you’d like to join the conversation when the show is over, join The Flipchart, a free community on Facebook for First Time Facilitator listeners.
About our guest: Steve Sims
Steve Sims Steve is the visionary founder of Bluefish: the world’s first luxury concierge that delivers the highest level of personalized travel, transportation, and cutting-edge entertainment services to corporate executives, celebrities, professional athletes, and other discerning individuals interested in living life to its fullest.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Steve Sims Website
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Quotes of the show:
“I'm a great believer in keeping liability low.”
“The greatest growth comes from the greatest accidents.”
“It’s incredible to have people just be able to realize the rich people are poor people with a lot of money; things don't change, just that bank account.”
“I'm a great believer that perfection is a blue unicorn with three testicles; it doesn't exist.”
“I don't believe speakers should give speeches. I think speakers should have conversations with thousands of people or hundreds of people.”
Episode transcript
View the First Time Facilitator episode transcript with Steve Sims.
Episode 54: Team-Building: How to create appealing (and less eye-rolling) experiences with Andy Balzat
Team building. Love it? Hate it? Don’t really bother? It’s an interesting concept. I actually LOVE teambuilding and taking any opportunity I can, especially during work hours, to have fun with my peers. It seems though, over the years, team-building has got a bit of a bad wrap. The other week, I posted an article in our Facebook group called ‘The Flipchart’. The article was called ‘Stop wasting money on team-building’ and we had some interesting responses from the group. So what do you think about it all?
Team building. Love it? Hate it? Don’t really bother? It’s an interesting concept. I actually LOVE teambuilding and taking any opportunity I can, especially during work hours, to have fun with my peers. It seems though, over the years, team-building has got a bit of a bad wrap. The other week, I posted an article in our Facebook group called ‘The Flipchart’. The article was called ‘Stop wasting money on team-building’ and we had some interesting responses from the group. So what do you think about it all?
I love team-building - and I love what our guest today is doing in this space - it’s next level amazing. If you want to be in the team-building business, take a look at his site because you’ll be inspired.
His name is Andy Balzat and he’s the director and senior facilitator at Banana Life. Andy has the ridiculously adventurous background of a movie character. He’s taught snowboarding in California, climbed mountains in Bolivia, DJ’ed and played in bands around the world—and now he brings those unique experiences to Banana Life.
With a Bachelor degree in Business and Psychology, he's a creative thinker who’s happy to get his hands dirty to turn ideas into reality.
In this episode, Andy shares his experience working with organisations on creating effective, fun and appealing team building activities.
In this episode you'll learn:
How Andy started his company, Banana Life, and his comparisons between his original audience and current corporate clients
The craziest team-building activity he's delivered
His discovery process for developing team-building activities
How to quantify the effectiveness of team-building initiatives
Where Andy (and the Banana Life team) get inspiration for their next-level activities
His advice for business owners; and first time facilitators
About our guest: Andy Balzat
Leave your trust falls and group hugs at the door! Andy believes in the power of play. He understands that team building can sometimes feel like a forced activity that makes people roll their eyes and wish they’d taken a sick day. He’s passionate about crafting workshops, games and activities that enable teams to be surprised by the creative potential of their colleagues.
Andy is the owner of Banana Life (bananalife.com.au) a Brisbane based team building company. He has the ridiculously adventurous background of a movie character. He’s taught snowboarding in California, climbed mountains in Bolivia, DJ’ed and played in bands around the world — and now he brings those unique experiences to Banana Life.
With a degree in Business and Behavioural Science, his main interests lie in organisational culture, team development and group facilitation. His unique ability to combine technology, art and adventure into team building events has earned him a reputation as a one of a kind, event manager and facilitator.
Resources mentioned in this episode
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Click here to tweet your thanks to Andy and the Banana Life team.
