First Time Facilitator FTF226: Stamp Out Boring Workshops with Leanne Hughes and Prina Shah
Welcome to a podcast swap! I was a guest on the delightful Prina Shah's podcast, Ways to Change the Workplace recently, and the episode had such wonderful reviews/feedback, I thought I'd bring it onto this feed!
- What are some common mistakes that workshop facilitators make that lead to boring workshops?
- How can workshop facilitators create a safe and inclusive environment where all participants feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions?
- What are some creative approaches to workshop design that can help break up the monotony of traditional lecture-style presentations?
About today’s episode:
Today I chat with my friend Leanne Hughes all the way in Brisbane, Queensland. Leanne is a thought-provoking entrepreneur with an upcoming book called the 2 Hour Workshop Blueprint and it is great – I have been an early reader and have user-tested it myself in the workshops that I deliver!
I speak with Leanne about: How to Stamp out Boring Workshops!
Watch the youtube version here: https://youtu.be/HTkZi8Uw7dQ
Leanne talks about her years of experience as a facilitator and what she has learnt from that, we cover:
- Common mistakes that workshop facilitators make that lead to boring workshops.
- How important it is to engage workshop participants from the outset, and some effective ways to do so.
- The role technology plays in creating more dynamic and engaging workshops.
- I ask how important is it to have a clear purpose and desired outcome for a workshop, and how can facilitators ensure that participants are aligned with these goals?
- We discuss ways to keep energy levels high throughout the workshop, particularly during long sessions.
- How workshop facilitators can create a safe and inclusive environment where all participants feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions.
- Some creative approaches to workshop design that can help break up the monotony of traditional lecture-style presentations.
- Some common myths about what makes a workshop successful, and how we can dispel them to create more effective learning experiences.
- And listen in to Leanne’s answer to my question: if you had a magic wand, what is one way you would change the workplace?
About today’s guest: Leanne Hughes is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator, maximising team potential by creating influential, contagious work experiences that scale across teams, functions, and regions.
As a workshop designer and facilitator, she combines her experience in Marketing with her education (and obsession) with Group Dynamics and Psychology, to help leaders create engaging experiences.
Leanne has distilled her knowledge and experience into The First Time Facilitator podcast, and now, a book ‘The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint’.
Resources and links
- Grab the book The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint: Design Fast. Deliver Strong. Without Stress: https://2hourwork.shop
- Website: https://www.leannehughes.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannehughes/
Every day in 2025, Leanne is podcasting on her new show, Leanne on Demand.
Tune in over here!
(Otherwise, enjoy the back catalogue of First Time Facilitator episodes).