As you know, I'm here to help you design fast, deliver strong without stress.  That's hat is in the form of workshops, right?  But today I'm going to be talking about designing life in general. I'm celebrating and reflecting because I turn 40 this Thursday. What an honour: Every day above ground is a great day. Watch the YouTube recording! Disclaimer: I'm not an Olympic gold medalist. I haven't climbed Everest.  I'm just a type of person who likes having a crack at life, looking for cool...

In today's episode, I'm delighted to introduce our guest, Jeff Skipper. Jeff and I have been colleagues for the past couple of years, sharing insights in our growth cycle mastermind group. We've connected virtually every two weeks and had the pleasure of meeting in person during a memorable gathering in Hawaii, part of Alan Weiss's community. About Jeff Skipper Jeff Skipper is a recognised expert in accelerating change with over 25 years of experience. He has worked with renowned clients...

In today's episode, we explore the intricate emotions that facilitators experience right before a workshop – a whirlwind of excitement, nerves, and anticipation.  My guest today is the award-winning TV journalist from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sophie Scott OAM. Sophie's multi-faceted career has transitioned her from a household face on TV to a well-renowned speaker and educator, with a prime focus on mental health.  Dive into our conversation as we unravel Sophie's personal...

In today's episode, I chat with Brendon Baker, a change leader I've had the pleasure of knowing for over a year and a half. Our professional relationship has grown from friendtorshop to active collaboration.  We discuss the core of his workshops, how to deliver real value, and his personal experiences with business growth. About Brendon Baker: Brendon is dedicated to helping Change Leaders achieve tangible results. He's been at the helm of over $10 Billion in projects and programs, and from...

Welcome to a podcast swap! I was a guest on the delightful Prina Shah's podcast, Ways to Change the Workplace recently, and the episode had such wonderful reviews/feedback, I thought I'd bring it onto this feed! What are some common mistakes that workshop facilitators make that lead to boring workshops? How can workshop facilitators create a safe and inclusive environment where all participants feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions?What are some creative approaches to workshop...

In today's episode, your host Leanne Hughes delves deep into her journey as a participant and her experiences leading up to a world-class speaking conference in Hobart. She also touches upon the significance of mindset in the world of speaking, facilitation, and beyond. She also touches upon the significance of mindset in the world of speaking, facilitation, and beyond. What you will learn: The importance of setting the right pre-conference expectations and the art of crafting a powerful...

In today's episode, I’m delighted to welcome Sally Porteous, the esteemed Managing Director of a renowned event production company. Sally has a wealth of knowledge to share on how to lead transformative workshops and captivating events. Her experience offers a fascinating glimpse into the surprising parallels that exist within these arenas. Sally will walk us through her unique journey into the vibrant world of event management, a journey that was as much about self-discovery as it was about...

Today, I'm chatting to Andrew Hollo, Director and Principal Consultant at Workwell Consulting, who shares his unique insights on facilitation and strategic alignment. I've got to say, after we finished recording, I wanted to share this episode with absolutely anybody who runs a facilitation business! What You'll Learn: The importance of organising and summarising information (and how you can get better at it)How feeling under-prepared can sometimes foster agility in facilitationThe power of...

Woo hoo! Fun, pop-up, unedited episode that I felt compelled to jump in and record on a beautiful Brisbane winter day. Today, I share an exciting example from a conference she recently worked on and how we incorporated something unpredictable, based on a fairly predictable conversation :)  What You Will Learn: How to find inspiration in everyday moments and translate them into your workshop design. Leanne shares her personal experiences and interesting anecdotes that sparked unique ideas.How...

Welcome to an enchanting episode of our podcast! In this captivating conversation, we bring you a first-time wizard on the show—Dr. Jason Fox—a wizard-philosopher disguised as a motivational speaker and leadership advisor. His expertise lies in guiding clever teams through the complexities of their quests. With an impressive list of clients that includes Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, HP, Novartis, Red Bull, Cisco, Johnson & Johnson, Toyota, and Honda, Dr. Fox has established...

In this episode, host Leanne Hughes welcomes Mel Loy, the founder and host of Hey, Mel Comms and Training, a small agency fueled by boundless energy. Mel has over 20 years of experience in communications across various sectors and specializes in building communication capability through coaching workshops and creative thinking. She is also a co-owner of a gym and the president of the Queensland chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. What You Will Learn: In this...

In this episode of the First Time Facilitator podcast, host Leanne Hughes interviews Dr. Mechelle Roberton, a self-confessed talent development nerd and certified professional in talent development.  Leanne met Mechelle at a conference and was drawn to her energy and expertise in organisational culture. Mechelle shares her journey of creating opportunities in the talent development field, emphasizing the importance of passion and preparation in workshop delivery.  She also discusses the...

In this episode, host Leanne Hughes welcomes Jo Fitzgerald, from Jo Fitz Consulting to discuss intentionality in your workshop design. Jo shares her insights and experiences from her career, highlighting the importance of creating a supportive environment and sharing responsibility for a successful workshop, as well as techniques for being present and managing moments (rather than automatically trying to fix issues). They discuss the challenges of facilitating and the ongoing learning...

