As the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. And master of change Jeff Wetherhold is no stranger to this.

He helps teams and leaders to create long-lasting, sustainable change not by plans, great intentions, or illusions of control, but through the beautiful simplicity of conversation!

He joins me in the podcast chair to share his 20 years of motivational interviewing wisdom: from having the courage of your conviction, to asking open-ended questions, listening deeply, and understanding the signals that people are ready to change.

If you’re feeling fatigued from plans that keep falling flat, an hour with Jeff is everything you need to feel inspired and start leading intentional change that lasts!

Find out about:

• Why 88% of change initiatives fail in organisations – and what to do about it
• The ambivalence of change, and why facilitators can use it to their advantage
• How to plan for conversations about change
• The ingredients of motivational interviews: open questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries, and sharing information with consent

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Connect to Jeff Wetherhold:

LinkedIn

Website

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Are we all just cosplaying as leaders? Donning a mask or a costume that helps us better play the role we think we should be playing?

Helping leaders to show up with truth in a world that never stays still, is leadership psychologist and executive coach Sarah Budd. This week, she invites us to reflect upon who we are as leaders, as we examine the tensions between our authentic selves and the façades we use to cloak our wounds, to belong, and to feel safe.

From illusions of control, to leadership imitation, and why Beyoncé is an iconic example of cosplay, this is a fascinating conversation for every leader in search of deeper self-alignment.

Find out about:

• The cosplaying, archetypal leader vs the new, adaptable leader
• Why inauthentic leadership can be damaging to both the self and the team
• How to lead authentically in a world that’s complex and constantly changing
• The role of AI and professionalism in both facilitation and leadership

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Connect to Sarah Budd:

LinkedIn

Website

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Fuzzy goals, misaligned cultural values, and the allure of shiny object syndrome holds even the best entrepreneurs back. So what’s the secret to success?

David Greer’s strategic one-page plans! Coach and facilitator of strategic planning, David coaches high-performing business owners to get unstuck, rekindle the joy of their business, and get crystal-clear on their goals. Backward-engineered from the future, the plans become a comforting quarterly rhythm that keeps business owners fully focused on their dreams.

We explore his one-page plans, how to set better goals, and why David’s 16 years of sobriety is his single biggest achievement in life. A daily commitment to show up in presence and honesty, and a beautiful reminder of what’s possible when we stick to the plan!

Find out about:

• What one-page strategic plans are and why every business owner needs one
• How to set crystal-clear goals that are tangible and measurable
• The power of aligning and attracting a team on shared cultural values
• Why niching down in your facilitation field amplifies impact and attracts the right clients

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Links:

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Connect to David Greer:

LinkedIn

Website

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Bringing her childhood dream to life is Josie White, the hot air balloon pilot. From an early obsession with their magical, multi-coloured domes, to a fully-fledged pilot, Josie now flies and facilitates passengers 2000 feet up in the air over Australian soil.

But when nerves naturally start to run high in a small, floating basket, and fear manifests in a multitude of ways, reading the room to regulate passenger emotions is mission-critical to a successful flight.

Josie shares how she guides her groups with calm authority, ensuring that everyone feels safe, reassured and present, all while piloting the balloon! A special conversation with plenty of fascinating and unexpected on-the-ground facilitation learnings, from up high in the clouds.

Find out about:

• What facilitation looks like up to 4000 feat up in the air
• Why reading body language is so critical for a successful flight
• The importance of Josie regulating her emotions, to help regulate her passengers
• What facilitators can learn about the pre-flight checks, planning and preparation

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Connect to Josie White:

Instagram

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Corporate training, we all know the drill. The tonedeaf PowerPoint karaoke begins in the background, regurgitating slide content word for word, as you absentmindedly reply to an email…your mind still lingering in your last meeting.

If episode 337 can do just one thing, I hope it can save you from ever having to sit through another training session like it! After running hundreds of workshops for multinational companies, I thought it was about time I shared my secrets.

Join me, myself and I, as we explore the anatomy of engaging, co-created training sessions that not only pique curiosity, but bridge hierarchies, timezones and departments, and gets everyone out of their inbox, and back into the room. It’s time to close your tabs, stretch your bodies, and get present!

