Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator

Episode 101: 10 facilitation lessons from the last 100 weeks with Leanne Hughes + a bonus interview with Murray Guest

This week on the show sharing my Top 10 facilitation lessons learnt over the last 100 episodes. I’m going to compare the facilitator I was 100 weeks ago, with the facilitator I am now (or who I aspire to be), based on the information I’ve been able to extract from previous guests and experiences.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. This week on the show sharing my Top 10 facilitation lessons learnt over the last 100 episodes. I'm going to compare the facilitator I was 100 weeks ago, with the facilitator I am now (or who I aspire to be), based on the information I've been able to extract from previous guests and experiences.

This week on the show sharing my Top 10 facilitation lessons learnt over the last 100 episodes. I’m going to compare the facilitator I was 100 weeks ago, with the facilitator I am now (or who I aspire to be), based on the information I’ve been able to extract from previous guests and experiences.

I also had a few listeners record audio and share what they have picked up from the podcast, which we’ll play during this special episode - thank you so much for those of you who took the time out to record! So amazing hearing your voices - thank you Suzanne, Juanda, Maryanne and Murray.

At the end of my lessons learnt, I’m also including an interview I did with Murray Guest on his podcast called the Inspired Energy podcast. I’ve decided to add this interview to this episode as Murray asks some awesome questions, we have a really fun conversation + I think it’s a nice way of introducing myself to you, especially if you are new to listening to this show.

About the host: Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes is an international facilitator, speaker and coach who loves creating unpredictable workshop experiences, that predictably work.

She combines her experience in Marketing, with her education in Human Resources and Psychology, to help leaders create engaging everyday experiences – that are so contagious they scale across teams, functions and regions.

Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-development workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mongolia and Singapore and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development.  She has over 13 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.

She’s the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast and was a finalist in the 2018 Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.

Resources mentioned on this show

Like this show?

  • Join the conversation when the show is over: Connect with over 500 facilitators from around the world, on our free Facebook group: The Flipchart

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

  • Tweet Leanne your number one takeaway from this episode!

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Episode 100: Facilitating conversations with the world's best performers with Jordan Harbinger

PISODE 100 IS HERE! This causes for a celebration, so I thought I’d get my favourite podcaster on the show. A guy that I’ve talked about many times on this podcast and shared his philosophy about building your network and relationships, and that guy is Jordan Harbinger from The Jordan Harbinger Show.

EPISODE 100 IS HERE! This causes for a celebration, so I thought I’d get my favourite podcaster on the show. A guy that I’ve talked about many times on this podcast and shared his philosophy about building your network and relationships, and that guy is Jordan Harbinger from The Jordan Harbinger Show.

Jordan Harbinger is a Wall Street lawyer turned interview talk show host, and a communications and social dynamics expert.

He interviews the world’s top performers — from legendary musicians to intelligence operatives, iconoclastic writers to visionary change-makers at The Jordan Harbinger Show, consistently holding in the iTunes top 100 after just a few weeks.

In this episode I wanted to focus on what it takes to facilitate conversations with some of the world’s most amazing people, he’s had Malcolm Gladwell, John Maxwell, Simon Sinek, Lisa Lampenelli, Kobe Bryant on his show.

This week's sponsor: Rapid Mentoring

This weeks episode is brought to you by Rapid Mentoring.

What is Rapid mentoring? It’s an amazing subscription program designed to help people make more of their life and career, in less time

The mix of online learning modules and twice weekly bite sized emails over the 12 month subscription is terrific value at just $250 per year.

Thank you for supporting the show! Connect with the founder of Rapid Mentoring, Warren James on LinkedIn.

rapid-logo-60.png

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to build trust with people by developing an ongoing relationship with them ("Digging the well before you get thirsty")

  • How to direct unique conversations and interviews by putting the effort in beforehand

  • How to connect with and book incredible guests on your podcast

About our guest: Jordan Harbinger

Jordan has hosted a top 50 iTunes podcast for over 12 years and receives over six million downloads per month, making The Jordan Harbinger Show one of the most popular podcasts in the world. The show was awarded Apple’s “Best of 2018” and is one of the most downloaded shows of the year. On The Jordan Harbinger Show, Jordan deconstructs the playbooks of the most successful people on earth and shares their strategies, perspectives, and practical insights with the rest of us. 

