What’s beyond the thrill of a new game?
It's always fun and often exciting to discover a...
From Teaching to Learning
There’s a scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in...
Stop Celebrating Failure
Improvisers often say “Celebrate failure.”...
Play Without the Failure Fetish
What if we’ve misunderstood what AI actually...
Before Messi scores
The moments that matter most are often shaped long before they happen. This article explores how thoughtful workshop design, leadership and facilitation create the conditions for better conversations, stronger collaboration and more meaningful outcomes.
Stay Out of the Spotlight – Cut those Metacomments
Great facilitation isn’t about being the centre of attention – it’s about creating the space for others to engage, contribute and thrive. Discover how facilitator presence, self-awareness and intentional communication can help you step out of the spotlight and create more meaningful, impactful group experiences.
The Art of Co-Facilitation – Trust, Timing, Teamwork
Great co-facilitation is about more than sharing the stage. It requires trust, communication and a clear understanding of when to lead and when to support. This article explores how strong facilitation partnerships create better experiences for everyone in the room.
Crossing the Line – From Practice to Real Life
Applied Improvisation works best when facilitators understand the difference between practising a skill and discussing real workplace issues. This article explores how to manage that balance to create safer, more effective and more engaging learning experiences.
We have a plan and a decision, so everything will now be fine…
What if the problem isn’t a lack of control, but our attachment to it? Drawing on lessons from theatrical improv, this article explores the shift from trying to control outcomes to developing influence, adaptability and responsiveness in the moment.
To Demo or Not to Demo? That Is the Question
Facilitators must choose how to demo activities: themselves, a volunteer, or through instruction. Each shapes learning differently, with benefits and risks. The key is matching approach to purpose, group readiness and outcome.
How to be AI-literate
Being AI literate means using it for clarity, planning and synthesis, while recognising its limits. It’s about understanding strengths and risks, and keeping human judgement, responsibility and decision-making central.
Say Less, Do More – The Art of Incremental Briefing
Say less, do more: facilitators can build trust and creativity by giving minimal instructions upfront, then guiding step by step as participants learn through action.
Making better decisions – flying from a foundation of resourcefulness
Are you ever at the beginning of a meeting, all too aware of a burning problem, and filled with a desire to do something, your firefighting instinct pulsating?
How about changing up the narrative and easing into the conversation?
When leaders master essential facilitation skills…
Picture yourself as a leader with the remarkable ability to foster collaboration, stimulate creativity and drive productive discussions.
Discover a simple tip to use immediately to help you shine as a facilitative leader.
Have you tried this Handful of Reflections?
We’ve been discussing the importance of ending sessions well, and one of my favourite tactics is to facilitate a sharing of personal reflections.
How about this activity for facilitating with Flow?
Looking for a neat warm-up idea for your virtual or in-person meeting? Look no further.. for more great ideas you can book onto one of our forthcoming courses which are starting soon!
How to add final value as a facilitator
How can we ensure that at the end of a workshop people fully appreciate the value of what they have experienced?
This matters a lot if we want participants to appreciate the progress that they are making, and it strengthens the prospects for sustainable change too…
Explosive dynamics! How would you design this tricky 2-hour session?
Would you like to sharpen your design skills and discover strategies for tricky groups?
Order your Inspirational Facilitator offline programme today for all the tips and techniques to give you the competitive edge!
Letting learners choose – the facilitator’s secret skill
Everyone likes to learn in their own way. You’re...
How to create ‘Safe space’. It takes more than an announcement
You don’t create psychological safety simply by stating, ‘This is a safe space’. An announcement may indicate your intent, but it’s of minimal value unless supported by solid behaviour. Here are two actions that will go a long way towards substantiating your claim..