Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes 🌴 130. Don’t read the room, lead it feat. Mark Bowden (Weekend Rewind)
I'm re-sharing my second chat with the world's leading body language expert, Mark Bowden. This was originally recorded during peak Zoom-fatigue era, when facilitators (myself included) were scrambling to figure out how the heck to connect, engage, and energise through a webcam.
Why am I bringing this back now? Two reasons:
- I just quoted this episode in a webinar, and it landed hard.
- His tips STILL apply—and are more important than ever.
Here's what we cover:
- Why reading the room (especially virtually) is a waste of energy
- How to lead behaviour instead of trying to read it
- What Mark does to instantly make virtual sessions more engaging (without expensive tech)
- Why body language still matters, and how to ramp yours up on screen
- The surprising power of asking “What’s been most useful so far?”
- How to use your background and status intentionally to connect
If you’ve ever felt flat during a virtual session—or wondered how to make your facilitation feel more human—you’ll love this episode.
🎧 Enjoy the rewind. And hey, I’ll speak to you tomorrow.
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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:
- Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
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Visit my website: leannehughes.com
Email me: hello@leannehughes.com
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