I loved this conversation with my former WA colleague, Sherell Whitney—facilitator, inventor, and founder of Lift Performance Solutions. Sherell has hopped across industries (law, tourism, health, consulting) and brings that breadth to the room. We dig into how to create a genuinely safe training environment fast, why those first three minutes matter so much, what to pack in your “Mary Poppins” facilitation bag, and how to respond when tricky behaviors show up. We also explore team roles (Belbin), the courage to create, and how failure can become an asset.

My takeaways

• Trust is won in the first three minutes. Be yourself, name the purpose/outcomes, and—if needed—name the elephant in the room.
• “The wisdom is in the room.” Ask more than you tell; you’re there to facilitate, not to impress.
• Ground rules are gold. Co-create them early so you can call them in (not people out) when energy dips or disruptions pop.
• Pack like Mary Poppins. Extra icebreakers/energizers, paper, pens, Blu Tack, and a beach ball with prompt questions—be ready to flex.
• Design for time. Know your run sheet and stay adaptable.
• Use strengths smartly. Belbin reveals how people behave in teams (complements tools like MBTI/DISC).
• Failure ≠ finale. Treat it as paid-for learning you can reuse.

Mentioned

• Belbin Team Roles, DISC, MBTI
• Books:
• The Other F Word — John Danner & Mark Coopersmith
• Smart Leaders, Smart Teams — Roger Schwarz
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team — Patrick Lencioni
• The Art of Facilitation and The Zen of Groups — Dale Hunter

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