Hello friends,
Greetings from Barcelona. ☀️
Online facilitation continues to evolve at lightning speed. ⚡ It can be nearly impossible to keep up with the pace of change.
That’s why I started The Quest in October 2020.
I wanted to make it easier for live session leaders to quickly learn what they need to know about leading and designing live online sessions.
🙅But not just any old live sessions. No-ho-ho way.
We’re talking ✨EXCEPTIONAL✨ online experiences that create real breakthroughs for our virtual audiences.
And what a journey it’s been. Thank YOU for being part of it!
Last year, I shared my 10 Biggest Insights from writing the first 100 editions of The Quest.
This year, drawing from 145 newsletters and hundreds of hours on Zoom, I’m excited to share my 💡Top 10 Insights from 2023.
I’d love to hear your top insights. Join the conversation over on LinkedIn.
Here are the insights
1/ 🤖AI Enhances, Doesn’t Replace Facilitation
What was a novel idea a year ago is a tool that has now crept into many most aspects of online facilitation. But one thing is clear. It can’t replicate the crucial human elements of leading groups. Emotional skills, creativity, and human judgment to name a few. Embrace AI as a tool, but focus on honing your irreplaceable human facilitation skills.
Check out 👇
💬The Quest #103: How AI Can Help You Facilitate Better Online Sessions
📡The Quest #104: The Secret to Thriving as a Facilitator in the Age of AI
The Quest #135: 🪄3 Ways You Can Use AI to Improve Your Live Sessions
2/ 💬Online Audiences Crave Interaction
Online audiences are no longer willing to be passive spectators. They have tasted the sweet wine of interaction. And they want more. This calls for design and delivery approaches that capture attention and actively involve participants.
Check out 👇
⏰ The Quest #106: The 2-minute “worth it” test
✋The Quest #109: The Early Engagement Effect
🥗The Quest #134: 10 Fresh Ideas for Keeping Everyone Engaged in Your Online Workshop
3/ 🎸Think Like an Event Producer
Old-school, content-focused formats are losing their appeal. This calls for live session leaders to adopt an event producer’s mindset, crafting immersive and memorable experiences.
Check out 👇
🎸The Quest #124: How to Think Like an Event Producer
🧠The Quest #105: How to create multi-sensory experiences for your virtual groups
4/ 👥Master Meaningful Breakouts
Did you notice a growing backlash against breakouts this year Audiences have suffered through too many breakouts that feel like a waste of time. It takes careful planning and execution to bring the magic of breakout groups back.
Check out 👉 🌟The Quest #102: How to Set Up Your Breakout Groups for Success
5/ ⚖️Balance Content and Connection
Overwhelm has already become a hallmark of live online sessions. There is a limit to how much content your online audience can process. It’s up to you to know how to strike the right balance of content and connection. When to increase audience interaction. And when less is more.
Check out 👇
✋The Quest #116: How to make your presentations interactive
🤯The Quest #125: How to Reduce Overwhelm In Your Online Sessions
6/ 💪Camera Confidence is Key
There’s no way around it. Confidently presenting yourself on camera has become a super skill in the digital era. The good news is that its a muscle you can build. Yes, even us introverts! Together with online facilitation, it transforms connection with your virtual audiences. That’s why it’s a skill well worth investing in.
🎥 The Quest #114: How to improve your confidence on camera
7/ 💥From Engagement to Breakthrough
“How do I engage my audience?” That’s hands-down the most common question I get asked. But is it the right question? Engagement matters because it sets the stage for deeper insights and pivotal aha! moments. A better question to ask is why you want to engage your audience. That’s what will unlock breakthroughs for your group members.
The Quest #133: 💥10 Simple Strategies for Facilitating Breakthroughs in Your Live Sessions
8/ 💛Facilitation: A Tool for Unity
In a world with more conflict, facilitation plays a mission-critical role in fostering understanding and connection. It helps people to feel seen and heard. And it opens up crucial conversations that help us to see each other’s shared humanity. Embracing, not avoiding conflict is where facilitation can be a tool for unity.
Check out 👇
🤝The Quest #139 What Facilitation Can Teach Us About Bridging Differences
9/ 🌿Prioritizing Facilitator Well-being
Leading live groups is demanding. And facilitation can be a lonely profession. That’s a recipe for burnout. It’s more important than ever to prioritize self-care. Mindfulness, facilitator communities, and well-timed breaks are all essential ingredients of the facilitator care package. When you prioritize your well-being, you’ll be able to bring your A-game to each session.
Check out 👇
😬The Quest #108: How to handle your anxiety before your live sessions
💪 The Quest #130: Five Steps for Facing the Toughest Facilitation Challenges With Confidence
10/ 👀See Facilitation’s Invisible Impact
Once you see exceptional facilitation you can’t unsee it. That’s when you start to grasp the nuances of skilled facilitation. But its invisible power also means that facilitation is undervalued. By improving your ability to see the invisible power of facilitation you can help others recognize its value as well.
Check out 👇
👀The Quest #138: How to See The Invisible Power of Facilitation
Here’s the summary👇
1/🤖 AI Enhances, Doesn’t Replace Facilitation
2/💬 Online Audiences Crave Interaction
3/🎸 Think Like an Event Producer
4/👥 Master Meaningful Breakouts
5/⚖️ Balance Content and Connection
6/💪 Camera Confidence is Key
7/💥 From Engagement to Breakthrough
8/💛 Facilitation: A Tool for Unity
9/🌿 Prioritize Facilitators Well-being
10/👀 See Facilitation’s Invisible Impact
Thanks to our friends at Maple Creative you can search all 145 editions of The Quest on my website 👉 here.
https://www.gwynwansbrough.com/newsletter/
❤️What You Had to Say
Your emails are the fuel that keeps me writing this newsletter each week. I am amazed to hear about the ways you apply your online facilitation skills. Here is a sample of what you have shared with me.🔥🔥🔥
Delia who wrote after reading The Quest #143: 🥗 5 Fresh Ways To Vibe Your Zoom Room
“Oooo love Zoom photo! Going to check that out! Thanks G!”
Gillian who wrote after reading 🧊🔥The Quest #107: Pro-tips for leading cringe-free icebreakers
Just opening 10 or 15 minutes before starting a yoga practice, I’ve found, encourages participants to socialize. I’ve always realized it was an important part of zooming yoga classes, but didn’t realize quite why. Thanks for all of this.
Jessica who wrote after reading 🎉The Quest #100: The 10 Biggest Insights I’ve Gained About Exceptional Online Sessions
I get so many great ideas from you that I am using in a new role as the CEO of my company. Thankfully we are back in person for training days, but your tips are great for any meetings.
Chris who sent this stunning sketch note after reading 🤦🏼♀️The Quest #136: How To Flip Facilitation Failures Into Learning
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
I always love hearing your feedback and suggestions. Just hit reply to share your thoughts and ideas.
If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to The Quest 👉here.
If you enjoy The Quest, I’d appreciate it if you shared it with anyone you think might like it.
Creatively yours,
Whenever you are ready there are 2 more ways I can help you:
👉Custom coaching & team training. Book a free 15-minute zero-commitment call with me to see how I can support you and your team.
👉5-week Live Online Course. The Breakthrough Facilitation course gives you tools, personalized feedback, and a proven framework for designing and leading high-engagement live sessions. Join the interest list and be the first to get the next cohort dates and discounts.
