149 - Holding space for those who hold space with Sharon Leigh (Part 2)

Some might not expect an introverted, neurodivergent woman like Sharon Leigh to ‘fit’ with facilitation. But anyone can access, practice, and succeed with it – as Sharon knows from personal experience. In fact, Sharon doesn’t just fit with facilitation – she excels at it.Together, we cover a huge amount of ground in the world of facilitation, taking in the sights of inclusion, digital spaces, and holding space for facilitators.We also take some unexpected roads and unmapped routes, traversing the hitherto uncharted territory of workshops and neurodivergence, collaborative living, and knowing how to give someone a mood-boosting hug through a computer screen.This episode is a perfect summary of why I started the podcast. We uncover some incredible insights around the practice of facilitation, but we get there by looking deeply at what it means to be human and how we can connect with each other in simple, meaningful ways.Find out about:●     What it takes – and why it’s so important – for facilitators and coaches to have their own space for reflection●     Finding gold among the heavy rocks and fast flowing waters of the pandemic●     Why going online can make meetings, group work, and connection more accessible to all●     What Sharon has learned about facilitation, boundaries, and communication from collaborative living●     Why great workshops don’t provide great content or solutions, but ‘brain vacations’●     How a pared-down agenda leaves space for the real magic of your workshop to come throughDon’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player. Click here to download the free 1-page summary.And if the idea of NeverDoneBefore 2021, the community of facilitators, caught your attention; click here to explore it in more detail!A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and AnswersPart two[02:12] How would you go about ‘yanking people off the cliff-edge’ of emotional vulnerability and risk-taking – in a group setting?[07:38] What was the structure you followed for starting your collaborative household?[09:47] What’s a learning you would pass onto someone considering collaborative living/a shared household?[13:12] Can you give me a few examples of the boundaries you’ve set?[18:09] What makes a workshop fail?[23:56] What’s your favourite way to build trust and go deep quickly? [26:38] Is there a maximum number of participants you’ll work with in a workshop?[30:47] Are there clues or hints that you’d look for in a workshop as to the participants readiness, relaxedness, and openness?[37:20] What are the three things people can pay attention to if they want to learSupport the Show.**Click here to navigate through all episodes via this interactive podcast map.**If you're inspired by our podcast and crave similar conversations, consider joining Dr Myriam Hadnes' NeverDoneBefore Facilitation Community. **If you're keen to master the art of facilitation, discover our expert-led live, online Facilitation Courses at the NDB Academy. **If you enjoy the show, consider a one-off donation and contribute to the ongoing costs of running the podcast.