Episode 53: Team Coaching: How to help teams have the conversations they need to have with Steph Clarke
In a perfect world, we would be working alongside newly formed teams, newly promoted managers and helping to set the scene, create a team vision, purpose and values and define ways of working. The reality is, we’re usually called in when things are either starting to crack in a team environment.
In a perfect world, we would be working alongside newly formed teams, newly promoted managers and helping to set the scene, create a team vision, purpose and values and define ways of working. The reality is, we’re usually called in when things are either starting to crack in a team environment.
And it can be tricky trying to scramble together, and figure out what you’re going to do to help a team at this stage, and that’s why I’m talking to today’s guest. Her name is Steph Clarke and if you’ve been listening to this show for a while, you would have heard my conversation with her back in Episode 33.
As a team coach and facilitator, Steph creates more meaningful moments in teams to help them meet their collective potential. She creates an environment for teams to have the conversations they need to, and it involves going beyond the leadership retreat or the strategy day as she work with the team ‘in situ’ as they tackle the real work in real time.
If you’d like to join the conversation when the episode is over, and join fellow First Time Facilitators on my free Facebook group called, ‘The Flipchart’.
On this episode you’ll learn:
Some key differences between team coaching and facilitation
The importance of creating a shared language and vocabularly, to help individuals and teams articulate what’s required to grow together
Why team chaos is useful (and how it can help when teams work through chaos, collectively)
The questions Steph uses to help team’s find their purpose (and explore why it matters)
What people really mean when they say they ‘need to hold someone accountable’
Why it’s important for facilitators to notice the dynamics and explore what’s ‘unsaid’ in a workshop
How using visual facilitation (and ditching a powerpoint) can help you use more of the space in a room
About our guest: Steph Clarke
Steph is an accountant turned facilitator and team coach and pommy (that’s a Brit living in Australia for the uninitiated) based in Melbourne.
She loves finding tools, techniques and concepts that are proven and work so she can apply them and share with you and your teams. You’ll find that most of her workshops and facilitation combines the best of leadership theory, team coaching, the actionable science of behaviour change and habit building; along with the real life stories of her and her clients, to set your team up for success in effectively applying the lessons.
Steph hold qualifications and certifications in executive coaching, facilitation, LEGO(R) Serious Play(R) and a variety of diagnostic tools and methodologies. She’s also an experienced facilitator having delivered thousands of hours of training and leadership workshops to audiences all around the world.
When she’s not transforming teams you’ll find her in the pilates studio, in the kitchen, on a plane or hiding somewhere with a podcast, book or a great Spotify playlist.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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Click here to let Leanne know your number one takeaway from this episode!
Click here to tweet your thanks to Steph Clarke
Episode 52: Creative facilitation (and why doing gives you the greatest learning) with Dr Cathryn Lloyd
Dr Cathryn Lloyd is a facilitator, educator, researcher, arts practitioner, and creative development coach. She describes herself as a ‘bricoleur’ in the way she brings together different methodologies and processes to help people work well with one another. Dr. Cathryn brings in ‘Artful Inquiry’ processes and facilitation to move creativity into action and to create positive change.
Dr Cathryn Lloyd is a facilitator, educator, researcher, arts practitioner, and creative development coach. She describes herself as a ‘bricoleur’ in the way she brings together different methodologies and processes to help people work well with one another. Dr. Cathryn brings in ‘Artful Inquiry’ processes and facilitation to move creativity into action and to create positive change.
She loves working with others to develop collaborative, experiential and reflective learning environments and her clients include Govt agencies, academic institutes, corporate, and arts organisations.
In this episode you’ll learn:
How 'being', 'doing' and 'reflecting' help grow your skills and experience as a facilitator
Techniques on how to help create a shared group environment (and why it's important to understand that each group has their own energy)
Why it’s important to be sensitive to the environment, and how you can gauge the environment by using questions
Key questions to ask when you reflect on your practice at the end of a workshop
Why being creative helps you become a better leader (and facilitator!)
