Nothing happens between childhood and adulthood that means we can no longer learn and grow through play, but for some reason we stop using this powerful tool once we get serious and put on blazers and heels.Viren Thakrar is leading the charge to change this for good, bringing games and fun into team development settings to help participants connect, collaborate, and have some good old fashioned fun.He’s had more than a little success with his approach and is kind enough to share some of the most impactful learnings so far in this episode. It’s unmissable for anyone interested in new ways of learning, positive motivation, and self-directed growth.Find out about:Getting granular about what makes a game a gameUnderstanding and using gameplay loops to make stickier activitiesWhy games are the ultimate sandbox for behavioural changeHow to avoid the death knell of being labelled as ‘forced fun’Why games are so effective at getting us into a flow stateWhy Viren recommends facilitators come from within an organisationHow to strike a balance between purposeful fun and distractionDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Viren’s simple, effective, and free In the Game scorecardConnect to Viren:On LinkedInSupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!

Does pricing make you prickle with anxiety? Imagine what it would be like to feel confident and calm about valuing your services… and now meet Jenny Millar, who can make that imagination a reality.Learn all about positioning, discounting, strategy, and communication in the context of pricing in this standout episodeJenny’s expertise in pricing will be invaluable to any facilitator or coach, as service businesses are notoriously difficult to price. And, as the founder of Untapped Pricing—a highly regarded pricing strategy consultancy—her advice is certainly of the highest value.Enjoy a free taster of her expertise in this episode!Find out about:Strategies for pricing coaching and facilitation servicesThe relationship between pricing, and positioning and how to get confident with bothJenny’s three rules for discounting and how to discount without devaluing yourselfWhat communication has to do with pricing and why it can make or break your choiceThe three facets to consider to determine what your services are ‘worth’How tiered, rather than bespoke or binary, pricing makes life easier for you and your prospectsDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Bitesize pricing tactics - a collection of 2min videos.Downloadable PDF guides - to take you through the fundamentals of pricing strategy that works for your customers and for you.Untapped’s Pricing Scorecard - our free tool to evaluate the health of your pricing in minutes. Learn how to improve it with a personalised 22-page report.Connect to Jenny:On LinkedInBook a call with JennySupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!

Things—found objects, ephemera from the discarded world, are everywhere. A marble, a spoon, a coil of string. They’re forgettable and ignorable and they’re the magic ingredient that makes Jules Gilleland’s workshops work.Jules developed Things as a problem-solving tool, informed by design thinking, to help people connect the dots and capture their problems in a physical form. It’s a context-neutral learning through play, a way to tap into ourselves when we can’t rely on language, and a means of overcoming the challenges that refuse to budge.Learn all about Things, Jules’ story, and how a bit more visual thinking can make your workshops work even better. Find out about:What Jules’ Things are and why they can be so magical in workshop settingsHow the four principles of Collect, Connect, Capture and Communicate appear in Thinking with ThingsWhy participants behaving like children is not such a bad situationHow to get out of your head and improve your hosting by focusing on engaged participantsHow to turn a disparate pile of found objects into a problem-solving powerhouseWhy Jules prioritises a remarkable ending to her workshopsDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Think With Things websiteConnect to Jules:On LinkedInOn InstagramOn FacebookSupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!

The latest milestone for the workshops work podcast—200 episodes! 200!To celebrate the occasion, I’ve produced a special episode. Instead of speaking to a guest, I spoke to you.And what better way to source my inspiration for episode 200 than to turn to the community that has grown and flourished around the show? I turned to my community to gather their questions—big and small, serious and silly—about the podcast, what I’ve learned, and my thoughts on facilitation at large.Michelle Howard, previous guest on the show, asked the questions on your behalf.  Find out about:My own misconceptions about facilitation that the podcast has revealed over timeWhat I would say, if I could travel back in time, to the Myriam who was about to record episode oneWhy I’m always, at least partly, pursuing constructive ignorance in my interviewsHow my focus has shifted from what my guests ‘do’ and where it rests nowWhat has changed in my professional facilitate practice since hosting the showLessons and points of interest from building the NDB communityBig thanks to Patrick Cowden, Yvonne Chin Irving,  Lily Gros, Mirjam Leunissen, Vitalij Malahov, Zoha Sharifyazdi and Dov Tsal for contributing questions! Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksLearn more about NeverDoneBeforeVisit the new podcast mapConnect to Myriam:On LinkedInSupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!

In May 2022, an academic research paper titled “Virtual communication curbs creative idea generation” was published in Nature (one of the most prestigious scientific publishers). They tested how the transition from in-person to online interaction affected innovation (measured by collective idea generation) and concluded that video calls were bad for brainstorming.The media derived: “Zoom is a creativity killer.”But, as (online) facilitators, we have first-hand experience with remote teams’ creativity and effective collaboration. But, we haven’t had hard evidence proving the study wrong.My guests on today’s bonus episode, Elise Keith (CEO of Lucid Meetings, Author and Meeting Innovator) and Dave Mastronardi (CEO of the Gamestorming Group) have the ambition to test the hypothesis that online work killed creativity through a global mega experiment. As they kick off the project with a Symposium, Elise and Dave joined me to share their vision, drivers and open questions.Listen to this episode to find out about:The definition of creativity and how to measure itHow the project came to beThe bigger vision behind the project: How online collaboration can tackle global challengesHow you can get involved in the experimentDon't miss the New Rules for Work Experiment and SymposiumVisit the New Rules for Work WebsiteAnd, don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Read the Article published in ‘Nature’Read about the studyWatch the Youtube video: Why video calls are bad for brainstormingConnect to Elise and Dave:Connect to Elise on LinkedInConnect to Dave on LinkedInSupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!

