Leanne Hughes, First Time Facilitator – InnovaBuzz 190
Leanne Hughes, First Time Facilitator
In this episode, I’m really excited to have on the InnovaBuzz podcast as my guest, Leanne Hughes, Podcaster, Facilitator and MC, and Host of The First Time Facilitator podcast.
Leanne has worked across industries including mining, tourism, and vocational education and training, presenting leadership and development programs, onboarding initiatives and presentation skills workshops. In her podcast, Leanne reveals all of her group facilitation, training and workshop tips, and tricks so you can be ahead of the curve the next time you step out in front of a group.
In our discussion, Leanne talked to me about
- Being focused on workshop outcomes – keeping them close but not too close
- Managing energy – keeping it high, but at the same time providing contrast
- Why it’s important to think always about the learner (audience)
Sean D’ Souza on episode 179 introduced us to Leanne.
Listen to the podcast to find out more.
Listen to the Podcast
The best and most compelling facilitators and speakers are the ones who can tell stories really well. @LeanneHughes on #InnovaBuzz podcast Click To TweetShow Notes from this episode with Leanne Hughes, host of the First Time Facilitator Podcast
Key points and take-aways from this episode include:
- Facilitation is about being flexible. It is about having your outcomes close but not too close. It is all about being prepared for any amount of different situations and feedback that you might get and being able to wave what people are telling you in your workshop so that you can create a theme through the day and create energy contrast. It is not just speaking. It is through your design of activities, the way you open up, and the way you ask questions and listen. It is three dimensional.
- Ideation is linking things that are sort of random, together in a way that makes sense.
- When you are running a workshop, always think of the learner.
- Remote teams should be treated in the same way as you treat people who are in your office but you have to make extra efforts. Be extra thoughtful but treat them in the same way as you treat any other one of your employees.
- Stories are very powerful and often underutilized. The best and most compelling facilitators and speakers are the ones who can tell stories really well.
- The more powerful side of facilitation is listening to the stories of the participants in the room and giving them the opportunity to share their stories.
- Your role as facilitator is using what you are hearing from the audience and linking that back to the content and outcome you want to drive.
- Some activities that can help you elicit stories from your audience:
- Name Activity – introduce yourself and talk about your name (where it originated from, why you were given that name, what does your name mean to you, etc.) Talking about your name can reveal so much about what you value.
- SIFT Exercise – Stuff-Ups, Insights, Firsts, and Transformations
- Using questions and giving it a bit of context and structure is a great way to elicit stories.
- The art of segueing is extremely important in facilitation.
- You have to develop a safe way for people to feel that that it’s OK to let their ego down and talk about it.
- Facilitation is unpredictable. You’re not just there to give a speech. You have to really listen to what is going on in the room and constantly think ahead.
- If you want to start a podcast, you should pick a topic that you want to learn more about.
The Buzz – Our Innovation Round
Here are Leanne’s answers to the questions of our Innovation round. Listen to the interview to get the full scoop.
- #1 thing to be more innovative – Step back and think. Observe what is going on around you and think of how it links to what you are doing.
- Best thing for new ideas – Helping other people develop their own. Ask questions.
- Favourite tool for innovation – Morning routine – running. Notepad and pen.
- Keep project / client on track – Asana
- Differentiate – Reflect back on your experiences and do not take them for granted. Bringing all of those pieces together is what creates uniqueness.
To Be a Leader
Encourage a facilitative conversation with everyone in your team and organisation. The best innovations come from the ground up. The best way to drive innovation is to create an environment and culture where it’s OK to speak up.
Reach Out
You can reach out and thank Leanne through her website, Instagram and on LinkedIn.
Suggested Guest
Leanne suggested I interview Dr. Annette Koy and Cameron Fee of the Coretex Group. So Annette and Cameron, keep an eye on your inbox for an invitation from us to the InnovaBuzz podcast, courtesy of Leanne Hughes.
Links
- Website – Leanne Hughes
- First Time Facilitator Podcast
- Twitter – @LeanneHughes
- Wicked Campers
- Nearpod
- PromptSmart
- TED Talk – How to Speak So That People Want to Listen
Books
- The Story Cookbook by Cathryn Lloyd Andrew Rixon
- 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson
Cool things about Leanne
- She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management, Psychology, and Human Resources.
- She played netball for the University of Queensland Netball Team and internationally for Papua New Guinea.
- She’s a finalist of the Australian Learning Professional of the Year awards.