About our guest: Dr Cathryn Lloyd
Dr. Cathryn Lloyd is a facilitator, researcher, creativity coach and educator. She is Australia's first certified creativity coach with the Creativity Coaching Association. She is the Founder and Director of Maverick Minds Pty Ltd. Maverick Minds specialises in creative learning experiences designed to shift your thinking, gain new perspectives and create positive change.
Dr. Cathryn’s experience across design and business offers an eclectic approach to her facilitation and workshops. She loves working with others to develop collaborative, experiential and reflective learning environments.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Attend one of Cathryn's upcoming events in Brisbane (co-hosted with Andrew Rixon)
Stories and Narratives for Organisations & Community Building: Workshopping the Story Cookbook
Book launch: Andrew Rixon and Cathryn Lloyd - The Story Cookbook
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 your number one takeaway from this episode!
Click here to tweet your thanks to Dr. Cathryn Lloyd
Quotes of the episode
“As a facilitator and or a person working with people, it's really about being sort of sensitive to the environment and trying to gauge and understand where people are at; rather than sometimes assuming things.”
“I think first and foremost, you have to be doing; and it's in the doing that is the greatest learning, ultimately.”
“I think time spent in building relationships is really important; and people often don't realise that. If you spend time doing all the other stuff, it will probably happen a lot more easily because those relationships are there and you've built community and a sense of ownership.”
“You've got to have creativity and you need to have people thinking creatively and owning the idea of creativity if we want innovation to actually happen. Innovation won't happen without creativity.”
“If you do want people to think differently or to be differently, then we have to be doing different things in order for that to actually happen.”
Episode 51: PowerPoint tips every facilitator needs to know with Thomas Krafft
Our guest today knows that in every poor presentation, there is a brilliant presentation waiting to be unleashed.
Our guest today knows that in every poor presentation, there is a brilliant presentation waiting to be unleashed.
A wizard of PowerPoint design and presentation physicality, Thomas comes with a deep understanding built from dedicating years to the art of presenting. Fun is his primary weapon and he uses it to break down all walls of nervousness and doubt.
As a member of Toastmasters since 2008, Thomas Krafft from Presentation Boss has given hundreds of speeches, facilitated many workshops and also been the Master of Ceremony for small groups, to hundreds of people.
Thomas and Kate from Presentation Boss are also offering an incredible tool for listeners of the First Time Facilitator audience: PowerPoint tips that every facilitator needs to know.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Why people struggle with using Powerpoint (and why you shouldn’t blame the software for ‘Death by powerpoint’)
Tips and tricks on designing PowerPoint preparations (Hint: Less, is more)
Why you need to consider all of the elements on stage, and whether they're attracting, or detracting from your presentation
Questions to consider while creating PowerPoint slides
Keys to develop your confidence as first-time facilitator
About our guest: Thomas Krafft
Thomas Krafft is the presentation strategy guy and PowerPoint wizard. He does not know a life without public speaking, having spent his entire adult life (plus some) speaking to various audiences.
Fun is his primary weapon, though he comes armed with deep presentation knowledge and understanding built from years dedicated to presentation skills, PowerPoint design and coaching others to improve their skills.
He is a speaker, an MC and co-founder of Presentation Boss; a presentation skills coaching business.
Thomas has spent countless hours specialising in effective design and use of PowerPoint. He needs no excuse to share his passion around the software and champions its proper use to enhance your next presentation. He knows that in every poor presentation is a brilliant presentation - whether it's a talk, keynote or workshop.
Presentation Boss hosts training workshops for corporate teams and groups, provides one-on-one consultation and provide keynote speakers to events.
Fun facts about Thomas:
He is a licensed pilot.
He has a deep fascination for shipwrecks. Deeper than is socially acceptable.
He's tall. 6’6’’. Yes, really. Yes, the weather is lovely up there. No, he doesn’t play basketball. really. Yes, the weather is lovely up there. No, he doesn’t play basketball.
