065: Nimble Facilitation: How to stay on track while going off script with Rebecca Sutherns
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Intro
A workshop that goes exactly to plan is a workshop that exists in our dreams.
The unexpected isn’t something we should be afraid of – fantastic ideas and outcomes can come from the moments we don’t see coming (and can never plan for) – but being prepared to adjust to the whim of the room is a vital skill for effective facilitation.
But what do we need to learn – and unlearn – if we want to become adaptive, Nimble Facilitators?
Rebecca Sutherns is the author of Nimble: A Coaching Guide for Responsive Facilitation and she joins me in this episode of workshops work to share the secrets of holding onto our plans a little more loosely.
Find out about
Why being Nimble is proving to be just as essential in virtual spaces as it is in on-site settings
What the sweet spot of preparation looks like and how to find yours
Why inner work is the foundation of growth, change, and progress
How to balance the needs and requirements of your client, your group, and yourself
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.
A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!
Questions and Answers
01:11When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?
05:43What is the story behind Nimble Facilitation and why did you write this book?
07:51What is the core skill for Nimble Facilitation?
13:55How do you manage clients who require a lot of detail and structure?
19:55How do you close sessions to synchronise everyone’s takeaways?
25:34Have you found it is harder to be Nimble in virtual workshops?
31:40How will what we’ve learned from virtual workshops influence our future on-site workshops?
41:02What makes a workshop fail, and is the answer different for virtual workshops?
47:14What’s your favourite exercise?
49:55Is there anything you wanted to mention that we haven’t touched upon yet?
55:36What is the one thing you want listeners to take away from this show?