But what do I mean by a “premium experience”?
A promise I make to my clients and one that drives my constant learning and innovation is that I insist on delivering a premium experience.
First of all, I don’t mean “fancy.”
I mean that I always bring the best of what I have that is relevant to what we are doing together. AND I pledge that my best is always getting better.
I stay nerdy for you and for me.
Because I care, I am driven, and I can’t help myself. I am deeply interested in the experiences humans have at work and how to create more meaningful, fulfilling and equitable experiences at work. So I am naturally drawn to topics like feedback, leadership, people-positivity, purpose and how we shape workplaces to meet our aspirations.
Whether we are partnering together to build a talent system, getting ready to deliver a retreat they’ll keep talking about, or in a room I’m facilitating, you’re going to have a premium experience.
One of my clients recently described it this way: “You don’t have to get ready because you stay ready.” The highest compliment, honestly.
Here’s what I think makes the experience premium:
1 | As a consultant…
I infuse all of my work with people positivity. Meaning I believe people are worthy of trust and respect and, with a clear understanding of shared principles, expectations and constraints, will make smart decisions for themselves, their teams and their organizations.
I'm fully invested in bringing the most current thinking to you. It’s common to find me nerding out on a Friday night listening to podcasts like At Work with The Ready Or Adam Grant’s REThinking or Work Life. Or reading chapters from Heath Brothers Power of Moments, Aaron Dignan's Brave New Work, Priya Parker’s Art of Gathering or brushing up on Liberating Structures. I’m always learning, always honing my craft, and those are some major influences you'll feel come through when you work with me.
2 | As a retreat designer...
Behind the scenes I’m creative, non-linear, pulling resources, taking risks, connecting concepts, setting a stage for something purposeful and telling a story of the experience.
But what you actually see is a clear agenda with options, rationale, and room to adjust to meet the needs of the group.
You’re not getting stale activities or disconnected connectors from me.
It’s a yes to what is tried and true + yes to always staying on top of the latest innovations, research and thinking to bring you the best I’ve got.
3 | When it’s time to prep…
I’m linear and methodical. Focused on what I need to pre-think so the day is about the art of the experience, radical presence, and not the mechanics of the show.
But what you actually see? Nothing! I want you to enjoy the eventual party, not join me in planning for things that could go wrong.
4 | And then on retreat day…
In the room, I am absolutely giving it my all.
I’m fully prepped and know the plan. I probably prep more than most facilitators at my level. But I do that so I can be fully focused on objectives and the humans in the room, while remaining unflappable when the unexpected happens.
I’m watching energy and ready to change the plan to flow with it, I’m secretly watching the clock, I’m tuned in to the people, listening for the shared reflection that is the perfect transition to the next bit, wrangling people slow to return from the break, reminding myself that I’m the tone setter, the list goes on! It’s such a complex thing to lead a group of humans through a meaningful experience and I am 100% here for it.
5 | In the room I’ve got a humble confidence.
Confident because I've been in situations like this before and have found the way through so I know I can get us where we need to go.
But also humble enough to realize that 1. I haven't been in this exact room at this exact moment with you all before and 2. There are a multitude of ways to move and it's likely somebody in the room has a better approach than mine.
6 | In the room you’re going to feel my generous authority
I am told I have a calming, welcoming presence and a confident hand.
I’m cool and fun 😎, but I’m not “chill” when it comes to leading a room. I’m holding the process and only adjusting it if I see a better way. I’m offering protocols that allow us all to engage and ensuring everybody knows how they are meant to engage. I’m creating rules to govern the unique and purposeful gathering we are having. I’m using my discernment, experience, and yes, authority, to make decisions for the good of the group.
I do this in service to you. I’m radically present for your benefit.
7 | And you’re probably going to enjoy the experience.
But that doesn’t mean I’ll sacrifice quality for likability. While one can certainly be both, it’s much easier to be likable than to be a highly-effective facilitator. I know clients hire me because I’m a skilled facilitator who people also happen to enjoy working with. And who will tell them the truth about what I see in our interactions.
If a client prefers likable to getting stuff done, we’re probably not a match, but there are loads of other likable but less skilled folks they could call.
And after the retreat is done, I expect to be exhausted
because I just gave you everything I had.
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