In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks about timing considerations when planning and facilitating workshops. Beth explores: Cultural considerations related to time Using a lesson plan template to help with timing How learning outcomes help us make decisions about timing Timekeeping while facilitating Tracking and reflecting on timing-related issues Additional considerations for the virtual and e-learning modes of learning Links From the Episode Design to Engage: How to Create and Facilita...
Feb 14, 2024•38 min•Ep. 31
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Alexandra Suchman about game-based experiential learning and how games can be leveraged to support teams. Beth and Alexandra also talk about: what game-based experiential learning is the levels of depth we can accomplish through games choosing games to meet desired outcomes including reflective elements in games getting confident in facilitating games with groups Engage with Alexandra Suchman Website: https://www.barometerxp.com LinkedIn: https://www...
Jan 24, 2024•43 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Michele Mateus about owning who we are, putting ourselves 'out there', and expressing ourselves fully through portrait photography – whether we're facilitators of learning or anyone else who needs or wants to show up in photos. Beth and Michele also talk about: the vulnerability of having our photo taken the importance of evoking emotions through photography smashing beauty standards and saying no to creating 'cookie cutter' photos shifting our relat...
Jan 10, 2024•53 min•Ep. 29
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Meg Bolger about how facilitators can respond effectively to participants when they say something that could or does cause conflict in the group. Beth and Meg also talk about: Giving more space and agency to people to participate Not avoiding conflict when it happens Bringing a curious mindset Noticing and responding to participants' underlying needs Using a three-stepped approach to respond to potentially problematic statements Engage with Meg Bolge...
Nov 22, 2023•54 min•Ep. 28
In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom talks about some of the mindsets that she holds as an entrepreneur, leading a team who engages in learning design and facilitation work. Beth talks about abundance vs. competitive mindsets, navigating uncertainty, considerations around being client-centric, ethical decision-making, and having passion for the work. Links from the Episode EP 15: Dealing with Self-Doubt with Beth Cougler Blom Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast: Follow Facilitati...
Nov 08, 2023•39 min•Ep. 27
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Mirjam Leunissen about reconnecting to our bodies when working with groups to inspire emergent and serendipitous thinking. Beth and Mirjam also talk about: Playfulness and pushing people out of their comfort zones Practicing sensing what's going on in our bodies Metaphors and analogies as inspiration Building upon the cognitive tasks AI can do with what only we as humans can do Engage with Mirjam Leunissen Mirjam on LinkedIn Other Links from the Epis...
Oct 25, 2023•37 min•Ep. 26
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Dr. Marcia Goddard about how our brains work and some of the things that can happen with our brains - as facilitators or participants - in learning environments. Beth and Marcia also talk about: creating psychological safety neuroscience's alignments with diversity, equity and inclusion recognizing and overcoming different types of biases why our brains get tired in virtual sessions Engage with Dr. Marcia Goddard Dr. Marcia Goddard on LinkedIn Other ...
Oct 11, 2023•44 min•Ep. 25
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Neelu Kaur about how we can maintain our well-being and prevent burnout, particularly as people who do facilitation work. Beth and Neelu also talk about: Mental health, self-advocacy, and cultural identity, particularly for women who identify as Asian and South Asian Finding support in communities of practice Signs of burnout Maintaining well-being in virtual work Self-care practices for mental well-being Internal and external motivation and their re...
Sep 27, 2023•41 min•Ep. 24
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks about how to build online communities when facilitating in the virtual mode. She discusses the importance of understanding our own values and beliefs as facilitators, knowing our participants, and the need to define the purpose and goals of our sessions. She shares ideas for welcoming participants and setting the stage for online community building as well as strategies, such as facilitating group agreements, that support group engagement. Links from the ...
Sep 13, 2023•31 min•Ep. 23
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Julias Alego about how music has been a part of his life in Kenya so far, and how he uses it in his facilitation work. Beth and Julias also talk about: Considerations around choosing music for a facilitated event Potential cautions and pitfalls in choosing music Incorporating music, dancing, and singing in facilitated events Cross-cultural differences in using music in training and facilitation, in Kenya and Canada Engage with Julias Alego: LinkedIn:...