Jordan spent several years abroad in Europe and the developing world, including South America, Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and he speaks five languages. He has also worked for various governments and NGOs overseas, traveled through war zones, and been kidnapped — twice. He’ll tell you the only reason he’s still alive and kicking is because of his ability to talk his way into (and out of) just about any type of situation.

Jordan Harbinger is a member of the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotes of the show

  • “Charisma is a key component of being liked.”

  • “You can outwork other podcasters when you are willing to do what others are not.”

  • “The next level for me is finding not the well-known person but people with really unique and interesting stories.”

Like this show?

  • Join the conversation when the show is over: Connect with over 430 facilitators from around the world, on our free Facebook group: The Flipchart

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

  • Tweet Leanne your number one takeaway from this episode!

  • Tweet Jordan your thanks for appearing on the show!

About the host: Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes is an international facilitator, speaker and coach who loves creating unpredictable workshop experiences, that predictably work.

She combines her experience in Marketing, with her education in Human Resources and Psychology, to help leaders create engaging everyday experiences – that are so contagious they scale across teams, functions and regions.

Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-development workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mongolia and Singapore and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development.  She has over 13 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.

She’s the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast and was a finalist in the 2018 Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.

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Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator

Episode 99: 16 Facilitators share their 2020 planning strategy

How do your fellow facilitators plan their new year? Be inspired and get some new ideas on how to plan your 2020 by hearing 16 previous guests of the First Time Facilitator podcast share how they they form their plan of attack

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. How do your fellow facilitators plan their new year? Be inspired and get some new ideas on how to plan your 2020 by hearing 16 previous guests of the First Time Facilitator podcast share how they they form their plan of attack Special thanks to the following facilitators for contributing to this week's episode: Sue [...]

How do your fellow facilitators plan their new year?  Be inspired and get some new ideas on how to plan your 2020 by hearing 16 previous guests of the First Time Facilitator podcast share how they they form their plan of attack 

Special thanks to the following facilitators for contributing to this week’s episode: 

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Episode 98: "That which you can plan is too small for you to live": 2019 reflections + 2020 planning with Leanne Hughes

We’re closing in to the end of not only a year, but a decade as well. I wanted to take some time out on today’s episode to reflect on the year, and ask some questions to help you reflect, as well as focus in on creating a delightful 2020.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. We're closing in to the end of not only a year, but a decade as well. I wanted to take some time out on today's episode to reflect on the year, and ask some questions to help you reflect, as well as focus in on creating a delightful 2020.

We’re closing in to the end of not only a year, but a decade as well. I wanted to take some time out on today’s episode to reflect on the year, and ask some questions to help you reflect, as well as focus in on creating a delightful 2020. 

In this episode, I share some planning tips for 2020, as well as talk through specifics reflecting and planning in these three key areas:

  1. Facilitation

  2. Career + business lessons

  3. Life lessons (relationships, physical + mental health, finance)

Resources mentioned in this show

About the host: Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes is an international facilitator, speaker and coach who loves creating unpredictable workshop experiences, that predictably work.

She combines her experience in Marketing, with her education in Human Resources and Psychology, to help leaders create engaging everyday experiences - that are so contagious they scale across teams, functions and regions.

Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-development workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mongolia and Singapore and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development.  She has over 13 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.

She’s the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast and was a finalist in the 2018 Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.

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Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator Podcast Episodes First Time Facilitator

Episode 97: Facilitating like a fighter pilot (with the pace of a poet) with Chris Huet

My guest this week, Chris Huet from Understood is based in Canberra, Australia but travels around this great country and beyond, helping leaders to communicate better. His business focuses on three areas - speaking in front of others so he can share his ideas; coaching others and helping them improve their ability to communicate, and delivering group workshops . Chris' goal is to help people speak with the precision of a fighter pilot and the passion of a poet.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Communication is an integral part of any work or life situation. Regardless of how compelling the speaker is, all audiences have limited attention spans. To become a more effective communicator, it is important to learn how to connect with your audience and make more meaningful conversations with them.

Communication is an integral part of any work or life situation. Regardless of how compelling the speaker is, all audiences have limited attention spans.

To become a more effective communicator,  it is important to learn how to connect with your audience and make more meaningful conversations with them. 

My guest this week, Chris Huet from Understood is based in Canberra, Australia but travels around this great country and beyond, helping leaders to communicate better.