How do you create a culture of independent and empowered facilitation in a large business? Well, Rod Butcher and Nikesh Patel of Fidelity International posed me that question and, together, we came up with a radical solution.This episode explains the story of how we built Fidelity International’s Facilitation Academy.You can hear about the process we followed and the results we’ve seen, as well as how we interpreted the issues and questions that Rod and Nikesh started with.Implementing facilitation skills at scale can be a daunting thought, but it’s eminently more enticing when it’s achieved through a generative, self-sustaining cycle of talent training talent!Find out about:What the structure and process of the academy is and how it worksHow to look at a problem with a broad view, to find unexpected solutionsThe unique challenges of internal facilitation vs. external facilitationThe unexpected benefits of implementing a facilitation mindset across an organisationWhy an interdepartmental-by-default approach creates more meaningful space for changeHow framing facilitation as problem-solving generated more interestHow to create a virtuous cycle of facilitation, training, and learningDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Connect to Rod and Nikesh:Rod on LinkedInNikesh on LinkedInSupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!

“Keep it simple, stupid” is a popular refrain which might be better translated as “make it harder, stupid”!One of the most common misunderstandings Gabor Bittera encounters in his mission towards simplicity is the belief that simple = easy. Far from it, in fact. Sometimes, creating simplicity is the hardest task in a workshop.Thankfully, Gabor has done the hard miles and has advice that can save you from complicating the process of simplifying your workshops… leaving you just with the fact that it isn’t always easy!We explore what it means to facilitate simplicity, with simplicity, and for simplicity in this episode—jumping from practical advice and templates to deeper questions around purpose and effectiveness. It was a joyful conversation and I hope you will get as much from it as I did.Find out about:Why Gabor prioritises simplicity over ease — no matter how complex it can be to simplifyHow to facilitate using principles from Scrum, linguistics and storytellingWhy simple facilitation requires more of our attention and careWhich part of the workshop process Gabor believes is hardest to simplifyWhy the art of facilitation includes designing constraints and restrictionsWhat the perfect group size is for both subgroup and whole-group workHow to use specific accountability to create more impactful workshopsDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Subscribe to Gabor’s Substack — Scrum TimesRead or subscribe to Gabor’s MediumConnect to Gabor:On LinkedInSupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!

In an on-site workshops, breakout groups are a tried and tested way to get the group thinking, communicating, and developing.In online workshops, breakout rooms are a different beast.You press a button and the group disappears — you don’t know what they’re saying, whether they’re collaborating, or anything about their time together!Gwyn Wansbrough is on a mission to take the uncertainty out of breakout rooms and virtual facilitation. Her approach touches all ends of the workshop, helping you and your participants get clear on your shared purpose, rules for engagement, and much more.Gwyn provides a crash course in breaking through the burden of breakout rooms, so you can turn them into a powerful option in your facilitation toolbox!Find out about:Why your setup and warm-up will make or break the success of your breakout roomsWhat Gwyn believes to be the four biggest mistakes we make with breakout roomsHow to use the start of your workshop to prepare the group for breakoutsHow to use a set of shared agreements to generate buy-in and commitmentWhy it’s vital to remain present for the group, even if you are outside of their breakoutsThe three things participants need to feel comfortable in breakout roomsDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Check out Gwyn’s website.Gwyn’s free guide: How to Create Engaging Virtual Sessions Your Participants Will Love.Connect to Gwyn:On TwitterOn LinkedInSupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!

Facilitation is a system that gives groups space to make sense — it’s not about guiding them towards something, nor is it about leading them.But what is ‘deliberate sensemaking’ all about? To the uninitiated, it may sound a little simplistic — is it just about helping people understand stuff that they’re working on?Michael Hamman, one of the foremost voices in Agile coaching and training, explains all in this episode and reveals the complexity behind seemingly simple sense-making. We discuss the facilitator’s role as a mirror for the group, the work before the work of sensemaking, and how our incessant and instinctive need to categorise is the last great barrier to topple if we want things to make more sense.Find out about:How sensemaking and categorisation help groups make progressWhy, once we understand categorisation, we shall dismantle itHow to create deeper insight by leaving some questions unanswered Why facilitation is about being a mirror, rather than a paintingHow to design workshops that prioritise sensemakingWhat happens when we break ourselves free from the categories we’ve createdThe common theme that emerges when Michael prioritises inner beauty in his workshop designDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Centre for Inner Agility website.Connect to Michael:On LinkedInSupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!

Meg Bolger is one of a few returning guests to this show, originally featured in episode 133 (’The conversation I wish I heard when I started facilitating’).Our conversation this time was a far cry from discussing what we wished we’d heard at the start of our careers. Instead, we focused on Meg’s area of expertise after 12+ years of development and practice: facilitating diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops and processes.We stripped things back to their basics in search of universal language, juggled with contradictions, and explored the wider aims and outcomes of committing to a DEI process.I learned a great deal in this episode and I hope you will, too!Find out about:Why language is holding back progress in the DEI spaceHow to bypass buzzwords and reach a place of unity and understandingHow to facilitate DEI processesHow to consider DEI in your facilitationWhy exclusivity can sometimes be used effectively to create inclusivityWhat to do when you feel friction or dissent against the workshop’s goalsDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Meg’s wonderful Facilitator CardsEpisode 133 (Meg’s previous appearance on the show)Connect to Meg:On LinkedInOn TwitterSupport the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!