Dear Reader,

An undeniable truth: We cannot run away from ourselves, and our patterns won't change just by changing our perspectives.

My word of the year is SLOW and up to now, I have failed to live up to it almost every single day. The worst is that I didn't even realise! I came to Australia hoping that I would be embrace slow living, since I wouldn’t have meetings throughout the day. But instead of slowing down, I ended up doubling my workload: starting early in the morning with calls and emails (sometimes a course from as early as 4 AM) until noon, enjoying most of the day uninterrupted, and then taking calls from the afternoon until the late evening. That’s a long day!

Before going on a long weekend to meditate and enjoy time without a screen, I set up an out-of-office and only after a few days of pure, blissful nothingness it struck me: why do I even need to set one? What am I communicating to myself and to my clients if I don't allow myself a long weekend to reply without explaining myself?

It all boils down to boundaries and clarity in communication. If we don't protect our time and energy, nobody will, and it will be sure to backfire at some point. Naturally, as facilitators, it’s ingrained in us to be in service; we want to always support, and not let clients, participants or collaborators down. But ultimately, if we don't set boundaries, we will let ourselves down - which won't serve anyone.

And so, as a note to self (and please do keep me accountable): I will no longer be setting an OOO for any time away that's shorter than a week. Replies can wait, as I continue my journey into slowness.

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🎙 Meanwhile, on the podcast…

When Benjamin Taylor began our conversation with a comparison to Heidegger philosophy, I knew we were going to have a powerful, thoughtful conversation.

Benjamin has decades of consulting experience to share through the lens of facilitation, allowing us to zoom out and back in again, on the idiosyncrasies of our practice. Do participants see our tools coming from a mile off? What stereotypes define our role? And what role does facilitation play in consulting?

Episode 257 is a conversation rich with intricate insights, muse-worthy moments, and reflections on our wider practice.

Find out about:

• Where facilitation shows up in consulting and the interplay between the two disciplines
• What Benjamin has learnt from decades spent as a consultant in the public sector
• The distinction between shallow and deep facilitation and why it is critical for an effective outcome
• Why the key to impactful facilitation lies in fostering an environment of connection, collaboration and empowering each participant’s strengths
• Why consultants must resist the urge to prove instant value; instead taking a more measured, facilitative approach to collaboration

🔖 Click here to download my 1-page summary of the show.​

👀 Click here to watch the unedited interview on Youtube​​

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And from Wednesday​

🎧 Click here to listen to the interview​

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📚 Craft your Facilitation Signature

From March 6th, a small group of six will have the opportunity to work with Thomas Lahnthaler and me on their unique facilitation signature. Over the course of four weeks, we will unveil what it is that makes you unmistakenly you so that you can attract the perfect clients and projects that give you energy instead of costing you energy.

​Click here to find out more.

Check out this video of Thomas' and my LinkedIn Live to better understand what we mean and what we will cover in the Bootcamp:

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I hope to see you at the Bootcamp and wish you a wonderful week ahead! Take care and see you next week!

Myriam

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