Most people start planning a workshop by dropping activities onto a board. An icebreaker here, a brainstorm there, a How Might We and some dot-voting to tidy things up. Two hours, looks solid. The problem is, you've just picked the words before you know what you want to say.

In this episode, I'm talking about the step that sits between your intent and your agenda — the one most facilitators skip entirely. Critical questions are the scaffolding that holds your activities in place, and without them, you're building on hope rather than structure. I'll walk you through the five steps I use to find, test, and sequence them so that by the time you're thinking about activities, every single one has a job to do.

If you've ever stood in front of a room wondering whether the pieces are actually going to connect, this one's for you.

In this episode:

- Why choosing activities first gives you an agenda with very weak foundations

- How to find the questions that only your collaborators can answer

- Why not every question belongs in the room — and how to figure out which ones do

- How to stress-test your questions against the people you've invited

- Why the right sequence isn't always the tidy one

Links and resources mentioned:

Issue #9 — The road to a valuable workshop

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Should we be living in a dotocracy?

Everyone uses dot-voting. It's fast, it feels democratic, and it gives a room full of people a satisfying sense of progress. The problem is that most of the time, it's being asked to do something it was never designed for.

In this episode I'm talking about the difference between narrowing a list and making a decision — and why confusing the two is one of the most common ways workshops quietly go wrong. I'll cover why dot-voting without criteria is just a popularity contest, why the dots are contagious, and why not everyone's vote is equal — and why that's absolutely fine.

If you've ever watched a cluster form on a wall of post-its and wondered whether anything actually got decided, this one's for you.

In this episode:

• Why groups surface options but individuals make decisions

• Yhree ways dot-voting goes wrong

• How to set it up so it actually means something

• When to put the dots away entirely

Links and resources mentioned:

Issue #8 — Drive good decision-making with criteria

Read the full article

Find out more about facilitation coaching

In this episode, we dive into the essentials for running successful in-person workshops. From packing the ultimate kit—including agendas, print materials, Sharpies, and super sticky Post-its—to setting up the perfect environment and managing logistics, this issue has got you covered.

Learn the tricks to handle tech failures, plan ahead, and keep your workshop running smoothly. Plus, get tips on efficient time management and prepping your space for an engaging, collaborative session.

00:00 Introduction and Recap

00:23 Preparing for In-Person Workshops

00:49 Essential Workshop Kit

06:45 Additional Important Items

11:25 The Process Checklist

13:51 Final Preparations and Execution

15:22 Post-Workshop Follow-Up

15:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mastering Remote Workshops: An Essential Toolkit & Checklist

Join me for this jam-packed episode where we dive into the essentials of running a remote workshop; get a sneak peek into an expert’s desk setup designed to boost workshop delivery, from must-have gadgets to delightful extras. You'll also find a step-by-step checklist for a stress-free preparation, ensuring your tech and participants are ready to rock. Plus, learn about the tools to keep sessions dynamic and engaging. For those ready to up their game, explore an exciting course on crafting impeccable workshop agendas.

Let's make remote facilitation fun and effective!

00:00 Issue 17: Your remote workshop checklist.

00:13 Introduction to Remote Workshop Facilitation

01:09 Essential Tools for Remote Workshops

05:05 Advanced Gadgets for Enhanced Facilitation

07:20 Pre-Workshop Planning and Preparation

12:21 Post-Workshop Follow-Up and Feedback

13:10 Conclusion and Further Learning Opportunities

Remote, In-Person, or Hybrid: Choosing the Right Format for Your Workshop

In this issue, we dive into the pros and cons of delivering workshops in different formats: in-person, remote, and hybrid. You'll learn about the key benefits of each, such as building relationships and managing environments in-person, achieving global reach and pre/post engagement in remote sessions, and the complex yet rewarding hybrid setup. We highlight ideal scenarios for each type to help you make a deliberate choice for your next workshop

00:13 Introduction: Choosing Your Workshop Format 00:47 In-Person Workshops 05:30 Remote Workshops 11:25 Hybrid Workshops 15:19 Summary and Conclusion

#15 - The Art of the Presentation pt 2: Slides, Structure, and Strategy

In this episode from the Facilitation Studio, we jump into presentation slides and structure. Learn about the effective use of slides, keeping presentations concise, and prepping like a pro. Plus, get top tips on slide design and pacing, explore the intense PechaKucha method, and discover why practice is your best friend.

00:00 Introduction to the Art of Presentation

00:22 Upcoming Online Course Announcement (survey link - https://maven.com/forms/1a1043)

01:00 Effective Use of Slides

02:54 Guidelines for Preparation and Presentation

07:13 Practice Makes Perfect

10:41 Encouraging Audience Engagement

11:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, we're diving into the essentials of presenting your own work effectively. Learn why you should be the one presenting your ideas, how to understand and engage with your audience, and tips for giving a captivating presentation. We emphasize the importance of being present, using your voice and body language, and pacing your delivery. Get ready to elevate your presentation game and stay tuned for part two, where we'll tackle using slides, structuring your presentation, and more!

00:00 Introduction to Presentation Skills

01:05 Importance of Presenting Your Own Work

02:13 Understanding Your Audience

03:32 Engaging Presentation Techniques

05:22 Conclusion and Next Steps

I don’t understand what you want from me.

Have you ever sat in a room full of people who are busily working away and felt like you’re outside the loop? Like you missed the memo and don’t know what’s going on? It’s disenfranchising and disengaging. People in this situation often draw into themselves and go silent, or they take control of events and turn them into something they do understand, which can pull everything off track for you.

Here are five (and a bit) ways you can avoid falling into this trap.

We all share a fear of the "difficult" collaborator. In this mini-series of three issues, we'll cover the top three reasons a collaborator might not play ball.

You know that awkward pause when you open the floor for discussion? The one where everyone looks at you blankly, and you’re not sure if you’ve made a horrible error, you’ve totally misunderstood something fundamental, or perhaps you aren’t actually speaking the same language as your collaborators. Today we’re going to talk about how to avoid that moment.