workshops work
Welcome to “workshops work,” the podcast that transforms how professionals engage, inspire, and lead groups. Ranked among the top 5% most popular podcasts globally, it is hosted by Dr Myriam Hadnes, a behavioural economist and facilitation expert. Each episode delves into the techniques and mindsets that make workshops truly impactful.
Join us every week as we sit down with world-renowned facilitators and uncover their secrets to creating psychological safety, fostering collaboration, and sparking innovation. Whether you’re a Facilitator, L&D professional, HR leader, manager, coach or trainer, you’ll find practical tips, inspiring stories, and actionable insights to elevate your group dynamics.
From navigating conflict to unlocking creativity, “workshops work” blends theory with practice, ensuring you walk away with tools you can immediately apply. Dr Myriam Hadnes doesn’t just interview; she facilitates enriching conversations that shift perspectives and deepen understanding.
Subscribe now to change the world, one workshop at a time.
workshops work
016: Why every facilitator should take improvisation theatre classes - with Tamar Broadbent
In this episode, I talk to Tamar Broadbent, a comedian, writer, improviser, award-winning musical songwriter, and: my first improvisation theatre teacher! In our super fun talk, we speak about improvisation theatre and what facilitators can learn from improvisers. I claim that every facilitator who is serious about getting to the next level should take improv classes! In the show, Tamar shares the ground rules of improv and how they apply to live off-stage, we talk about listening, connection, and creating safe space through authentic positivity. Don’t miss the part when Tamar shares her experience working with teams in a business setting and how she prepares for these. Along our conversation, we draw analogies between on- and off-stage scenarios that will surely inspire you to design a new setting for fun workshops that work by delivering results.
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Questions and Answers
[1:33] Let’s start with your story. Where did you pick up all of these skills?
[3:21] As not everyone in the audience might be familiar with improv and long-form Chicago style. Can you give us the nutshell of what all of that means?
[5:17] Can you share with us the ground rules of improv and why they are so important?
[7:45] What makes a good scene partner in terms of shared responsibility?
[11:41] What did you learn for off-stage life? Do you still ask people how they are doing?
[13:13] Has improv helped you to become a better listener off-stage?
[17:33] Can you explain how we can say “no” in an improv scene without compromising on the rule of “yes and”?
[25:02] How important is authenticity for you as an improviser on stage? Can you be authentic or is it just a role you play?
[27:19] Playing improv is extremely vulnerable in the beginning, as a teacher, how do you create a safe space for your students?
[36:02] What’s your favourite game/ ice-breaker?
[38:05] When you do workshops with business teams where participants might not have signed up for improv voluntarily, how do you get them to “warm up”?
[41:47] Your classes were always incredibly structured. What was your approach to link the exercises to the general topic and goal of the class?
[46:03] What makes a workshop fail?
[47:50] What transformation do you observe in students who enrol in your improv course?
Related links you may want to check out:
Tamar’s website: https://www.mynameistamar.com
Our sponsor Session Lab (affiliate link)
Connect to Tamar:
On LinkedIn
Follow Tamar: @tamarbroadbent
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You can now find the podcast on Substack, where your host Dr. Myriam Hadnes is building a club for you to find fellow listeners and peers: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/