Aug 23, 2023•43 min•Ep. 22
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Mary Houle and Sarra Ismail about the importance of pronouncing people's names correctly, how to learn how to do it respectfully, and why it's related to inclusive facilitation practices. Beth, Sarra and Mary also talk about: How to respectfully ask someone to pronounce their name Strategies to follow when learning how to pronounce a person's name Our responsibilities as "listeners" when our conversation partners have accents or names that are unfami...
Aug 09, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 21
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Brett Macdonald about learning and using improv skills and techniques in facilitation, and how it may be more available to people who work with groups than they originally might think. Beth and Brett also talk about: The life and work benefits of learning improv How people can get over the fear of learning improv Specific improv elements and techniques that facilitators can use How to start learning applied improv for use in facilitation and elsewher...
Jun 28, 2023•45 min•Ep. 20
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks about some of the things we should think about when we design activities into our workshops and courses. Beth explores concepts such as using learning outcomes to guide activity choice, designing authentic activities, offering choice to learners, and supporting all participants with the activities we choose. Links from the Episode: Design to Engage: How to Create and Facilitate a Great Learning Experience For Any Group, by Beth Cougler Blom Find the Activ...
Jun 14, 2023•44 min•Ep. 19
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Johnnie Moore about his book, Unhurried at Work, and how we as facilitators can embrace unhurried conversations and practices. While working this way isn't always easy, it may just be what we need in the world right now. Beth and Johnnie also discuss: learning from improv the tightness or looseness of agendas being clear with clients about our facilitation style knowing when to risk or try something and when to hold back getting out of the group's wa...
May 24, 2023•46 min•Ep. 18
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks with Kirsty Lewis about how we facilitators need to do our own inner and outer work to be able to take care of and invest in ourselves as well as serve our clients. Beth and Kirsty also discuss: finding people to help us at points of transition in our career the benefit of coaching and supervision for facilitators and trainers how a combo of yin and yang activities can support us seeking out communities of practice to keep learning and stretching Engage w...
May 10, 2023•41 min•Ep. 17
In this episode, Beth talks with Rebecca Sutherns about her book, ELASTIC: Stretch Without Snapping or Snapping Back, and how its insights can apply to facilitators and their groups. Rebecca uses the metaphor of a rubber band to explain how people can try to find the right amount of stretch - their "zone of optimal elasticity" - while neither understretching or overstretching. She explains some of the seven qualities within the ELASTIC acronym (Energy, Likeability, Adaptability, Strategy, Trust,...
Apr 26, 2023•52 min•Ep. 16
In this episode, Beth Cougler Blom talks about some of the ways we might experience self-doubt as designers and facilitators of learning and what to do about it. She reveals some of the ways self-doubt has crept up for her and shares some of the things she thinks about and does to deal with it. Links from the Episode Liberating Structures User Groups Design to Engage: How to Create and Facilitate a Great Learning Experience For Any Group Episode 8: Being Lifelong Learners with The Cougler Family...
Apr 12, 2023•36 min•Ep. 15
In this episode, Beth talks with Chad Littlefield about designing group experiences for contribution, not just consumption. They explore Chad's concept of "connection before content" and how to do that particularly at the starts and ends of meetings or learning experiences. Beth and Chad also explore: how an intentional 'uofficial start' helps create real connection with groups connecting with purpose when designing an experience participants' five states of mind and how to move people towards c...
Mar 22, 2023•46 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, Beth and facilitator Romy Alexandra explore the topic of experiential learning. But they don't just talk about experiential learning, they actually do it! Romy and Beth each facilitate the other through several sense-based activities, then reflect on the experience. No matter where you are when you listen to this episode, you're invited to fully engage in this "experiment" in experiential learning. Special notes: Beth realized as she was playing a song during recording that she ...
Mar 08, 2023•57 min•Ep. 13
In this episode, Beth chats with Maya Chupkov of the Proud Stutter podcast about facilitators who stutter. They talk about how groups might perceive stuttering and what to do about that, strategies that facilitators who stutter might use when working with groups, and the benefits people might experience when working with a facilitator who stutters. Beth and Maya also explore: different types of stutters respecting a person's wishes to talk about their stutter or not a facilitator's consideration...
