How Do You Be a Great Mentor?
Mentoring is about more than just offering advice; it’s about sharing your current best thinking. The phrase “my current best thinking is…” allows mentors to share their insights without claiming to have all the answers. This approach is like a cheat code to life. It gives mentees concrete advice based on the mentor’s experience, which […]
What Is Your Story?
Recently, I had dinner with some old friends and my brother, who was somewhat an outsider to the group. Striking up a conversation, my brother asked my friend Brenton about his life story. Surprisingly, Brenton delved into his fascinating journey, revealing aspects of his life I never knew despite our long friendship. This incident made […]
How Do You Connect With Someone You Don’t Like?
In the realm of workplace and mentoring relationships, a common challenge emerges: how do we connect with someone we don’t know, or maybe don’t even like? This question is vital, as often our professional paths require us to build bridges with a wide variety of individuals. Engaging in a Collaborative Q&A In a recent discussion, […]
This SIMPLE TRICK Changed Everything For Me
I’m excited to share a very simple yet profound idea: the magic of a second question. As adults, we ask about 95% fewer questions than we did as children, leading to a significant decline in our curiosity. However, considering that most of us know less than 1% of all there is to know, our curiosity […]
4 Smart Ways to Measure Events
Hey there, fellow event planners and facilitators! Today, let’s dive into something that often gets overlooked but is crucial for the success of any large group event: measuring the impact of our facilitation efforts. When we invest time, resources, and energy into organizing conferences or events, it’s essential to ask ourselves, “Are we really making […]
How To Engage Diverse Perspectives In Small Group Facilitation
Today I’m sharing four quick-hit ways for you to encourage diverse perspectives in your small group. 1. Playing the Traffic Cop in Small Group Facilitation As a facilitator, think of yourself as a traffic cop at a construction site, directing the flow of conversation. If someone dominates the discussion, gently guide the group by saying […]
How To Gently Eradicate Small Talk
This is the first video in a series I’m going to be sharing with you showcasing a recent conversation I had with Lisa Fain, the CEO of The Center for Mentoring Excellence. I’m so excited to share all of this with you over the coming weeks! Lisa Fain: So, let’s start off. You’ve often […]
Brain-Based Tips To Increase Learning Retention
As educators, trainers, or facilitators, our goal is always to make information memorable. While it’s unrealistic to expect people to remember everything, there are strategies to increase retention. I recently led a workshop series, “Engaged to Educate,” where we explored these techniques. The Power of Contribution in Learning One fundamental approach is designing content for […]
Best Conversation Starter Cards
Whether seeking suggestions from an artificial intelligence like ChatGPT or interacting with fellow humans, the power of prompts cannot be understated. The questions we ask and the way we frame them directly impact the responses we receive. This holds true for human intelligence and connection as much as it does for AI. Imagine walking up […]
How to Raise Kids With Technology
As we wade through the digital era, the age-old question of how to raise children has morphed into a more nuanced discussion: How do we raise kids with technology? This question, brimming with complexities, reflects our collective journey as parents, educators, and conscientious members of society. Recently, I embarked on a personal mission to delve […]