Tips for Facilitating Interactive Training Sessions

Recently a colleague asked me, “Laura, how are you able to get a group of complete strangers to bond so quickly?” It made me pause and reflect on my approach. Creating a strong bond among individuals is rooted in fostering psychological safety, shared experiences, and vulnerability. Here are some strategies I employ: 1. Establish a Shared Purpose Early On: - Define the group's purpose clearly. - Focus on the intention behind the gathering, promoting authenticity over perfection. 2. Initiate Vulnerability-Based Icebreakers: - Dive beyond surface-level introductions by asking meaningful questions: - "What's a personal achievement you're proud of but haven't shared with the group?" - "What challenge are you currently facing, big or small?" - "What truly motivated you to join us today?" These questions encourage genuine connections by fostering openness and humanity. 3. Engage in Unconventional Activities Together: - Bond through unique experiences such as: - Light physical activities (get outside and take a walk) or team challenges. - Creative endeavors like collaborative projects or improvisation. - Reflective exercises such as guided meditations followed by group reflections. 4. Facilitate "Small Circle" Conversations: - Encourage deeper discussions in smaller groups before sharing insights with the larger group. - Smaller settings often lead to increased comfort, paving the way for more profound interactions in larger settings. 5. Normalize Authentic Communication: - Lead by example as a facilitator or leader by sharing genuine and unexpected thoughts. - Setting the tone for open dialogue encourages others to follow suit. 6. Highlight Common Ground: - Acknowledge shared themes and experiences after individual shares. - Recognize patterns like shared pressures, transitions, or identity struggles to unify the group. 7. Incorporate Group Rituals: - Commence or conclude sessions with grounding rituals like breathwork, gratitude circles, one on one share. In what ways have you been able to create cohesion quickly amongst a group of individuals in a training session? #fasttracktotrust #humanconnection #facilitatedconnection

🤔 How might you infuse more experiential elements into even the most standard Q&A session? This was my question to myself when wrapping up a facilitation course for a client that included a Q&A session. I wanted to be sure it complemented the other experiential sessions and was aligned with the positive adjectives of how participants had already described the course. First and foremost - here is my issue with Q&As: 👎 They are only focused on knowledge transfer, but not not memory retention (the brain does not absorb like a sponge, it catches what it experiences!) 👎 They tend to favor extroverts willing to ask their questions out loud 👎 Only a small handful of people get their questions answered and they may not be relevant for everyone who attends So, here is how I used elements from my typical #experiencedesign process to make even a one-directional Q&A more interactive and engaging: 1️⃣ ENGAGE FROM THE GET-GO How we start a meeting sets the tone, so I always want to engage everyone on arrival. I opted for music and a connecting question in the chat connected to why we were there - facilitation! 2️⃣ CONNECTION BEFORE CONTENT Yes, people were there to have their questions answered, but I wanted to bring in their own life experience having applied their new found facilitation skills into practice. We kicked off with breakout rooms in small groups to share their own experiences- what had worked well and what was still challenging. This helped drive the questions afterwards. 3️⃣ MAKE THE ENGAGEMENT EXPLICIT Even if it was a Q&A, I wanted to be clear about how THIS one would be run. I set up some guidelines and also gave everyone time to individually think and reflect what questions they wanted to ask. We took time with music playing for the chat to fill up. 4️⃣ COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IS MOST IMPACTFUL Yes, they were hoping to get my insights and answers, however I never want to discredit the wisdom and lived experience in the room. As we walked through the questions, I invited others to also share their top tips and answers. Peer to peer learning is so rich in this way! 5️⃣ CLOSING WITH ACTIONS AND NEVER QUESTIONS The worst way to end any meeting? "Are there any more questions?" Yes, even in a Q & A! Once all questions were answered, I wanted to land the journey by asking everyone to reflect on what new insights or ideas emerged for them from the session and especially what they will act upon and apply forward in their work. Ending with actions helps to close one learning cycle and drive forward future experiences when they put it to the test! The session received great reviews and it got me thinking - we could really apply these principles to most informational sessions that tend to put content before connection (and miss the mark). 🤔 What do you think? Would you take this approach to a Q&A? Let me know in the comments below👇 #ExperienceLearningwithRomy

