How To Lead Better Gatherings with Douglas Ferguson

In this episode of Strategy Shorts, Douglas Ferguson, Founder of Voltage Control, discusses the importance of intentional facilitation in driving collaboration and achieving desired outcomes. He shares his unconventional journey into facilitation and the inspiration behind Voltage Control. Douglas also introduces the Workshop Design Canvas, a tool for designing effective workshops by starting with the desired outcomes and working backwards. He explains the key elements of the canvas, including learner before and after, assessment points, and activities. The canvas helps facilitators create intentional and purposeful workshop experiences that drive progress and engagement. Takeaways ▪︎ Facilitation is essential for driving collaboration and achieving desired outcomes. ▪︎ The Workshop Design Canvas is a tool for designing effective workshops by starting with the desired outcomes and working backwards. ▪︎ The canvas includes elements such as learner before and after, assessment points, and activities. ▪︎ Designing workshops with intention and purpose leads to better engagement and progress. ▪︎ The canvas can be applied in various contexts beyond workshops, including gatherings of all kinds and sales conversations. Sound Bites: 📢 ” You can't get there from here, but you can get here from there." 📢 ”If this is the outcome that we want to achieve, then you start thinking, what is the best activity that helps us move towards that goal?" 📢 "Focusing your creativity, the system allows you to shine a flashlight on where the important decisions are." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:22 Douglas’ Background and Unconventional Journey into Facilitation 12:30 Introducing the Workshop Design Canvas 23:49 Applying the Canvas in Other Ways 25:20 Where to Start: Focusing Creativity and Applying the Approach Links: 🔗 Workshop Design Canvas 🔗 Follow Douglas on LinkedIn 🔗 Follow Dan on LinkedIn