Great facilitators aren’t always subject matter experts. In fact, they may know very little about the workshop’s topic. A successful facilitator acts in service of others and knows when to lead from the back, as well as from the front.

Jay Melone believes that being a great facilitator requires a unique mindset. He stresses that to be a good facilitator, you must practice curiosity, patience and leave your concerns about being the expert behind. After meeting Jay earlier this year, I couldn’t wait to talk to him about his approach to facilitating, both as an expert in the field and as a “shy extrovert”.

Jay is the Founder and Principal Facilitator at New Haircut, an innovation strategy firm. He shared many thoughtful insights into a facilitator’s role and how you can effectively lead a group, even if you’re not comfortable being the centre of attention. I hope this episode inspires you to step outside of your comfort zone and facilitate with confidence