His business focuses on three areas - speaking in front of others so he can share his ideas; coaching others and helping them improve their ability to communicate, and delivering group workshops . Chris' goal is to help people speak with the precision of a fighter pilot and the passion of a poet. 

In this episode I chat with Chris about his passion for communication and delivering engaging workshop experiences.

About our guest: Chris Huet

Chris is a communications coach with over thirty years' experience in public and private sector leadership and technical and creative communication. He draws on practical knowledge and the latest research to help leaders speak more effectively.

He believes that everyone can be confident speaking in front of an audience and everyone can improve the way we connect with other people and get our messages heard. Holding a passionate belief that every single person can improve the way we connect through the spoken word, Chris’ work has shifted to sharing the skills and expertise built throughout a diverse career to elevate the ability of the people surrounding him to connect deeply – and with precision – every time they speak.

He led a fighter jet squadron, negotiated billion-dollar contracts and performed poetry on stages around the world. As well as being a fighter pilot, successful consultant and business development manager, he is an award-winning spoken word artist and two-time TEDx presenter.

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 your number one takeaway from this episode!

  • Click here to send your thanks to Chris.

Quotes of the show:

  • “How are you going to use poetry to change the world?”

  • “You don’t need to do something hugely significant to make it engaging.”

  • “Being more visible and open about my skill set and unique experience and why I want to use those things to help other people.”

  • “We take for granted our experience and the things we’ve done but those things are really what makes us unique.”

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Episode 96: Smart solopreneur contract creation with Riz McDonald

Solopreneurs face challenges such as business plans, goals, invoices, paying taxes, paying contractors and managing contracts. In this episode I chat with Riz McDonald on how you can simplify entering into contracts with your clients and protecting your intellectual property at the same time.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Solopreneurs face challenges such as business plans, goals, invoices, paying taxes, paying contractors and managing contracts. In this episode I chat with Riz McDonald on how you can simplify entering into contracts with your clients and protecting your intellectual property at the same time.

Solopreneurs face challenges such as business plans, goals, invoices, paying taxes, paying contractors and managing contracts. In this episode I chat with Riz McDonald on how you can simplify entering into contracts with your clients and protecting your intellectual property at the same time. 

She knows from experience how difficult and time consuming it can be to build a business from the ground up, and making sure you’re doing everything the right way can be daunting. This inspired her to share what she has learned with other brilliant, like-minded individuals.

Riz Provides legal support & services to startups, entrepreneurs, influencers and brands that use them. She is the founder of Foundd Legal which helps simplify the world of law and empower small, independent, creative business owners to use legal practices to grow their businesses.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to clearly communicate with your clients and set payment expectations

  • How to protect your intellectual property

  • Simplified and straightforward contracts you can use as a solopreneur when entering into a business partnership

  • Scale up your business by learning all aspects of it

About our Guest: Riz McDonald

Riz is a lawyer with over 16 years of experience, She is an entrepreneur and passionate about all things creative! Which is part of what led her to start Foundd Legal. 

Over the years working as both a lawyer and as the founder of an ecommerce business, she discovered that there were a huge number of amazing designers, creatives and fellow entrepreneurs out there who had fantastic ideas and business models, but had no access to the legal ins and outs that are imperative to running a fully legitimate, successful and protected company. 

She started Foundd Legal as a way to make all of that boring, scary, overwhelming legal stuff both accessible and affordable to entrepreneurs, creatives and designers, so they can have the best shot possible of creating a legal, lucrative, kick-arse brand and business they can share with the world.

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 your number one takeaway from this episode!

  • Click here to send your thanks to Rizwana

Quotes of the show:

  • “It is important to work with your strengths.”

  • “Technology is pointless if you don’t have the right processes and understanding of how to use it to the best advantage.”

  • “It’s important to understand all aspects of the business even if you’re not an expert in all aspects.”

  • “A little bit of research and understanding go a long way.”

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Episode 95: Public speaking is a sprint, facilitating is a marathon with Tim Ferguson

Today’s guest, Tim Ferguson from Audience Communication & Events Inc started reframing the situation when he asked, “What could we do to get our participants leaping out of their chairs to attend our workshops and events?”