Today I'm chatting to you from my living room (watch the YouTube version)! In this episode, Leanne Hughes explores the parallels between writing a book and designing a workshop. She shares her journey in the creation of her upcoming book, 'The Two Hour Workshop Blueprint,' highlighting her learnings, challenges, and the rewarding process of capturing her years of facilitating experience. Listen to Leanne unpack these conversational riffs: Decision-making demystified: What are the crucial...

In this episode, we delve into the world of design and facilitation with our guest, Ben Crothers, who brings over 20 years of experience in the field. Ben shares his journey from being a designer to becoming a facilitator, driven by his desire to improve the often lackluster experience of design critique sessions.  We explore the importance of intentional facilitation, the need for questioning the status quo, and the role of visuals in creating better moments and driving productive meetings....

In this episode, Leanne has a conversation with Zaretta Hammond, an educator, author, and national speaker, who is renowned for her expertise in culturally responsive teaching and learning. Zaretta shares her insights on how to unleash the brilliance in every student, particularly those who come from marginalized backgrounds. She explores the importance of understanding cultural and linguistic diversity in the classroom, and provides practical strategies to create an inclusive and empowering...

In this episode, Leanne chats with Anamaria Dorgo, a multifaceted professional in the Learning & Development (L&D) sector. She is the founder of "L&D Shakers", a mentor, community builder, facilitator, and currently the Head of Community at Butter.us. We discuss the importance of community building, engagement, and the power of simplicity in facilitation. Listen in to hear is riff on these topics... Engagement, and how its meaning can differ among individuals. There's a consensus...

In this episode, Leanne Hughes engages in a captivating conversation with Douglas Ferguson, the founder of Voltage Control facilitation academy. Watch the interview on YouTube. They dive into various topics, including the art of facilitation, the concept of Integrated Autonomy, and the potential impact of AI on the field. Douglas shares insights from his experience in software development, his passion for music, and his deep understanding of facilitation. About our guest: Douglas...

In this episode, host Petra Zink, Leanne Hughes, and Dr Maike Neuhaus cover a range of topics related to staying current with emerging technologies, overcoming fear and uncertainty, and building a unique personal brand. This is a warm-up episode because First Time Facilitator, a limited series edition is returning in late May, in the lead-up to Leanne's book release: The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Here are 10 key takeaways from the conversation: It's important to stay up-to-date with...

Hey there! I wanted to take this solo episode to share some insights from my recent experiences.  Last week, I had the opportunity to chair a two-day conference in Malaysia where I was brought in to run a session on corporate strategy. But then I got invited to be the chairperson for the entire two days. So I wanted to share some of the insights I learned from that experience. I also attended Andy's Talent Management Development think tank conference in California, where I met so many...

Here's a quick life and work update and announcement! I'd love to hear from you and feature you/get your feedback on a book I'm working on about workshop design. Be a workshop wing-mate! Workshops are all about co-creation. So, it makes sense when writing a book about workshops, that there should be an element of co-creation, too. I’d love you to be part of this journey. What's the book about? It's pretty much a co-pilot for anyone wanting to turn the gold inside their head (your content,...

In this episode, I'm joyfully bringing you a conversation with the author of the book “Belonging: The Ancient Code of Togetherness”, Owen Eastwood. Watch our conversation on YouTube! Have you been in work situations where you might have started in a company and you just didn’t feel like you belonged, which then led to a lot of stress and tension? Join us as we learn how to create a sense of belonging with the Belonging author, Owen Eastwood. Owen draws on his own Maori ancestry and weaves...

I'm jumping in with a bonus episode I recorded for my friend, Andy Storch's podcast The Talent Development Hot Seat.  In this episode we talk about the tactics of facilitation, and marketing your program, so that people show up! I'm speaking at Andy's event in Sonoma, USA in February 2023 and I'd love to see you there!  Here's a link to find out more about the conference.  I'll be delivering a breakout session during the conference, as well as sharing my 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint on the...

Who doesn’t love a good cocktail party?  Watch our conversation on Youtube! I love going to events and meeting new people but gosh, sometimes I feel like I’m not even keeping up the great relationships with the amazing people I already know! Cue this book: The 2-Hour Cocktail Party by Nick Gray. After reading the first chapter, I set a date for my cocktail party and luckily, the day after, I debrief it in this conversation with the author of the book Nick Gray.   Nick Gray moved to New York...

"What if you were already there?" I started journalling on this prompt recently and it reminded me of the great questions we ask our clients, like "What does success look like?", "What would be different if this workshop/gig/project was a 10/10?" In this solo episode, I riff on my thoughts related to this question, and also just CHECK IN with all of you!  I also give a shoutout to Tim Guinea, Mel Kettle, Dr Maike Neuhaus and Petra Zink. Some cool things I share on the show: - Two by...