Toilets, Trains, and Teamwork — What my vacation to Japan taught me about facilitation. I just got back from nearly two weeks in Japan. I lived there for a few months during a semester abroad in college, but it had been (cough) a few decades since I’d been back. SO much fun, and SUCH an inspiring place. Below are a few reflections on what workshop facilitators (whether in-house or independent) can learn from the unique (and sometimes crazy) world of Japanese culture. (Check out the carousel for more details.) ----- 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. HOW TO APPLY THIS TO FACILITATION: - Design sessions that ebb and flow — from wild to still, from loud to reflective. That rhythm makes everything more memorable. - Build in moments of quiet reflection between high-energy exercises. - Don’t just facilitate the discuss — facilitate the tempo and energy. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀. HOW TO APPLY THIS TO FACILITATION: - We don’t let people talk all willy-nilly in workshops. Discussions are sequenced. The facilitator decides who speaks in what order. - Build a rhythm into your sessions where everyone gets a chance to reflect, speak, and respond — not just react-in-real-time. This avoids the “collaboration chaos” of typical meetings. - When we model turn-taking as facilitators, we show that speed isn’t just about “going fast” — it’s about flowing together without friction. 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗶-𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼-𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵. HOW TO APPLY THIS TO FACILITATION: - The best sessions aren’t about the flashiest tools — they’re about using the right format to get the best thinking from the group. - Sometimes Sticky-Notes + Marker beats an app. Don’t mistake “modern” for “better.” - Use high-tech tools to speed things up — but low-tech tools to slow things down when it matters. Both have their place. 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. HOW TO APPLY THIS TO FACILITATION: - Magic doesn’t come from complexity — it comes from intention. - Add tiny moments of delight — a surprising slide, a thoughtful snack, a playful sound cue — that make the experience feel crafted and special. - Use subtle cues to guide the flow, like musical timers, visual signals, or tone shifts — so people always feel held, not herded. 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆. HOW TO APPLY THIS TO FACILITATION: - Treat fun as fuel — not fluff. The sillier moments can often lead to the smartest insights. Design sessions that are both fun and productive — not one, then the other. - A light atmosphere makes heavy work feel possible. The goal isn’t to make everything easy — it’s to make it easier to try.

Sitting through another online event, nodding along, but not really feeling engaged? I just experienced this feeling last week in an online webinar. There has been trouble with tech, which consumed a lot of time, there was little interaction with the participants, and the wasn’t quite built for everyone in the room. I left feeling disappointed and unmotivated. I've been moderating events, facilitating workshops, and giving trainings now for over 20 years. In this time, I’ve learned that truly engaging and great events are rare. The good part: it is a skill that people can learn. Three takeaways that I share with folks who are just starting out or for those with more experience who could also need a check-in from time to time are the following: Preparation is key. Always keep the audience in mind. And, offer various ways to learn. Preparation: With the goal and purpose in mind you should design the event. From opening with welcoming, sharing the agenda and rules of engagement to delivering the content to closing with a summary and feedback. Do several dry runs, meaning that you go through your whole program without audience or maybe with colleagues who can give constructive feedback. Also consider which tech will be used and test it before using it. Audience: The event is not for you; it’s for the audience. What do you know about the people who are attending? Do the participants know each other? Which questions could you ask to learn about their expectations, needs, and knowledge? You can do that, i.e,. through polls, surveys, or discussions. Be flexible and don’t be scared to adjust the agenda if needed, and communicate why you are doing what you are doing. There have been so many times that I was a participant and I couldn’t follow the instructions, or I didn’t understand what was asked of me. Learning: People learn differently. By offering various ways to learn, engage, and participate, everyone in the room has a chance to achieve the set objectives. It might be useful to make learning and reflection materials accessible prior to, during, and after the event. Some people prefer working alone while others prefer working in groups. Some need to hear, others need to read content. Don't just think about what you like, but educate yourself about what people with different ways of thinking need. And let me be clear. You'll never please everyone in the room. That’s okay. But by following the above-mentioned tips, you can get pretty close. And remember, there is help out there - hello Ellen and team 👋🏾 What is important to you in virtual spaces? What have been good or bad experiences? Do you need help in creating more engaging and inclusive events? Send me a DM. #Facilitation #Workshops #Training #Virtual #SaferSpaces ALT- Text in the comments.