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Have you ever delivered a workshop where your participants are told they HAVE to attend? It's not too fun as a facilitator. Today's guest, Tim Ferguson from Audience Communication & Events Inc started reframing the situation when he asked, "What could we do to get our participants leaping out of their chairs to attend our [...]

Have you ever delivered a workshop where your participants are told they HAVE to attend? It’s not too fun as a facilitator.

Today’s guest, Tim Ferguson from Audience Communication & Events Inc started reframing the situation when he asked, “What could we do to get our participants leaping out of their chairs to attend our workshops and events?”

Tim puts his audience first, prepares thoroughly, communicates brilliantly and he has a passion for learning + ensuring that all of the experiences he (and his company) delivers, hit the mark.

We chat about influence of theatre school on Tim’s career in communications, how he became the head of global company, Audience, and how he prepares for workshop delivery. 

As you’ll hear in this conversation, Tim does a heck of a lot of work profiling his audience. But what surprised me the most is the effort he does to get to know them PRIOR to the workshop, including a couple of strategies online. 

About today’s guest: Tim Ferguson

As the CEO of Audience, Tim's job is to hire, train and retain people so good they will transform the meetings and internal communication industry. Passionate about providing employees with opportunities to grow personally and professionally he focuses on his global team which spans Canada, the UK, Switzerland and Singapore.

As a communication strategist and facilitator, Tim brings multiple stakeholders together to define communication objectives, establish clear messages and align on priorities. Teams who work with Tim value the energy and passion he brings to every project.

Tim is fascinated by the challenges facing leaders as the rate of change in organizations increases exponentially. He works with leadership teams on creating the conditions for employee engagement and sustained behavior change.

As a presenter coach, Tim has developed practical techniques that are straightforward and effective. Presenters discover they can always elevate their performance and expand their comfort zone, no matter where their starting point may be.

Tim has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as financial and professional services. He resides in Lausanne, Switzerland and his Cifton Strengths top 5 are Learner, Intellection, Input, Achiever and Relator.

Make sure you connect with Tim after the show and let him know your favourite takeaways from this episode!

Resources mentioned in this show:

First Time Facilitator updates

About the host: Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes is the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast. She loves to shake up expectations and create unpredictable experiences.

Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-building workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mongolia and Singapore and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development.  She has over 13 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.

In 2018, she was a finalist in the Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.

Like this show?

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Episode 94: Reconnecting the dots: How I got started as a facilitator with Leanne Hughes

I've often been asked how I started my facilitation journey, how I escaped my 9-5 job and how I've landed international training opportunities. I share all of that, and more in this week's episode!

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. I've often been asked how I started my facilitation journey, how I escaped my 9-5 job and how I've landed international training opportunities. I share all of that, and more in this week's episode!

I've often been asked how I started my facilitation journey, how I escaped my 9-5 job and how I've landed international training opportunities. I share all of that, and more in this week's episode!

Resources mentioned on the show:

First Time Facilitator updates

About the host: Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes is the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast. She loves to shake up expectations and create unpredictable experiences.
Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-building workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Mongolia and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development.  She has over 13 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.
In 2018, she was a finalist in the Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.

Like this show?

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Episode 93: How to facilitate a bid with Justin Nickerson

I spoke to the leading auctioneers in Australia, Justin Nickerson to get his perspective on the role of an auctioneer. This is a rapid-fire, quick-paced interview/ What I love about what Justin shares, is how it’s important to be your authentic, and not to be an actor or play a role when you’re facilitating a bid. You’ll also catch on to the beautiful parallels between facilitating bids and impactful workshop experiences.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. We are stepping outside of the general facilitation industry today, and finding inspiration from the real estate industry. More specifically, the role of an auctioneer! Auctioneers have to prepare for bid day; they have to facilitate an outcome for a client, and they also have to do this in group of large groups.

We are stepping outside of the general facilitation industry today, and finding inspiration from the real estate industry. More specifically, the role of an auctioneer!

Auctioneers have to prepare for bid day; they have to facilitate an outcome for a client, and they also have to do this in group of large groups. As you’ll discover in this conversation, there are many parallels between group facilitation; and facilitating a bid on auction day.

I spoke to the leading auctioneers in Australia, Justin Nickerson to get his perspective on the role of an auctioneer.  This is a rapid-fire, quick-paced interview/ What I love about what Justin shares, is how it’s important to be your authentic, and not to be an actor or play a role when you’re facilitating a bid.  You’ll also catch on to the beautiful parallels between facilitating bids and impactful workshop experiences.

