Happy to join in! I'm an international facilitator focused on leadership development. Excited to be here!

Andrew here! The new guy saying Hi! Originally from Sydney, now living in New York. My parents were refugees so i feel like i’m a long way from home. Glad to be here. Just wanted to reach out too, to see if anyone else is into story. I’ve realized with everything that’s happened so far that it’s what im trying to pursue, finding stories to tell, and helping guide them and then making my own. I was wondering if anyone else feels the same way or tries to incorporate storytelling (kind of a buzzword at the moment I know) into their communication and facilitation? So much of who I am revolves around Narrative Driven Decision Making. Whether that be operations, Marketing or Branding. I somehow find I’m always chasing the “why”? Why does this work the way it does? Why did they do that, so digging into the structure of the why, how stories shape decision making, and how stories scale to solve problems from the smallest to the biggest. I just recently found out I have Adult ADHD, which secretly at times has been the biggest curse but a superpower at times too. Obsession with patterns and why things work. So understanding what makes us tick, and how my brain and the brains of others make decisions this felt like home as soon as I saw it. I'm really excited to be part of this amazing community of facilitators. I'm here to connect, learn, and share whatever I can to help. Be great to hear how how has facilitation impacted your career or work, and what drew you everybody in? Or if anyone wants to talk shop about story too. I'm also a filmmaker, working on a podcast on decision making and a photographer. Looking forward to hearing your stories and connecting with you all!

What do you do when YOUR energy is just not there, but you're about to run a workshop / you're in the middle of running one?

Discovering new clients doesn't always involve direct sales pitches. In fact, I've found that the best way to get new clients is not by trying hard to convince them. What does that mean? I've been working in the innovation business for 15 years. I know that it's crucial to keep making your product better by talking to customers regularly. For us who run workshops to help customers solve their problems, those problem-solving workshops are our products. So, to get new clients, I reach out to successful senior managers on LinkedIn, like C-Level, SVPs, and VPs. I ask if I can spend 15 minutes learning from them about how they solve problems inside their companies. If they agree, I curiously ask a lot of questions about their process. Why do I do this? - People like feeling important, like heroes. They like being asked for advice. So, I give them what they want, and that makes it more likely for them to say yes to my request. - Sometimes, they just tell me how they solve problems without asking me anything. That's okay - I still learn a lot. - Most times, they ask why I want to know. When I explain my approach, I often hear, "You didn't try to sell anything, but you've sold yourself perfectly." - Success! If you're interested in learning more, please feel free to ask below. PS: What's your approach to finding new clients?

Hello Facilitators! 👋 Ever wondered about the diverse backgrounds of those in our community? I'm eager to know which fields attract individuals interested in facilitation. By sharing your field, you might find others in similar or complementary areas. Who knows, you might discover unexpected connections or even new opportunities! So, what field do you work in? Drop your response below! 👇