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 your number one takeaway from this episode!
Quotes of the show:
“Death by PowerPoint is a user-error; it's not the software's problem. It's doing exactly what it’s told to do.”
“That's what PowerPoints for: we are visual creatures and PowerPoint is a visual tool.”
The slides need to complement what is that you're saying. You need to make your communication more efficient.”
“When you're designing those slides and reviewing those slides and rehearsing, ask yourself all the time- ‘what can I remove from this slide and it still makes sense in the context of my presentation?’”
“Everything that happens on a stage is either attracting or detracting. So it needs to not detract from your presentation and distract from what it is that you're saying.”
“Whatever the presentation is, be at workshop or a main stage presentation or a meeting at work, is that the slides come after the script.”
To me, it's all about communication. It’s all about the art of taking an idea that's inside my head and transferring it inside your head. And I love being able to do that and especially when you're helping people to do something.”
“I always have the goal of people leaving the room is to think about what we spoke about today and try it.”
Episode 50: What I've learnt during 50 episodes of the First Time Facilitator podcast
In this episode, I sit down in the guests's seat, and reflect on 50 episodes of the First Time Facilitator podcast. Sean Lavin guides a great conversation on what I've learnt from my guests, what I've learnt about myself in the process, and what's happened as a result of launching the podcast.
I can't believe we're here!
In this episode, I sit down in the guests's seat, and reflect on 50 episodes of the First Time Facilitator podcast. Sean Lavin guides a great conversation on what I've learnt from my guests, what I've learnt about myself in the process, and what's happened as a result of launching the podcast.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the show, and helped me continue the momentum of bringing out episodes every week. I truly appreciate your feedback, questions, reviews and shares , so thank you!
I'm also grateful for the variety of guests who have dedicated an hour to fielding questions on their facilitation tips and tricks. All of the guests on the show have been incredibly open in sharing their practical tips and recommendations for First Time Facilitators.
Resources mentioned in this show
My new website - LeanneHughes.com (it's still a work in progress!)
Join 'The Flipchart' a community of First Time Facilitators on Facebook
Like this show?
Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.
Episode 49: Great facilitators notice patterns in the room with Oscar Trimboli
There’s really common theme when I ask facilitators what skills they think are necessary for facilitation. The answer? It’s about the ability to listen. Not only to the words, but listening in to what’s happening in the room, listening to what’s not being said, listening into the nonverbal cues. Knowing this, I brought on a listening expert for today’s episode, to hear his perspective on ‘Deep Listening’, and also his tips for First Time Facilitators.
There’s really common theme when I ask facilitators what skills they think are necessary for facilitation. The answer? It’s about the ability to listen. Not only to the words, but listening in to what’s happening in the room, listening to what’s not being said, listening into the nonverbal cues. Knowing this, I brought on a listening expert for today’s episode, to hear his perspective on ‘Deep Listening’, and also his tips for First Time Facilitators.
On this episode you’ll learn
When and how he realised he had a knack for listening
What he describes as Deep Listening, and his definition of the five levels of listening (hint: Great facilitators need to be at the third level of listening)
His Big Hairy Audacious Goal for changing 2% of the world’s population
The 125:400 rule (and how this can be used to explain why we get so distracted)
Why breathing can help you listen at a deeper level
His never-fail pen for post-it notes in workshops
How he uses a colour scheme for sticky note activities
About Oscar Trimboli
Oscar Trimboli is a coach supervisor, speaker and author of Deep Listening: Impact beyond words, The 125/400 Rule: The Art and Science of Listening and Breakthroughs: How to confront your assumptions.
Through his work with chairs, boards of directors and executive teams in local, regional and global organisations, Oscar has experienced firsthand the impact leaders and organisations can have when they listen beyond the words.
He consults to organisations including Cisco, Google, News Corp, PayPal, Qantas and TripAdvisor helping executives and their teams listen to what’s unsaid by the customers and employees.
Giveaway alert!
If you’re interested reading a copy of Oscar’s book, Deep Listening, we have an awesome surprise for listeners. Oscar is kind enough to have donated 5 books for a First Time Facilitator giveaway.
To go in the draw to win, I’d like you to upload a screenshot of this podcast episode into either your Instagram feed, or Instagram stories, and tag both @leannehughes and @oscartrimboli.
I’ll give you util Friday 8 February to be in the run to win a copy!
Resources mentioned in this episode
What’s on in First Time Facilitator land?
The 50th episode celebration is on this week, Friday 18 January. Find out the details on the First Time Facilitator 50th evepisode Facebook event page.
Finally, if you want to connect with listeners following the show, join our community on Facebook it’s called ‘The Flipchart’. Once you’re in, please introduce yourself, where you’re from!
Like this show?
Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.
Tweet your thanks to Oscar
Episode 48: Don’t sell the plane, sell the holiday: How to demonstrate your credibility to others with Petra Zink
In this episode, we talk about building your credibility as a facilitator when you’re first starting out, and how to market yourself without feeling like you’re bragging about you. Petra also shares some key questions you should ask yourself to help develop the self-awareness required to effectively market yourself, and your services.
Her alarm is set for 3.45am every week day. Meet Petra Zink, a Coach, Speaker and Consultant on all things Career & the Future of Work. In this episode, we talk about building your credibility as a facilitator when you’re first starting out, and how to market yourself without feeling like you’re bragging about you. Petra also shares some key questions you should ask yourself to help develop the self-awareness required to effectively market yourself, and your services.
On this episode you’ll learn:
How Petra pivoted from a role marketing in the FMCG industry, to her current role in talent management and personal branding
The platform she uses to drive 80% of her business
How to build credibility when you’re just starting out as a facilitator
Why it’s important to build your self-awareness and figure out who the charges vs the drainers are in your life
Some key questions you should ask yourself when either starting a business, or going through a career pivot
Ideas on how to promote yourself on social media (without feeling like a show pony)
How group fitness helped develop her confidence as a public speaker
Why she gets up so early, (and how this helps you to avoid burnout)
About our guest: Petra Zink
Petra Zink is a Coach, Speaker and Consultant on all things Career & the Future of Work. She helps companies and leaders to build and use (Personal & Employer) Brands to build successful Careers and Businesses in this fast changing new economy.
Petra runs two companies that help individuals and organisations to not only survive but thrive in the future world of work:
impaCCCt is a talent development consultancy, working with highly ambitious people to pivot by creating a career that aligns impact with income; inside and/or outside their current organisation; within and/or outside their existing experience.
The360Talent.Co helps companies to rethink the way of Talent Attraction, Acquisition and Retention for the future of work. The 360 approach helps to align the business goals with the talent strategy and tactics of today and tomorrow to not only hire the best Talents but also to keep them. We focus on preparing organisations and their staff for careers that don’t exist yet by recruiting for potential rather than proficiency and ongoing coaching to align passion with profit.
Connect with Petra on LinkedIn, Instagram (@impaccctful), Twitter (@petra_zink) or Facebook!
Resources mentioned in this episode
What’s happening in First Time Facilitator land?
We are two episodes from releasing the half century of First Time Facilitator episodes and I’ll be celebrating by hosting a meetup in Brisbane on Friday 18 January. If you want to join in, shoot me an email hello@firsttimefacilitator.com or a DM in Instagram @firsttimefacilitator.
Want to start a podcast? Come along to my workshop in Brisbane on 13 January: 2019: The Year you launch your podcast.
Finally, if you want to connect with listeners following the show, join our community on Facebook it’s called ‘The Flipchart’. Once you’re in, please introduce yourself, where you’re from!
Like this show?
Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.
Tweet your thanks to Petra
Episode 47: Reflect, refocus, reset: Simple tools to make 2019 your best year ever
This episode is coming to you on 31 December 2018, the last day of yet another year. I know it’s cliche setting new year’s resolutions and I don’t really do those, but I do find that this time of the year is really great for taking the time out to reflect, reset and refocus for the year ahead.
This episode is coming to you on 31 December 2018, the last day of yet another year.
I know it’s cliche setting new year’s resolutions and I don’t really do those, but I do find that this time of the year is really great for taking the time out to reflect, reset and refocus for the year ahead.
It’s like that analogy - you’re too busy driving to stop and refuel...So at some point, you need to stop at that service station, get out and fuel up, and I find this time of the year is the best time to do that but hey, the lessons I’m sharing can apply at any time, so if you’re listening in the middle of April it’s all good!
If you’re like me, you may be spending this time away from work, and getting your brain all charged up and inspired by burning through podcast episodes and books. At the same time last year, 31 Dec 2017, I did a lot of work to set my 2018 up, and all I want to do on today’s episode is to share some of the cool tools, processes I used to do that, and really highlight some key podcasts and books that have helped me, and you may resonate with too!
I’m really excited to make it the best year ever. If you work through this process, I’d love to hear how you go! Shoot me a DM on Instagram @leannehughes and tell me one of your goals, or simply one thing you learnt from this episode that you may use in future.
In this episode you’ll learn:
The tools I use to reflect on my year and how you can use these when you work on your projects for 2019
The questions I ask to recognise what I can build on in 2019
How to set up your theme of the year (and how this plays out in setting criteria for what to say yes/no)
Why you need to spend more time defining the right questions
Resources mentioned in this episode:
First Time Facilitator events
2019: The year you launch your podcast. Join me on a one day workshop where I’ll take you through the steps by launch your podcast from scratch! It’s on Sunday 13 January in Brisbane
50th episode meetup: Friday 18 January in Brisbane (email me if interested, hello@firsttimefacilitator.com
Like this show?
Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.
Episode 46: Learning is not a stand-alone event with Kerry Brocks
Happy Christmas eve to all of you, and I hope you are taking the time to relax with family and friend’s and also recharging for a big 2019.
Happy Christmas eve to all of you, and I hope you are taking the time to relax with family and friend’s and also recharging for a big 2019.
Today’s guest is Kerry Brocks, and she is the CEO and Founder of the Institute for Learning Professionals. We met up over a coffee in Brisbane around May this year, and I remember our infectious conversation. We could not stop talking about the struggles that facilitators have, and how it’s so important to support the community of learning professionals, so that we stamp out boring and stifling workshops forever.
I walked back to the office after meeting with Kerry feeling super excited to know that we’re on the same war-path. I invited her on the show to share with you her experiences as a facilitator, and the great work she’s doing for facilitators through the Institute for Learning Professionals.
About Kerry Brocks
Kerry is the Chief Executive Officer & Founder of the Institute for Learning Professionals (ILP). She strongly believes in actively involving participants to develop skills and knowledge, keeping them focused, interested and willing to learn in an interactive and highly productive workshop environment. The ILP offers a range of blended learning programs and qualifications based on the latest research and techniques.
Kerry has worked in various management training positions over the past 12 years, including Education and Development Manager for the Australian Institute of Management (Qld and NT), National Learning and Development Manager for BDO Kendalls Chartered Accountants, and as the Network Training Manager for Metway Bank (Qld, NSW and Vic). She has vast experience in designing, developing and conducting training initiatives across a range of industries and for all levels of staff.
Resources mentioned in this episode
What's on in First Time Facilitator land?
We are 3 episodes away from releasing the half century of First Time Facilitator episodes and I’ll be celebrating by hosting a meeting up in Brisbane on Friday 18 January. If you want to join in, shoot me an email hello@firsttimefacilitator.com or a DM in Instagram @firsttimefacilitator.
Want to start a podcast? Come along to my workshop in Brisbane on 13 January: 2019: The Year you launch your podcast.
Finally, if you want to connect with listeners following the show, join our community on Facebook it’s called ‘The Flipchart’. Once you’re in, please introduce yourself, where you’re from!
Like this show?
Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.
Episode 45: One question you need to ask before you take the stage with Julian Treasure
In today’s episode, I talk to Julian Treasure. Julian is a sought-after and top-rated international sound and communication expert. He is a gripping speaker with 5 TED talks online which have been viewed around 40 million times. Julian travels the world training people to listen better and create healthier sound. His vision is to transform the world by inspiring people to listen consciously and speak powerfully.
In today’s episode, I talk to Julian Treasure. Julian is a sought-after and top-rated international sound and communication expert. He is a gripping speaker with 5 TED talks online which have been viewed around 40 million times. Julian travels the world training people to listen better and create healthier sound. His vision is to transform the world by inspiring people to listen consciously and speak powerfully.
Julian’s speech ‘How to speak so people want to listen’ is my favourite TED speech. It’s also in the top-10 of most watched TED speeches of all time, with over 31 million views, that’s insane. I found his speech when I was running a presentation skills workshop for a local shire in Western Australia about 5 years ago, and ever since then, I’ve incorporated his speech into other workshops I’ve delivered on public speaking and being an effective communicator. Even in Mongolia a couple weeks ago, I used the vocal warm-up that Julian uses in his speech, as the icebreaker on the second day of the workshop!
However, when I was doing more research on Julian’s work, I also realised the emphasis that he puts on listening. Not hearing, but listening. We spend a good chunk of this conversation discussing how to do that effectively.
He believes that listening is the doorway to understanding and powerful speaking liberates us to make a difference and be known for who we are.
In this episode you’ll learn:
The one key question you need to ask yourself before taking a stage, or facilitating a workshop
The significance of Conscious Listening
How stance and posture affects your voice when delivering a speech
Tips and tricks on breathing and voice exercises
Aspects of voice: pace, pitch, timbre & prosody
Strategies on how to control the pace of your voice
About our guest
Julian Treasure is an expert on sound who uses his fascinating insights to advise businesses how to optimise their environments for sound. He is author of the books How to be Heard and Sound Business. He is also the founder of The Sound Agency. The audio-branding company asks and answers the question “How does your brand sound?” The Sound Agency work with some of the world’s biggest brands to improve their sound.
Julian Treasure’s five TED talks have been watched more than 40 million times. His latest, How to speak so that people want to listen, is in the top 10 TED talks of all time. Julian is regularly featured in the world’s media, including TIME Magazine, The Times, The Economist and the BBC.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
First Time Facilitator events
2019: The year you launch your podcast. Join me on a one day workshop where I'll take you through the steps by launch your podcast from scratch! It's on Sunday 13 January in Brisbane
50th episode meetup: Friday 18 January in Brisbane (email me if interested, hello@firsttimefacilitator.com
Like this show?
Please leave me a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so I can thank you personally.
Quotes of the show:
“You can't be a good speaker if you don't learn first to be a good listener.”
“My definition of listening is making meaning from sound and that colours your whole perception of existence.”
“The better we make our listening; the more we understand other people and the more powerfully we can speak to them.”
“Consciousness is the key to everything. Becoming conscious of what you're doing, how you're standing, the gestures you're using, the pace at which you're speaking.”
Episode transcript
View the First Time Facilitator episode transcript with Julian Treasure.
Episode 44: Creating rewarding workshop experiences: How to apply the SCARF model into your facilitation work
I recently co-facilitated a leadership course for mid-level leaders and as part of that, explained the SCARF mode. This is a brain based model created by David Rock in 2008; a summary of important discoveries from neuroscience about the way people interact socially.
I recently co-facilitated a leadership course for mid-level leaders and as part of that, explained the SCARF mode. This is a brain based model created by David Rock in 2008; a summary of important discoveries from neuroscience about the way people interact socially.