About our guest: Justin Nickerson

Justin Nickerson from Apollo Auctions is formally recognised as the leading auctioneer across Australasia, he is the only Australian to win the Australasian auctioneer of the year three times in the history of the award. 

He is also a four time winner of the REIQ Auctioneer of Year award, again being the only auctioneer in the state to achieve this distinction. 

Justin’s unwavering belief and understanding of the auction process is the cornerstone of his working relationships. His love of auctioneering translates to an energy that is irresistible on auction day.

With a distinctive ability to quickly connect with people, combined with a clear and uncomplicated communication style, Justin’s expertise regularly achieves results above expectations.

He’s also very generous and shares his knowledge of the industry, and wears a facilitation hat as well, delivering sales training.

Resources mentioned in this show

About the host: Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes is the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast. She loves to shake up expectations and create unpredictable experiences.
Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-building workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Mongolia and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development.  She has over 13 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.
In 2018, she was a finalist in the Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.

Like this show?

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Episode 92: Thrive as a Facilitator with Joanna Wiesinger Ph.D.

This week on the show, I’m reconnecting with Joanna Wieseinger Ph.D from Thrive With Strengths, who I nearly ‘met’ at the CliftonStrengths conference in Omaha earlier this year (you’ll hear the story on this episode).

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. This week on the show, I'm reconnecting with Joanna Wieseinger Ph.D from Thrive With Strengths, who I nearly 'met' at the CliftonStrengths conference in Omaha earlier this year (you'll hear the story on this episode).

This week on the show, I’m reconnecting with Joanna Wieseinger Ph.D from Thrive With Strengths, who I nearly ‘met’ at the CliftonStrengths conference in Omaha earlier this year (you’ll hear the story on this episode).

As a Certified Gallup CliftonStrengths trainer, Joanna helps leaders and their teams find the right conditions to THRIVE WITH STRENGTHS daily for greater impact. Joanna leans into her own "superpowers" and over 15 years of experience using CliftonStrengths to reach beyond a one-size-fits all approach.

When working with individuals, Joanna designs sessions to help her clients see the power of their inherent talents and how they can grow them into bona fide strengths. 

Joanna's team workshops transform a group of individuals who work together daily to a team that relies on its members' strengths to reach a common goal. 

As a speaker, Joanna brings both science and story telling to her audiences as she inspires them to be more effective leaders by discovering for themselves what is strong about them.

Joanna's goal is for each of us to find the right conditions to activate and THRIVE WITH STRENGTHS daily, so that we can have greater impact on others.

In this episode, she shares how she uses stories to open her workshops, her philosophy (and a very neat acronym) she uses for her icebreakers, as well as the not-so-secret weapon she brings out to end her workshops.

She also shares how the Strengths approach has helped her personally; and how she uses it to help individuals, teams and organisations thrive in the work that they do.

Resources mentioned in this show:

About the host: Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes is the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast. She loves to shake up expectations and create unpredictable experiences.
Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-building workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Mongolia and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development.  She has over 13 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.
In 2018, she was a finalist in the Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.

Like this show?

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Episode 91: Becoming Indistractable: Make traction on the things that matter with Nir Eyal

Can you imagine a day where we actually got what we needed to get done, done? I cannot wait to share this interview with you, because my guest today, Nir Eyal is talking about gaining the superpower of INDISTRACTABILITY!

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Can you imagine a day where we actually got what we needed to get done, done? I cannot wait to share this interview with you, because my guest today, Nir Eyal is talking about gaining the superpower of INDISTRACTABILITY!

Can you imagine a day where we actually got what we needed to get done, done? I cannot wait to share this interview with you, because my guest today, Nir Eyal is talking about gaining the superpower of INDISTRACTABILITY! 

It’s funny, I get so many comments from listeners and even friends saying, Leanne you’re so productive! But if only you could get a look in at my day - look at my computer desktop, how I get distracted by Instagram when even doing something as simple and fun as writing this introduction, how I use my phone up to the point of falling asleep.
This is  not the life I want to lead, I want to get better at making the most of my day. To gain traction on the things that I value.  You’ll hear how we can become Indistractible in this conversation.