Feb 22, 2023•41 min•Ep. 12
In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom shares several recommendations about how to work with course content that you might, at first, consider dry or boring and make it come alive for your learners. It's not the content of our sessions that is naturally "dry" - it's how we approach it when we're designing the learning experience! Connect with the Facilitating on Purpose podcast: Follow Facilitating on Purpose on Instagram , LinkedIn , or YouTube Show notes and transcripts available at facilitat...
Feb 08, 2023•24 min•Ep. 11
In this episode, Beth chats with Jan Keck, an experience designer, facilitator, and trainer whose mission is to help people feel less alone. Jan shares with us some of the ways he intentionally helps people create deeper human connection through facilitation. Beth and Jan also explore: Considering people's senses and feelings when designing experiences Increasing participants' comfort levels - and therefore engagement - over time The necessity of bringing more play into facilitations Fostering c...
Jan 25, 2023•38 min•Ep. 10
In this episode, Beth talked with guest Hannah Brown about her new book, Training that Clicks: Virtual Design Playbook, which is all about designing and facilitating virtual learning. Hannah helps us remember to use technology to our advantage and think both about our participants' experience and how we need to show up as facilitators in virtual spaces. Beth and Hannah also explore: the different people involved in learning and development and how their needs vary focusing on desired performance...
Jan 11, 2023•42 min•Ep. 9
In this episode Beth talks with her parents, Ron and Elaine Cougler, and her brother, Kevin Cougler, about being lifelong learners and how that has presented itself in their family. Listen for ideas to take into your own life and relationships – with family, friends, or colleagues – about how to be and support each other as lifelong learners. The Cougler Family also explore: Learning when we’re ready to learn and seeking out learning Supporting and being supported by people in our life The effor...
Dec 21, 2022•56 min•Ep. 8
In this episode, Beth talks with guest Taruna Goel about the facilitator's role in helping participants become expert learners, and how facilitators can strive to become expert learners themselves. Beth and Taruna also explore: Being strategic and taking more active roles as facilitators What it means to be an expert learner How we can use the Universal Design for Learning Guidelines to make learning inclusive and transformative for everyone Investing in our own personal learning, including form...
Dec 07, 2022•51 min•Ep. 7
In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom shares some mistakes that she has made recently in her facilitation practice and talks about what she's doing about them to keep learning in her work. Beth also explores the following: showing our humanity as facilitators using inclusive language finding the words to speak up against racism the vulnerability and bravery involved in revealing our mistakes Other Links From the Episode: Liberating Structures Brave video by Sara Bareilles Facilitating on Purpo...
Nov 23, 2022•30 min•Ep. 6
In this episode, Beth chats with guest Tara Jaskowiak from Groundwork about the business side of facilitation, focusing on planning and communications strategies that facilitators can use to support their success. This look behind the scenes will be valuable for either people who own a facilitation-related business or who do facilitation work inside an organization. Beth and Tara also explore: Tara’s five elements of communication Using storytelling skills to make connections with others Reflect...
Nov 09, 2022•42 min•Ep. 5
In this episode, Beth chats with Moe Poirier of Shift Facilitation about the importance of leaders learning facilitation skills and how the fields of coaching and facilitation are a lot alike. Beth and Moe also explore: the core mindsets and skillsets of facilitators how to deal with their 'fraud voice' as facilitators how organizations can use facilitation skills to support their success Engage with Moe Poirier, Shift Facilitation: shiftfacilitation.com fivepersonas.com LinkedIn: https://www.li...
Oct 26, 2022•39 min•Ep. 4
In this episode, Beth and guest Susana Guardado of Bright Light Ideas talk about how facilitators can create inclusive learning spaces and experiences in which people feel valued, respected, and accepted. They also explore: Listening to learners to be able to meaningfully engage them Learning from feedback to continue to grow as facilitators Designing learner-centred sessions Using techniques of visual thinking and visual facilitation to support people's experiences and learning Engage with Susa...
Oct 12, 2022•39 min•Ep. 3
In this episode, host Beth Cougler Blom shares why she chose the name of the podcast, Facilitating on Purpose. She talks about what that means and why we might want to facilitate learning with our groups on purpose, as well as some initial ideas of how to do that. Listen in to learn more about: bringing intentionality to designing and facilitating learning experiences what it looks like to not be intentional and how to overcome that how time management is intricately interwined with the learning...
Sep 28, 2022•19 min•Ep. 2
