workshops work
Welcome to “workshops work,” the podcast that transforms how professionals engage, inspire, and lead groups. Hosted by Dr Myriam Hadnes, a behavioural economist and facilitation evangelist, each episode dives into facilitation techniques and mindsets that make workshops successful.
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.
Let’s democratise facilitation, one workshop at a time.
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Visit https://workshops.work/podcast for a free 1-page summary of each episode.
workshops work
065 - How to stay on track while going off script with Rebecca Sutherns
A workshop that goes exactly to plan is a workshop that exists in our dreams.
The unexpected isn’t something we should be afraid of – fantastic ideas and outcomes can come from the moments we don’t see coming (and can never plan for) – but being prepared to adjust to the whim of the room is a vital skill for effective facilitation.
But what do we need to learn – and unlearn – if we want to become adaptive, Nimble Facilitators?
Rebecca Sutherns is the author of Nimble: A Coaching Guide for Responsive Facilitation and she joins me in this episode of workshops work to share the secrets of holding onto our plans a little more loosely.
Find out about:
• Why being Nimble is proving to be just as essential in virtual spaces as it is in on-site settings
• What the sweet spot of preparation looks like and how to find yours
• Why inner work is the foundation of growth, change, and progress
• How to balance the needs and requirements of your client, your group, and yourself
• How to strengthen your decision-making muscles
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Feeling inspired by the conversation in this episode? We can have our own - take a seat at my virtual table as part of a Mastermind Group.
A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!
Questions and Answers
[01:11] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?
[05:43] What is the story behind Nimble Facilitation and why did you write this book?
[07:51] What is the core skill for Nimble Facilitation?
[13:55] How do you manage clients who require a lot of detail and structure?
[19:55] How do you close sessions to synchronise everyone’s takeaways?
[25:34] Have you found it is harder to be Nimble in virtual workshops?
[31:40] How will what we’ve learned from virtual workshops influence our future on-site workshops?
[41:02] What makes a workshop fail, and is the answer different for virtual workshops?
[47:14] What’s your favourite exercise?
[49:55] Is there anything you wanted to mention that we haven’t touched upon yet?
[55:36] What is the one thing you want listeners to take away from this show?
Links
· Nimble: A Coaching Guide for Responsive Facilitation
· Collaborative Planning to Make Wiser Decisions Faster (Video)
Connect to Rebecca
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If you're keen to master the art of facilitation, discover our expert-led live, online Facilitation Courses at the NDB Academy.
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