We talk about everything from getting back to sleep when you wake up at 3am, turning your values into time, focusing on your time inputs over what you actually have to complete, eliminatating distractions in open-plan offices and the power of time-boxing your week, something I have personally taken action on since reading Nir’s book.

I am a massive fan of Nir’s work and I’m delighted to share this interview with you.

About today’s guest: Nir Eyal

Nir Eyal writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. The M.I.T. Technology Review dubbed Nir, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.”

Nir founded two tech companies since 2003 and has taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. He is the author of the bestselling book, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life.

In addition to blogging at NirAndFar.com, Nir’s writing has been featured in The Harvard Business Review, TechCrunch, and Psychology Today.

Nir is also an active investor in habit-forming technologies. Some of his past investments include Eventbrite (NYSE:EB), Refresh.io (acquired by LinkedIn), Worklife (acquired by Cisco), Product Hunt, Marco Polo, Presence Learning, 7 Cups, Pana, Kahoot!, Byte Foods, FocusMate, and Anchor.fm (acquired by Spotify).

Nir attended The Stanford Graduate School of Business and Emory University.

Resources mentioned on the show:

First Time Facilitator updates

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Episode 90: Managing hungover participants at workshops + conferences with Leanne Hughes

This episode is a bit of fun, may be polarising but the thing is, it’s a question I’ve had to ask myself more than a few times - so when I ask myself a question, I figure that there is at least one other person in the world asking themselves the same things.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. This episode is a bit of fun, may be polarising but the thing is, it's a question I've had to ask myself more than a few times - so when I ask myself a question, I figure that there is at least one other person in the world asking themselves the same things.

This episode is a bit of fun, may be polarising but the thing is, it’s a question I’ve had to ask myself more than a few times - so when I ask myself a question, I figure that there is at least one other person in the world asking themselves the same things.

Let’s set the context.  It’s pretty common for companies to send their leaders or teams off for a 2 or 3 day retreat off-site. When you get all these people together, off-site, away from the day to day, away from their office which may seem a little mundane, and in a cool location – people can go a little crazy in the evenings.

So, the question I'm answering on the show today is: How do you facilitate workshops if some (or many) of your participants are hungover? 

We often talk about how a large part of the work we do as facilitators is about managing the energy in the room, so what happens if your participants walk in, are in low battery mode and do NOT want to be there?

Resources mentioned in this episode

About the host: Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes is the host of the First Time Facilitator podcast. She loves to shake up expectations and create unpredictable experiences.
Leanne has facilitated leadership, onboarding and team-building workshops across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Mongolia and believes in a strengths-centred approach to learning and development.  She has over 13 years’ of experience across a range of industries including mining, government and tourism sectors.
In 2018, she was a finalist in the Australian Learning Impact awards for Learning Professional of the Year.

Like this show?

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Episode 89: Designing workshops that work with Myriam Hadnes

I’d love you to meet my (nearly) facilitation twin, Dr Myriam Hadnes. Although we have completely different career backgrounds, we are driven by the same thing. Myriam is based in Amsterdam and she also hosts a show about workshops!

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. I'd love you to meet my (nearly) facilitation twin, Dr Myriam Hadnes. Although we have completely different career backgrounds, we are driven by the same thing. Myriam is based in Amsterdam and she also hosts a show about workshops!

I’d love you to meet my (nearly) facilitation twin, Dr Myriam Hadnes. Although we have completely different career backgrounds, we are driven by the same thing. Myriam is based in Amsterdam and she also hosts a show about workshops!

On this episode, we talk through her career pivots and how she discovered that she didn’t fit into the corporate HR box, which led her into starting her own business. Myriam shares some great questions she uses during her workshops and how behavioural economics helps her design workshops that work. If you lready have the agenda of your workshop or meeting ready but seek a critical eye and sparring partner to make sure that it is bulletproof, Myriam can help you!

About today’s guest: Dr Myriam Hadnes

Myriam’s background and PhD in behavioural economics has helped her to understand what it is that gets in our way. And she has developed a toolbox to remove these obstacles through micro-interventions.

The time she has spent both living and working in Europe, Asia and Africa has taught her  that most of the challenges we face are self-made and independent of our cultural, social and disciplinary backgrounds. When she listens to her clients and their teams, she sees the human side and their commonalities.

