I'm a recovering academic who uses her insights from behavioural economics to develop methods that facilitate collaboration. In my weekly newsletter, I share the summary of my latest interview on the "workshops work" podcast along with an application of facilitation as a life and leadership skill.
From Ceiling to Ground || 🎙️ Episode 235 on Facilitation in Uncertain Spaces with Rebecca Hopkins
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Dear Reader, When was the last time your ceiling became your new ground? It just happened to me and it feels like a milestone. Literally! About three years ago, before my first half-marathon, everything felt like a big deal: the tapering, the nerves, the diet, the sleepless night before. 21.1 km was the goal, and it was my ceiling. I never ran for longer.... Until Thursday. I broke my record and ran 23 km. It’s the fourth week in a row I’ve logged a half marathon distance as part of my training. Not for a medal but because it's part of the plan. No nerves, no audience. Just me along the Côte d'Azur. Training for a marathon changes things. The goal shifts, and with it does the definition of “far.” What once felt huge is now just part of the weekly rhythm. I am standing strong on my previous ceiling. While the mileage isn't easy, it's not the most difficult part. I’ve had to let go of a lot of the usual comforts. I run earlier to avoid the heat. I ditch intervals for hills and trails. I drink more water, stretch differently, sweat more, rest harder. I don’t get to be picky and work with what I have. And it's great leadership training, too: What may feel like a stretch - initiating a challenging conversation, setting a boundary, or holding silence - eventually becomes a new baseline. Not overnight but by adjusting, listening, responding to what’s present. We don’t get to choose the conditions. It's about showing up nevertheless. Keeping the intention, even if the plan changes make a good leader and facilitator. We must stay curious when things get uncomfortable and keep going when our body cries for us to stop. On which ceiling would you like to stand next? 🎙 Meanwhile, on the podcast…It took me three years to convince Rebecca to join me on the podcast and finally she said yes. I was so excited that we didn't even align on a topic. And we didn't have to ..... I hope you'll enjoy the episode as much as I did: 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:
🎧 Click here to listen to the interview📥 Check out my 1-page summary 👀 Watch the unedited interview on Youtube 📌 Find podcast episodes that match your needsDid you know? You can search all episodes by keyword on our Buzzsprout page to find exactly what you need. Click here to find the episodes by keyword. 🔖 Inspiration at Your Fingertips: Get the Podcast Summary eBooksAre you looking for inspiration for your next workshop or guidance on which podcast episode to explore next? Discover the eBooks compiling summaries of all 300 “Workshops Work” podcast episodes—a rich collection of facilitation insights and practical tips. These digital coffee table books are perfect for sparking new ideas or delving deeper into workshop best practices. Click here to get your copies. That’s it from my side! I hope you enjoy the content and find inspiration in the stories and the podcast. I wish you steady ground and a brave new ceiling — whatever that looks like for you. I hope to see you next week! Myriam
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How can we facilitate collaboration?
I'm a recovering academic who uses her insights from behavioural economics to develop methods that facilitate collaboration. In my weekly newsletter, I share the summary of my latest interview on the "workshops work" podcast along with an application of facilitation as a life and leadership skill.
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