Meet our Lead Conference Facilitator

Dan’s Facilitation Journey

My conference facilitation journey started in a Land Rover.

The vehicle wasn’t taking me to a conference centre.  In fact, the delegates were sitting with me, inside the car.  I was in the left-hand passenger seat with three attendees behind me and another taking the wheel, wearing a blind fold!  In this confined and somewhat tense environment, I discovered the power of asking over telling.

My task was to persuade the driver to move off, trusting her colleagues to guide her around an undulating course in a Hertfordshire field.

On the face of it, this might appear to be a foolish corporate team exercise; in fact, it was a powerful lesson in communication.  As each participant took a turn at the wheel, my role was to enquire how the team could improve their guidance.  They made the following observations:

• Rather than us all yelling instructions, why don’t we appoint one spokesperson?
• Phrases like straighten up don’t make sense to a blind folded driver. Let’s agree on clear, understandable instructions
• As a blind driver, I need to know how I’m doing and where I am

In less than 20 minutes, this small team had refined their communication to a point where their performance (lap time) had improved by 200%.  Following the final, fastest and most accurate lap, I asked what they’d each discovered.  Four different insights were shared, the one that stuck with me was that the blind drivers had responded more to the way things were said than what was said.  Intonation is more powerful than words.

As a facilitator, I’ve learned many equally powerful lessons from the groups I’ve worked with and I believe these groups have developed far more from thinking, debating and listening to one another than they could have from me lecturing to them.

And when an engaging activity is added to the mix the impact is multiplied.

If you would like to discuss how I can help facilitate productive conferences or corporate meetings then click the contact button below and I’ll get back to you asap.

Professional Conference Facilitator – What to Expect

Who should facilitate your next corporate or business conference? A familiar face that knows your organisation inside out or a professional that will also charge you for attending?

There are pros and cons with both, and despite the costs, there are times when investing in an external professional conference facilitator or moderator can be worthwhile.

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What is a Facilitator?

If you often find that your meetings or conferences don’t end up achieving their purpose, intended goals or expectations you may be interested in how a facilitator could help.

In most meetings, at least one person thinks out loud. And invariably, there are much quieter, more reflective people who have great insights but don’t speak up. This imbalance is the reason so many meetings fail to achieve their potential.  

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How a good night’s sleep can benefit your work productivity

There is no denying that having a good night’s sleep helps to benefit all aspects of your life, from your physical and mental health, relationships with your family and your productivity levels. The same can be said about your work productivity because you will be alert and able to complete tasks better. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, just 13 minutes of extra sleep per night can increase productivity by 2.3%. 

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Activity days your team will love

If you own a company, it’s important that you decide to incorporate team days throughout the year. As well as the fun this will bring to the team, it will lead to increased communication, planning skills, employee motivation and collaboration. This helps employees to see each other in a different light, other than the standard office routine where they are used to. 

This all ties into effective team building, which works in with both work and colleague relationships.

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Key questions to ask employees when checking in on team wellbeing

If you own a business, one of the most important aspects is to check in on your team’s well-being. This allows for a transparent relationship in the workplace, as well as setting a clear example for new starters so they know that they can talk to their peers about any concerns they might have. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 6.8 people experience mental health problems in the workplace, which is 14.7%. This shows the value of ensuring there is a transparent relationship with the well-being of a team.  

As well as increasing team morale, this will lead to team members staying in the company for longer, due to a healthy team culture. 

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Winter Working: Managing Office Life and Mental Health When Outdoors is Limited

Winter brings with it many challenges for those confined to an office job. Shorter days, colder temperatures and less time spent outdoors can significantly impact mental well-being. For many office workers, the winter season can exacerbate feelings of isolation and burnout. However, with intentional planning and a few creative strategies, you can find ways to make the most of the limited outdoor opportunities winter has to offer.

5 Strategies to manage the winter months

1. Prioritize Natural Light
2. Schedule Outdoor Breaks
3. Be Flexible with Work Hours
4. Connect with Nature Indoors
5. Virtual Social Interaction

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How Does a Lack Of Sleep Hinder Productivity? How to Fix It

A lack of sleep can have a negative effect on productivity. Sleep loss can make it harder to maintain focus at work, attention, and vigilance. The body will be using more energy to stay awake, having a bad effect on productivity in the workplace. Not to mention the decreased level of communication with colleagues also, which can lead to poor work outcomes. Sleep deprivation is something many people suffer with 1 in 3 adults in the United States struggling to sleep according to the National Institutes of Health. 

If you need help improving your sleep, consider some sleep coaching to help you sleep better. 

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What is a conference facilitation and how can it impact a conference?

Conference facilitation refers to the process of guiding and managing a conference or event to ensure its smooth and effective execution, which is often linked with a successful conference. A conference facilitator, also known as a conference moderator or facilitator, is an individual or a team responsible for orchestrating the flow of the conference, managing discussions, engaging participants, and fostering collaboration among attendees conference’s objectives.

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Tips for a Successful Conference Facilitation

Conferences can be busy events, therefore it is important to have a strict schedule during the conference to ensure the smooth running of the event, which will benefit not only the attendees, but also the speakers themselves. This can make the difference between your event being memorable and forgotten. 

Keep on reading to find out some of the best tips for a successful conference facilitation.

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