Rock combines all the research and makes it easy for people that aren’t brain scientists, to use the research to determine why we behave in certain ways at certain times.
I thought the application of SCARF could be tremendously beneficial in our role as facilitations. In this episode, I share my thoughts on what we can do, in our role as a facilitators to reduce the threat response for participants in our workshops, and optimise their rewards response.
Here are a couple of updates in the First Time Facilitator world:
I’ll be celebrating my 50th episode which is released on 21 January. If you’d like to meetup and celebrate, I’m going to host an event or some nibbles and drinks in Brisbane on Friday 18 January, probably sundowners around 5pm. Comment below, or email me if you'd like to be on the invite list.
I have a few people asking me about how to start a podcast, so I’m going to run a workshop in Brisbane in early January too, most likely Sunday 13 January. If you’re keen on that, shoot me an email - hello@firsttimefacilitator.com
On this episode, you'll learn:
The three underpinning themes of the SCARF model
Strategies on how you can apply SCARF to create rewarding workshop experiences for your participants and how you can apply this to create a safe workshop environment
Facilitator hacks on how to reduce the threat response of your participants
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.
Tweet Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!
Episode 43: No artistry required: Rediscovering paper, pencils and markers with Matteo Becchi
If you’ve ever wondered how to make communication in meetings easier, and what x-factor tools can help you bring a conference together and really support your skills in facilitation, then you’ll love hearing from today’s guest.His name is Matteo Becchi and he’s based in Washington DC. He was recommended by Aminata N’Doye, one of the original listeners of this podcast who’s based in Canada. She met Matteo when he was the chair for the 2018 OD Network conference. He discovered visual facilitation and graphic recording four years ago and uses it for strategic planning meetings with clients and to move them to where they need to go next.In this conversation, we talk about what drew him to visuals and how he likens drawing to simply learning another language. Matteo also explains how he got more confidence to draw in front of others, and how he decides what to draw (and also what to leave out) when drawing live at a conference. He also explains his preparation a month, a week and a day leading into a big event.
Connect with Matteo Becchi
Email Matteo - matteo.becchi@theclearing.com
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.
Tweet Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!
Episode 42: Edutainment: How to combine knowledge, wit and interaction in your presentations with Dave Jackson
In this episode, I chat to 2018 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee, Dave Jackson. He’s been podcasting since April 2005, and has been the host of nearly a dozen different podcasts over the last decade.Most people chat to Dave about creating or improving their podcast but I wanted to focus on the fact that he’s been a technical trainer for over 20 years. I also like how he says in his bio that this means that he not only understands technology, but he can explain it in a plain English “geek-speak free” environment.We explore why it’s important to get out of your comfort zone, how Dave has brought his experience playing on bands on stages into the way he presents, what he does to make his presentations more engaging, how he handles his nerves before he presents, and why he is so damn funny.
In this episode you’ll learn:
How having water-cooler type conversations lead him down a new career path
Why it’s important to attend conferences and meet your target market
How he mixes education and entertainment to help make learning stick
How he prepares to speak at conferences
Why it’s important to challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone
Why it’s important to tailor your content and use analogies that fit your audience
About our guest: Dave Jackson
Dave is not only an award-winning podcaster, but he’s a podcasting consultant, teacher, and the founder of the School of Podcasting. A corporate trainer for more than 20+ years, Dave has a Bachelor's Degree in Education and was one of the early early early adopters of podcasting. Starting back in the primordial mist of 2005, Dave began the School of Podcasting, a podcast to teach other people how to podcast.Dave’s show has been described by many as the most entertaining and unique of all the “Podcast About Podcasting” offerings out there. Dave is a master at “edutainment” and has been using analogies to quickly help people understand the nuances of podcasting for over a decade. He has that rare ability to explain complicated concepts and processes in an easy to comprehend way.
Resources mentioned on this 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.
Tweet Leanne know about your number one takeaway from this episode!