workshops work Podcast
This is a podcast about facilitation: the practice of creating conditions for people to think better together.
Whether you’re leading strategy, navigating change or developing leaders, the quality of your conversations shapes the quality of your decisions.
Hosted by Dr Myriam Hadnes, behavioural economist, facilitator and founder of workshops.work, each episode explores the human dynamics of working together: how psychological safety is built, why some conversations lead to action while others stall, how leaders foster genuine participation, and what behavioural science can teach us about collaboration. Alongside these conversations, Dr Hadnes shares reflections from her own client work, offering practical insights from the realities of designing and facilitating workshops in organisations.
Recognised as the facilitation community’s most-recommended podcast in SessionLab’s State of Facilitation reports from 2024 to 2026, the show has grown into an archive of more than 350 conversations spanning the craft, the inner work, and the unexpected edges of facilitation. Whether you’re a facilitator, leader, consultant or L&D professional, you'll come away with sharper questions and a few ideas worth borrowing.
workshops work Podcast
063 - Let’s Bring Some Appreciative Inquiry To Your Workshops! with Laure Cohen van Delft
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When I first read about AI and facilitation, I was worried the robots were coming for my job… but then I spoke with Laure Cohen van Delft and realised AI is a most welcome addition to our profession!
This is because AI, in this context, refers to Appreciative Inquiry – a framework and approach that facilitates purposeful change in organisations. The approach is centred on outcomes that grow in value (Appreciate) and a curious mindset (Inquiry).
AI encompasses many facets of other facilitative approaches that are joined together by the belief that every living system has potential for growth.
Laure’s explanation of AI is fascinating – a truly unique perspective – and every facilitator can learn something from her.
Find out about:
- How Laure utilises LEGO Serious Play within her workshops
- What Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is
- How AI can be practiced in workshops
- Why AI can be so effective
- The outcomes made possible by designing a workshop around AI
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A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!
Questions and Answers
[01:44] When did you first call yourself a facilitator?
[03:06] What does facilitation mean to you?
[06:08] What have you learned from LEGO Serious Play?
[09:55] How do you define Appreciative Inquiry (AI)?
[14:34] Is there a specific structure to AI?
[24:05] How do we put the principles of AI together in a workshop?
[38:08] What is your favourite question to ask in a workshop?
[42:06] What makes a workshop fail?
[48:10] What is one thing you want listeners to take away from this episode?
Links to check
- David L. Cooperrider Center for Appreciative Inquiry
- AI Commons
- The 5 principles of AI
- Essentials of Appreciative Inquiry by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney and Jacqueline Stavros, 2008
- Encyclopedia of Positive Questions second edition by Diana Whitney, Amanda Trosten-Bloom, David Cooperrider and Brian S. Kaplin, 2014
Connect with Laure
Any thoughts? Share them with us!
👉 Are you looking for the Unprofessionalism podcast? https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/ 👈