She also hosts the podcast "workshops work", designs and facilitates workshops and host live mastermind events for expert facilitators.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Remember if you want to continue the conversation when the podcast is over, you can join our community of over 310 facilitators from all over the world on our free Facebook group, The Flipchart.  

Like this show?

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

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Episode 88: Facilitating (and maximising) an authentic customer experience with Tom Scantlebury

Our guest today has an amazing perspective on how to help businesses succeed, by creating authentic and exceptional customer experiences. His name is Tom Scantlebury and he’s the founder of Sky Blue Customer Experiences Services. Tom is based down the Gold Coast, Australia.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Our guest today has an amazing perspective on how to help businesses succeed, by creating authentic and exceptional customer experiences. His name is Tom Scantlebury and he's the founder of Sky Blue Customer Experiences Services. Tom is based down the Gold Coast, Australia.

Our guest today has an amazing perspective on how to help businesses succeed, by creating authentic and exceptional customer experiences.

His name is Tom Scantlebury and he’s the founder of Sky Blue Customer Experiences Services. Tom is based down the Gold Coast, Australia.

In this conversation, you’ll learn the parallels between Customer Experience (CX) and workshop facilitation. There are many similarities between the work Tom does in helping his clients deliver exceptional experiences, and the work that we do as facilitators,every day, in our drive to create exceptional experiences for our workshop participants.

About today’s guest: Tom Scantlebury

As a hotelier for 20 years, Tom cut his teeth in the industry that invented customer service. As the digital age emerged and gave rise to the voice of the customer, Tom pivoted into the newly formed field of customer experience (CX) management. He founded his customer experience consulting business, Sky Blue, in 2016. They help their clients understand and improve the impact they make with their customers and employees, and in doing so, deliver profitable and purposeful business outcomes.

Tom has successfully implemented and managed numerous domestic and international CX programs across multiple sectors. He has chaired CX expert forums, and has appeared as a Keynote Speaker and thought leader in front of Australia’s biggest brands.

Tom is a self-confessed fan of authentic experiences and businesses that are committed to delivering them. He also seeks out great experiences in his leisure time and is a massive surfing and snowboarding nut who loves nothing more than sharing a wave with his children (he's working on having all three of them share the same wave with him).

Resources mentioned in this show:

The Flipchart

Continue the conversation when the podcast is over and join our community of over 300 facilitators from all over the world on the Facebook group, called The Flipchart.

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Episode 87: Seriously playing with LEGO with Joel Birch

Have you heard about LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®? I, as I’m sure many of you did too, grew up playing with LEGO and used it to craft all sorts of things, from space-ships, to holiday resort.

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Have you heard about LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®? I, as I'm sure many of you did too, grew up playing with LEGO and used it to craft all sorts of things, from space-ships, to holiday resort.

Have you heard about LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®? I, as I’m sure many of you did too, grew up playing with LEGO and used it to craft all sorts of things, from space-ships, to holiday resort.

I was seeing quite a few people on LinkedIn share their photos of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® sessions and I was curious about finding out more, so I invited on my guest this week, a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator to talk through what it is, and how it applies to a wide range of mediums, topics and types of workshops. You can use it for team workshops, innovation sessions, strategy days, community engagement, customer research, change management and even for job interviews!

The LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology is an innovative process designed to enhance innovation and business performance. Based on research which shows that this kind of hands-on, minds-on learning produces a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the world and its possibilities, the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methodology deepens the reflection process and supports an effective dialogue – for everyone in the organization.

About our Guest: Joel Birch

Joel is the founder of The Very Serious Business Co.  He’s based in Perth, Western Australia and creates opportunities to learn - simple as that. Learning for young and old, for individuals or teams.

Joel says that learning helps us to ever evolve who we are as people, as groups, as organisations, as communities, and as societies, and he loves being involved in that.

In the past he has worked as a coach, mentor and facilitator, helped guide schools through digital transformation initiatives, and taught classrooms full of hilarious kids. He’s also the founder of Firebird Learning, using his experience as a professional learning facilitator and an educator to create playful, engaging learning experiences for teams and individuals of all ages.

He loves LEGO and his passion for learning shines through on this episode!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Want to continue the conversation when the show is over?

Join the community of over 300 facilitators around the world, on the free Facebook group called The Flipchart.

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!

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