workshops work

021 - How to use Liberating Structures to translate the purpose into a process - with Max Brouwer


Listen Later

In this episode, I talk to Max Brouwer, a change-agent, scrum master and facilitator who also runs a solo consulting business max.co. The core of our conversation is the method of “Liberating Structures” and we dig deep into different exercises (so-called “structures”) and how to effectively apply them in different contexts. We also talk about the role of managers as “facilitating leaders” and how to avoid the “leadership bias” when a senior manager joins a workshop. 

I was particularly curious to learn about Max’ experience of organizing Meet-up events that bring together groups of unrelated people to learn and experience “Liberating Structures”. Amongst others, I learned from Max a nice add-on to my favourite “premortem” exercise: After a brainstorm on how to fail a goal, he asks participants to highlight those items that they are already doing and challenges them on how to stop doing that. 

Don’t miss the part when Max shares how he dealt with the situation when a manager started co-facilitating the workshop and questioned the process. And don’t miss our heartful laughs throughout the show (which I decided not to delete just for the fun of it).

Click here to download the free 1-page summary

Don’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

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.


Questions and Answers

[1:36] If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

[2:26] What is a change agent?

[3:43] Can you learn to be a change agent and how do you become one?

[6:23] What have you learned from being a consultant about facilitation?

[9:09] Must the CEO be present in the workshop? 

[11:10] Can you briefly explain the concept of “Liberating Structures”?

[14:49] Do you usually co-facilitate workshops with other practitioners of “Liberating Structures” (Liberating Structuralists??)

[20:05] Can you share the story about the manager who started co-facilitating? 

[25:33] Can managers become “facilitating leaders”? 

[28:03] Do you think we can create a “kitchen table” atmosphere at work?

[31:00] How do you adjust your string to different topics of a “Liberating Structures” Meet-up?

[34:08] Often I came across the method of ‘min specs’ – can you explain to me what this means?

[35:50] Which list is usually longer – the list of the dos or of the don’ts? 

[40:28] How you design a Meet-up workshop for which you most often don’t know the group of participants?

[45:53] What makes a workshop fail?

[47:08] What shall the audience remember from our conversation?

Links to books and exercises we discussed:

  • Lean Coffee (Meeting format)
  • Impromptu Networking (Exercise)

Share your thoughts about our conversation!

Support 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!

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

workshops workBy Dr Myriam Hadnes

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

9 ratings


More shows like workshops work

View all
Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

Coaching for Leaders

1,459 Listeners

The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes

The School of Greatness

21,278 Listeners

Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields / Acast

Good Life Project

3,267 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,513 Listeners

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

2,437 Listeners

Eat Sleep Work Repeat - better workplace culture by brucedaisley.com

Eat Sleep Work Repeat - better workplace culture

302 Listeners

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

6,978 Listeners

On Purpose with Jay Shetty by iHeartPodcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

26,933 Listeners

Facilitation Lab Podcast by Douglas Ferguson

Facilitation Lab Podcast

8 Listeners

A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

A Bit of Optimism

2,188 Listeners

ReThinking by TED

ReThinking

610 Listeners

A Slight Change of Plans by Pushkin Industries

A Slight Change of Plans

2,057 Listeners

Facilitating on Purpose by Beth Cougler Blom

Facilitating on Purpose

0 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,424 Listeners

There is a Workshop for that! | The greatest Podcast about Facilitation by Nathy Ravez - La Workshoppeuse

There is a Workshop for that! | The greatest Podcast about Facilitation

3 Listeners