• What’s inherently wrong with corporate training – and why it’s so often a wasted opportunity
• My tips for connecting participants to the present moment, and to each other
• How to design a workshop to ensure participants retain the content and apply what they’ve learned
• How to scale training with local relevance, dynamic learning, and cultural insights at its heart
• Why naming the elephant in the room can help to overcome any awkwardness

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Connect to Myriam Hadnes:

LinkedIn

Website

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How do you teach facilitators to hold a group, master that crucial first 15-minutes of a workshop, and show them that they already have all the answers, without giving any away?

As a researcher by nature, and a facilitator – at first by accident – Julia Slay learnt everything she knows about the craft by teaching it. She now helps bright, budding facilitators to build confidence, find their voice, and discover their learning edges in Facilitation 101.

We unravel the layers of holding just the right amount of space, as part facilitator, part coach, part trainer and part consultant, all rolled happily into one: from managing difficult characters with curiosity, to trusting yourself to stay present – even when the plan falls apart!

Julia shares lots of practical strategies, tips and anecdotes from her 15-year facilitation journey, from the Mayor of London’s office, to her work today. Enjoy!

Find out about:

• The art of asking a powerful, open question at the right time
• How to navigate power dynamics of seniority in groups
• Why ‘advice is theft’ – and the detriment of offering a solution to the group too soon
• How to approach dominant characters without creating collective tension
• The intersection of facilitation and coaching – and what it means to facilitate like a coach

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Julia Slay:

LinkedIn

Website

Use code TASTER10 to receive 10% off Facilitation 101: Fundamentals, Masterclass, Intensive, and Self-Paced course when you sign up on Julia’s website.

Share your thoughts about our conversation!

Support the show

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How can you know yourself more? What would you tell your younger self? And what are you going to do with this life?

Born with a microphone in her hand, and asking all of life’s big, juicy questions, leadership facilitator & coach Rebecca Hopkins brings her effervescent, thoughtful facilitation musings to the show in spades this week.

Going beyond the cushions of competence, we explore the many spaces between grief, healthy feedback cultures, safe space declarations, and all the joyful, messy emotions that come with being human. We geek out, we get vulnerable, and we go deep into the complex, beautiful nature of our craft, as Rebecca takes us on a journey to being a more grounded and self-compassionate facilitator.

A conversation I’ve been looking forward to for 335 episodes! I hope you love it as much as I do.

Find out about:

• How facilitators can stay grounded amidst emotional complexity, self-doubt, and evolving practices and technologies
• Why presence, humility, and grace will always triumph over polished techniques
• The importance of breaking free of familiar spaces where competence comes naturally, to create opportunities for expansion
• How to build a healthy feedback culture rooted in nuance, meaning, and thoughtfulness
• And why we all need to be a little kinder to ourselves!

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Download Rebecca's 1-pager on giving positive feedback

Connect to Rebecca Hopkins:

LinkedIn

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Support the show

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Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:
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Friday night card game clash, or shareholder dispute – at its core, all conflict is the same.

Ursula Taylor has seen time and time again, from the court room, to the board room, that every conflict is created and perpetuated from unprocessed human emotion.

From litigation attorney, to conflict consultant, she now helps leaders and teams turn conflict into opportunity. By transmuting the infectious, emotionally-charged energy of shame, fear or distrust – softer, more grounded energy can take its place, clearing the path to resolution.

Ursula shares stories from her legal days, and the learnings we can all apply to our daily lives to do conflict better – as leaders, facilitators, and most of all, humans.

Find out about:

• Why Ursula believes conflict isn’t inherently bad, but rather an opportunity
• Conflict learnings from litigation we can apply to facilitation – and life
• Recognising the emotional energies that arise, and re-tuning them into clarity, rational decisions and resolution
• Why the unprocessed emotions of fear, shame and distrust are the true source of conflict
• Why successful transformation doesn’t always require both conflicting parties to agree

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Ursula Taylor:

LinkedIn

Website

Share your thoughts about our conversation!

Support the show

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Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:
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