Amber ✨ Workshop Development Coach

There are lots of people who just want to know how to improve engagement in their workshops. If you want to hold people’s attention better, get more responses when you ask questions, & keep the energy higher in your sessions *and that’s all you want* here are my top three tips: 1/10

8 Sept 2025

I'm doing a course on Futures Thinking (through Institute for the Future) and in the final module they have mini interviews with folks, asking: "What would you like to be true in the future that's not true today?" And honestly, I just wanna hear EVERYONE'S answer to that. 🤔 (including yours!)

21 Aug 2025

I wonder if generally being okay with hierarchy legitimizes hate crimes, state violence, surveillance culture, etc. Some people are viewed as "better" than others and make decisions for them (and sometimes against them). True for parents & bosses... And also Klan leaders & genocidal dictators. 👀

21 Aug 2025

If we do a better job of including people in the decision-making process, deciding things as a collective more when it's OUR turn to lead (with kids, in meetings) If we NORMALIZE sharing power... People might start to question why other people don't, and are claiming supremacy. 🤔...What else?

18 Aug 2025

If your workshop/event is a *dress rehearsal for the future*, what role do you want? Lead actor? Director? Craft services?

So, there you have it. If you just want some quick pointers on how to improve low engagement, those three tips are where I’d suggest starting. But honestly, that’s only addressing the second-most superficial “layer” of engagement issues, and I’m a big-picture person. 9/10

thehellocode.comMost people think low engagement is the problem with their workshop. It’s not. - The Hello CodeMost people think low engagement is the problem with their workshop. It's not. But it does hint at the deeper issues most facilitators never consider. Workshop hosts spend a loooot of energy trying to...

I wanna help you identify the actual problem, and propose a new way to think about things. I wrote a whole piece for you around why "low engagement" isn't actually the problem you need to solve. You can read it here: thehellocode.com/engagement/ 10/10

You might even get unsolicited questions or comments, when there’s a moment for them to interject. (You can tell them at the very beginning of the session if they should ask questions as they have them, or save them until the designated times). 7/10

Silence can be uncomfortable if you’re not used to it: you can always count out 10 “Mississippis” in your head if you need to. Or take a moment to think about what’s happened so far in the session, and where y’all might go next. Just make sure to NOT talk! 8/10

workshopsasworldbuilding.comThe Workshop CompassThe Workshop Compass is available with tiered pricing depending on your financial situation. Your go-to tool for designing balanced, energizing workshops.

If you keep doing the same few things to try to engage folks, people who can’t/won’t engage in that way might just look for something more interesting and check out of the conversation. [Check out The Workshop Compass for ideas on how to create more variety in your sessions.] 5/10

3. Add more silence. Even when you’re not asking questions! Give people time to make sense of what you say before you move on. If they can process their thoughts and feelings as you go along, they’re more likely to engage when there are chances to. 6/10

Could be asking for a head nod, a thumbs up, a verbal answer, whatever. Add a cue for yourself in your notes or slides with specific questions to ask at certain points if you need to. As you get more comfortable, they’ll come to you more naturally, in the moment. 3/10

2. Mix it up. Don’t always ask them to do the same thing. Vary what YOU do, and what you invite your people to do. Some people aren't comfortable speaking in front of the whole group. Others aren't able to type out answers. Putting numbers or short phrases into the chat gets boring real quick. 4/10

1. Ask for engagement more frequently. Attention spans are short, and people will settle into “consumption mode” if they don’t need to do anything but listen. Aim to get them involved every 5 minutes or so. 2/10

My big projects this week are: 👩🏽‍💻 restructuring my homepage ✍🏽 editing/publishing an essay (almost ready!) ✨ updating other assets featured on that page I changed the Pep Talk page after sharing it yesterday and something about this cartoon sparkly pink megaphone graphic just makes me so HAPPY 🥰

13 Aug 2025

There are days when I wonder if the work I do matters. I sometimes ruminate over whether or not my workshops, my ideas, or my way of doing things will ever make the impact I dream about. On those days, I give myself a pep talk. 1/3

13 Aug 2025

The old world wasn’t built for equity, creativity, or liberation. So, we're building something new. Which is HARD! What I need in moments of doubt is to remember I’m not alone in this work. It’s worthwhile and matters to a lot of people. And I thought… Maybe you could use this reminder too? 2/3

thehellocode.comPep Talk - The Hello CodeA Free Pep Talk for Facilitators: When you need encouragement to keep going with your work. Skip to the audio Feeling doubt? You're not alone. This pep talk is here to remind you: the old ways were de...

13 Aug 2025

This free audio is a gift from me to you. thehellocode.com/peptalk/ Calling it a hug ‘from my mouth to your ears’ is strange, but maybe accurate? 😅 I hope it lifts you up the way it lifts me. 💛 3/3

I'm still thinking about the outrage over "dynamic pricing" that's surfaced recently. Fluctuating prices based on how much a person needs/wants it... can we just call it price gouging? And I'm really curious if it's now time for EQUITY-BASED pricing to thrive? 👇🏽

I do equity based pricing for most of my products and services for a variery of reasons. The Q I get the most is: "Doesn't everyone just choose the lowest price? Surprisingly, MOST people choose the middle or highest tiers. But I'd still do it even if the majority chose the lowest tier. 🤷🏽‍♀️

THIS is the kind of world I want to live in. Full of trust, justice, fairness, choice, etc. Not one where we (literally) CAPITALIZE on people's hardships. 🤢 And based on the responses I'm seeing these days, I think more people might be ready for equity based pricing now. What say you?

