Facilitating Emotional Learning Sessions

Recently a colleague asked me, “Laura, how are you able to get a group of complete strangers to bond so quickly?” It made me pause and reflect on my approach. Creating a strong bond among individuals is rooted in fostering psychological safety, shared experiences, and vulnerability. Here are some strategies I employ: 1. Establish a Shared Purpose Early On: - Define the group's purpose clearly. - Focus on the intention behind the gathering, promoting authenticity over perfection. 2. Initiate Vulnerability-Based Icebreakers: - Dive beyond surface-level introductions by asking meaningful questions: - "What's a personal achievement you're proud of but haven't shared with the group?" - "What challenge are you currently facing, big or small?" - "What truly motivated you to join us today?" These questions encourage genuine connections by fostering openness and humanity. 3. Engage in Unconventional Activities Together: - Bond through unique experiences such as: - Light physical activities (get outside and take a walk) or team challenges. - Creative endeavors like collaborative projects or improvisation. - Reflective exercises such as guided meditations followed by group reflections. 4. Facilitate "Small Circle" Conversations: - Encourage deeper discussions in smaller groups before sharing insights with the larger group. - Smaller settings often lead to increased comfort, paving the way for more profound interactions in larger settings. 5. Normalize Authentic Communication: - Lead by example as a facilitator or leader by sharing genuine and unexpected thoughts. - Setting the tone for open dialogue encourages others to follow suit. 6. Highlight Common Ground: - Acknowledge shared themes and experiences after individual shares. - Recognize patterns like shared pressures, transitions, or identity struggles to unify the group. 7. Incorporate Group Rituals: - Commence or conclude sessions with grounding rituals like breathwork, gratitude circles, one on one share. In what ways have you been able to create cohesion quickly amongst a group of individuals in a training session? #fasttracktotrust #humanconnection #facilitatedconnection

The ultimate guide to creating transformational workshop experiences (Even if you're not a natural facilitator) Ever had that gut-punch moment after a workshop where you just know it didn’t land? I’ve been there. Back then, I thought great workshops were all about cramming in as much content as possible. You know what I mean: - Slides with inspirational quotes. - The theory behind the frameworks. - More activities than a summer camp schedule… Subconsciously I believed that: The more I shared, the more people would see me as an expert. The more I shared, the more valuable the workshop. And participants would surely walk away transformed. Spoiler: they didn’t. They were hit-and-miss. But then on a leadership retreat in 2016, I stumbled onto something that changed everything. Something so obvious it's almost easy to miss. But when you intentionally use them, it took my workshops from "meh" to "mind-blowing": Three simple principles: 1️⃣ Context-based Learning People don't show up as blank slates. They bring their own experiences, challenges, and goals. When I started anchoring my content in their reality, things clicked. Suddenly, what I was sharing felt relevant and useful — like I was talking with them instead of at them. 2️⃣ Experiential Learning Turns out, people don’t learn by being told. They learn by doing (duh). When I shifted to creating experiences, the room came alive. And participants actually remembered what they’d learned. Experiences like roleplays, discussions, real-world scenarios, the odd game... 3️⃣ Evocative Facilitation This one was a game-changer. The best workshops aren’t just informative — they’re emotional. The experiences we run spark thoughts and reactions. And it's our job to ask powerful questions to invite reflection. Guiding participants to their own "aha!" moments to use in the real world. (yup, workshops aren't the real world) ... When I started being intentional with these three principles, something clicked. Participants started coming up to me after sessions, saying things like: "That’s exactly what I needed." "I feel like you were speaking directly to me." "I’ve never felt so seen in a workshop before." And best of all? Those workshops led to repeat bookings, referrals, and clients who couldn’t wait to work with me again. Is this the missing piece to your expertise? - If so, design experiences around context. •Facilitate experiences that evoke reactions •Unpack reactions to land the learning ♻️ Share if you found this useful ✍️ Do you use any principles to design your workshops?

Mirror, mirror on the wall… These are a couple of the kids at A Plus practicing a mirroring exercise. I have been teaching them mindfulness and yoga as well as creating a Social Emotional Learning curriculum for the past couple of years. The mirroring exercise combines physical movement with a social-emotional practice and the benefits are huge. Enhances Empathy: By mimicking another's actions or emotions, you can better understand and connect with their feelings. Improves Communication: Mirroring helps build rapport and fosters a deeper connection in conversations. Boosts Self-Awareness: Participating in mirroring exercises increases awareness of your own body language and non-verbal cues. Strengthens Relationships: By reflecting others' behaviors, trust and mutual understanding are often strengthened. Supports Emotional Regulation: Engaging in these exercises can help manage emotions and create a calming effect during interactions. Teachers, try this activity with your students?  Or leaders, why not include something similar in your training? We can all do with improving these skills!!

Client Tears in Strategy Sessions: Breakthrough Moments or Unprofessional Boundaries? In my brand strategy sessions, I’ve often been called a “brand therapist.” It’s a title I wear with pride because it reflects the deep, emotional journeys I embark on with clients. When discussing a company’s purpose, vision, and mission, it’s not uncommon for emotions to surface. Founders share personal stories—the core reasons behind their company’s existence—and sometimes, these revelations bring tears. Creating a space where clients feel safe to open up is what I do best. As a facilitator, it’s essential to establish an environment of trust and openness. This involves active listening, empathy, care, and genuine curiosity. But there’s more to it than just listening to words. It’s about tuning into the unspoken cues: 😒 Subtle shifts in body language 🙄 Movements of their eyes 🤐 Brief hesitations before speaking 😔 Changes in energy levels 🥰 Variations in tone of voice These nonverbal signals often speak louder than words. They are my cues to go deeper. By honing these human skills (they're not "soft skills"!), you can guide clients through profound reflections, leading to authentic brand narratives that resonate deeply with their audience. Bringing people to tears isn’t often seen as a great thing, but when you want to discover the brand's why and reason for being—it might be exactly what’s needed. ❤️ ————————————————— I’m Anneli, a human-centered brand strategist helping creatives transition from order-taker to change-maker by learning the art of facilitation.