Deepen Your Practice with Expert Insights

Insights

May 29, 2025

Facilitators don’t just run workshops—they hold space, shape energy, and guide learning. And the best facilitators know that great sessions start with great questions. Staying sharp means reading widely, watching intentionally, and learning from those who’ve done the work.

Here’s a curated list of books and talks, paired with real interviews, videos, and podcasts from the authors—so you can go deeper into their ideas and apply them to your own facilitation practice.

1. The Art of Gathering – Priya Parker

Why read: How to create gatherings that are bold, human, and transformative. A foundational read for anyone leading sessions, meetings, or events.

Watch the interview (SXSW 2022):

2. Presence – Amy Cuddy

Why read: Understand how body language shapes confidence—especially helpful for facilitators navigating onscreen presence in virtual or hybrid rooms.

Watch the TED Talk:
https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are

3. The Fearless Organization – Amy Edmondson

Why read: A deep dive into psychological safety, group learning, and how to make teams feel safe to speak up—critical for effective facilitation.

Listen to the podcast (Coaching for Leaders):
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fearless-organization-with-amy-edmondson/id1262213009?i=1000516274317

4. Gamestorming – Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, James Macanufo

Why read: A visual toolkit for brainstorming, sense-making, and collaborative thinking. Many of the games adapt beautifully to digital and hybrid sessions.

Watch Dave Gray on visual thinking:

5. Liberating Structures – Henri Lipmanowicz & Keith McCandless

Why read: Thirty-three simple, powerful microstructures that improve group engagement. Ideal for co-creation, distributed participation, and hybrid facilitation.

Watch the authors discuss the method:

6. Training from the Back of the Room – Sharon Bowman

Why read: Practical brain-based training strategies that increase retention and learner engagement. Great for designing interactive learning experiences online.

Read a practical overview of the book:
https://wind4change.com/training-from-back-room-sharon-bowman/

7. Nonviolent Communication – Marshall Rosenberg

Why read: Learn to navigate group tension, offer feedback, and build connection through language that opens up conversation rather than shuts it down.

Watch a recorded interview:

8. The Coaching Habit – Michael Bungay Stanier

Why read: An accessible, actionable book on staying curious longer and leading with questions. Especially helpful for 1:1s, retros, and reflection activities.

Listen to the podcast interview:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ua22cHJLTUBAVzQrGxnrC

How to Use This in Your Facilitation Practice

  • Share a clip or quote to open or close a session
  • Use reading as pre-work for leadership or learning programmes
  • Create a SmartLab “resource hub” as a post-session follow-up
  • Reflect on one resource each month to build your own practice

SmartLab Makes It Easy to Share and Apply What You Learn

SmartLab lets you integrate curated content directly into your sessions—whether it’s a TED Talk in the intro flow, a book excerpt in a reflection module, or a quote in a closing board. You can embed resources, link to follow-ups, or create facilitator learning pathways right inside your SmartLab workspace.

Your growth as a facilitator is ongoing—and the right content helps you show up with more presence, confidence, and insight.

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