It's basically the polar opposite. Instead of taking advantage of people who might be in a pinch, can we agree to LET THE PEOPLE CHOOSE a price that suits them? Could be 💸$0+, or 💰 from a set range, or 💵 predetermined tiers

8 Aug 2025

"When identity is derived from projecting an image in the public realm, something is lost, some core of identity diluted, some sense of authority or interiority sacrificed. It is time to question the false equivalency between not being seen and hiding. (1/3)

8 Aug 2025

And time to reevaluate the merits of the inconspicuous life, to search out some antidote to continuous exposure, and to reconsider the value of going unseen, undetected, or overlooked in this new world. (2/3)

8 Aug 2025

Might invisibility be regarded not simply as refuge, but as a condition with its own meaning and power? Going unseen may be becoming a sign of decency and self-assurance." - How to Disappear, Akiko Busch (3/3)

7 Aug 2025

I CANNOT be the only one who gets excited when someone tells them 'no'... And not because it's an opportunity for me to do some "objection-handling". 🤢 But b/c I'm legit happy they're comfortable telling the truth & setting a boundary. And because I can trust their yeses more! 🥰 Can't be just me.

7 Aug 2025

This summer's ice cream insufficiency is beginning to be rectified! Was in Collingwood earlier running errands and grabbed Ube & Chocolate Ganache from Nicky's (Sampled their Soursop & Butter Tart flavours too👌🏽) Always love uncommon flavours, especially small batch. Gimme some to dream about?

ctvnews.caDaisy Duck laid her eggs on Barrie Public Library's roof againFor more than a decade, Daisy has laid her eggs on Barrie's public library roof knowing a kind staff member will carry them to the waterfront when it's time.

Remember when I was talking about my library, the beautiful rooftop garden, and the ducks? Here's more info! 👇🏽

Librarianship.ca@librarianshipca.bsky.social

Daisy Duck laid her eggs on Barrie Public Library's roof again www.ctvnews.ca/barrie/video... For more than a decade, Daisy has laid her eggs on Barrie's public library roof knowing a kind staff member will carry them to the waterfront when it's time.

Amber ✨ Workshop Development Coach reposted

Mollie | 🌿Fern CX and CRM | Activist, Founder, Ally 🍉🥥🌴

@ferncxandcrm.com

I am beyond excited to share this with you, an absolutely WORLD CHANGING tool for ethical business owners, nonprofits, & anyone who hosts workshops, gatherings, group programs, etc. It feels like playing a game but you get insanely valuable insights into why your last group sesh fell flat.

Amber ✨ Workshop Development Coach@thehellocode.com

It's finally available! Meet the CODE Compass: a one-page tool to troubleshoot your workshop activity stack. Quickly spot where you're over-relying on one quadrant (like lecture or Q&A) and experiment with more balanced, energizing design choices. workshopsasworldbuilding.com/product-deta...

When people come to me for help with workshops, they tend to ask questions like: 💬 How do I get more engagement from people? 💬 What's a fun icebreaker that gets people talking? 💬 How do I make it more interactive? These are toootally fair questions... and they also miss the bigger picture. 👇🏽

I WISH more of us asked: 🧐Why might people *not* feel safe, seen, or motivated enough to engage? Have I (unknowingly) done anything to contribute to that? 🧐 What EXACtLY do I mean by "engagement"? Why do I want that? Does it benefit *them* to engage in that way? What conditions make that possible?

Engagement is something we earn. And it comes a lot more naturally when we invite them into a world where they feel like our EQUALS, rather than our audience. Enter: Worldbuilding. I've got tons of resources, and options for next steps. Let me know your thoughts and I'll continue from there. 😉

The NUMBER ONE complaint people share with me about events they attend? (which might help *you* improve your sessions) 👉🏽Too much 'broadcasting', not enough PROCESSING time. 😵"20 mins in, my brain was fried" 🥺"I wish they'd given us more time to practice" 😬"love their vibe, but was totally lost"

Yes, The Workshop Compass *will* help you plan a more balanced session and come up with things you can do other than lecture... AND ALSO! At the most basic level, you can improve things just by: 1. slowing down, and 2. adding breaks/silence. Simple. And yet,so many people... don't. 🤷🏽‍♀️

When you add silence, people can do what they need. Maybe they jot notes for themselves. Maybe they realize they need to ask you a question. Maybe they share an insight with the people around them. Creating opportunities for people to engage (to their own comfort) is the name of the game. 🤐 = 🏆

30 July 2025

30 July 2025

Slowly getting over my perfectionism... Built the "storefont" this afternoon and just hit 'publish'. No overthinking. Sure, I could fiddle with details forever, but people have been asking for this, AND (this is key for me...) I feel solid in my ability to make things right if they go wrong.

29 July 2025

In my experience, entrepreneurship defaults towards loneliness if you don't actively build community. Great connecting with @ferncxandcrm.com and @rae.design during today's session. Anyone wanna join us for next week? Always blown away by the quality and care that goes into this FREE community. 🥰🫶🏽

Mollie | 🌿Fern CX and CRM | Activist, Founder, Ally 🍉🥥🌴@ferncxandcrm.com

New this week in the free Grassroots Community ~ 📝 Finish writing/recording your SEO piece 🚦 Run through the "polish and publish" prep steps to make sure it's ready to publish ✅ Hit publish! Next month we're switching gears to grow your reach & attract your best-fit buyers on social media.

29 July 2025

I just *finished* something. 🎉😂 Not like, finished forever-ever. But finished enough that I wouldn't be embarrassed if someone saw it. I'm excited, even. It's ready. I wrote up an info page for it. I'll start connecting tech to it later today w/ @ferncxandcrm.com And I’m proud of myself. (1/2)