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Facilitators want to inspire, motivate, and cultivate change and growth. However, facilitators cannot see into the future. No matter how hard we try, we cannot predict what will happen to the seed we planted. Whether the seed blossoms into a beautiful plant or withers away depends on so much more than the facilitator. 

While facilitators cannot guarantee a good crop, we can provide intention, care, and thoughtful leadership. A facilitator who understands how to do all three things (and so much more) is Lee Kim, the Co-Founder of Design Dream Lab and Design Thinking Facilitator at Cornell University.

Lee is driven and passionate about human-centred problem-solving. Through the Design Dream Lab, Lee helps others foster empathy, overcome challenges, explore new opportunities, and fulfil their wildest dreams. I was so happy to have Lee join me as a guest on this episode of workshops work, where we talked about why facilitation is like gardening – if you don’t nurture the garden and the outcomes of a workshop, the results will wither and fade.

Find out about:

• How facilitation is like gardening
• Why facilitators must be both humble and confident at the right times
• How conversations foster human connection
• A fun exercise to help participants connect and explore their inner desires
• Why facilitators should never be arrogant
• The importance of being intentional when pursuing success from a workshop
• Why successful workshops always lead to a transformation
• Why facilitators must be great leaders
• How to encourage a team to get to know each other

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Questions and Answers

[00:15] – When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[01:56] – What is the difference between a coach and a facilitator?

[03:48] – What makes a successful experience or journey?

[05:35] – How can we measure the success if we’re not part of the aftermath of a workshop?

[21:33] – What are the shortcomings of design thinking?

[23:39] - Some clients have a solution already, and they are just looking for confirmation. Isn't this the red flag for a facilitator?

[29:53] - What is the role of soil in the ‘facilitation is like gardening’ metaphor?

[36:30] - What have you learned from facilitation about gardening?

[39:09] – Do you build stories into the design of your workshop?

[50:45] – What makes a workshop fail?

[51:38] – What is the main take away from our conversation?

Links

• Design Dream Lab
• Visual Explorer
• Digital Visual Explorer
• NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Festival and Community

Connect to Lee Kim

• Lee’s LinkedIn

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You can now find the podcast on Substack, where your host Dr. Myriam Hadnes is building a club for you to find fellow listeners and peers: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/