321 - Resting in Complexity: The Inner Work of Modern Leadership with Marco Valente

How do we host ourselves as facilitators – and how do we host others? How do we grow bigger minds to meet the complexity out there, and then rest in it without needing to know the answers?

Marco Valente joins me for a big, juicy and mind-opening conversation as we navigate the inner workings of the growing self – and the leader – to better understand the messy, unpredictable complexities of our world. It’s about walking up to our mind’s balcony in search of self-awareness and inner presence, it’s about getting vulnerable in our wrongness, and getting comfortable with the unknown.

Marco shares his thoughts, leadership advice and hosting tips with beautiful eloquence and I invite every leader, facilitator and sense-maker to press play to this wonderful episode.

Find out about:

The mind trap of identity, ego and feedback
The evolutionary pulls of fear - how much helps or hinders us?
Why KPIs can harm the collective, rather than help with long-term growth
The paradox of learning more facilitation methods, in order to detach ourselves from them
The balancing act of structure and emergence to accurately address group needs

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Marco Valente:

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How do we host ourselves as facilitators – and how do we host others? How do we grow bigger minds to meet the complexity out there, and then rest in it without needing to know the answers?

Marco shares his thoughts, leadership advice and hosting tips with beautiful eloquence and I invite every leader, facilitator and sense-maker to press play to this wonderful episode.

Find out about:

The mind trap of identity, ego and feedback
The evolutionary pulls of fear - how much helps or hinders us?
Why KPIs can harm the collective, rather than help with long-term growth
The paradox of learning more facilitation methods, in order to detach ourselves from them
The balancing act of structure and emergence to accurately address group needs

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Marco Valente:

Previous Episode

320 - Facilitating with the Brain in Mind with Amanda Cookson

Helping people to do their best thinking, is Amanda Cookson. A coach, facilitator and all-round neuroscience whizz, she’s made it her mission to help leaders better understand what it means to be human.

And it all starts with our own thinking-feeling, wildly brilliant, untamed brain! She guides us through its inner workings with effervescence and passion, showing us how to work with it – rather than against it – steer pulse-quickening conversations towards oxytocin, and design experiences that help rewire the brain for real, lasting change.

An energising, thoughtful conversation, full of golden mind-training nuggets to try in both facilitation, and life!

Find out about:

Why the discomfort of cognitive dissonance can lead to richer learnings
The power of asking great questions in search of answers that ignite deep thinking
Amanda’s feelings-based ground rules of presence, curiosity and generosity
Friends vs Foe: how to turn self-fulfilling prophecies into human connection
How to facilitate with the brain in mind, for insight, rather than information

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Connect to Amanda Cookson:

Next Episode

322 - The Courage to Facilitate Without Fixing with Parker J. Palmer

Center for Courage and Renewal

Hailing from Quaker circles and Berkeley’s grassroots community movements in the 1960s, is the sagacious Parker J. Palmer – activist, facilitator, teacher and author. His unconventional entry into facilitation was piqued by a fascination with circle-work, which inspired a 30+ year career spent holding space for the mutable truth to emerge.

This is a wise, thoughtful conversation grounded in a lifetime of Parker’s lived experiences. From authoring your own life, to questioning the truth with kindness, being aware of hubris and approaching facilitation with fresh curiosity every day.

There’s an incredible amount to learn from Parker in our conversation alone, and I hope you’re as inspired as I was!

Find out about:

The confluence of facilitation, writing and teaching
Why safe spaces are an on-going practice, requiring facilitator’s to protect individuals from judgement and criticism
Understanding the concept of ‘truth’ amongst a group of different perspectives
The importance of allowing groups to sit in reflection, before rushing to problem-solve
Why every group workshop must be approached with fresh eyes

Don’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.

Links:

Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.

Living the Questions with Parker J. Palmer

Parker J Palmer Publications

Connect to Parker J. Palmer: