Confessions of a Creative Leader

Welcome back! This is part three in my ongoing series exploring the Six Types of Working Genius , inspired by Pat Lencioni’s transformative framework. If you’re new here, I highly recommend checking out the earlier posts and podcasts in this series for a foundation on the model and how it’s already reshaping team collaboration and joy at work. Today, I’m diving into one of the most powerful and pr...

Welcome back to Confessions of a Facilitation Artist! If you caught my last post , you know we kicked off a new series diving into Patrick Lencioni’s Six Types of Working Genius , a framework that helps teams and individuals discover the work that brings them joy and the work that drains them. Today, I’m excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at a recent team retreat I designed and facilitated...

Welcome back to Confessions of a Facilitation Artist ! I’m Monica Joy Krol, and I’m thrilled to kick off a new series exploring Patrick Lencioni’s The Six Types of Working Genius . After our deep dive into The Coaching Habit , I wanted to continue this book club-style journey with a framework that’s been a true game changer for me and my team. What does genius mean to you? Is it creativity, intuit...

As we wrap up our journey through Michael Bungay Stanier’s The Coaching Habit , today’s focus is on the seventh and final question: the Learning Question. This question-“What was most useful for you?”-is deceptively simple but incredibly powerful for both coaches and coachees. What Is the Learning Question? The Learning Question, “What was most useful for you?”, is designed to conclude a coaching...

Welcome to my ongoing book club-style exploration of The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay-Stanier! We're currently diving into the sixth of seven powerful questions that can transform your approach to coaching and leadership. Today, I’m excited to explore the Strategic Question : "If you're saying YES to this, what are you saying NO to?" This question has been a game-changer for me, especially as...

Today’s post is a special, off-the-cuff reflection on a truly energizing experience: facilitating a community meetup centered around Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky’s new book, Click: How to Make What People Want , and its centerpiece-the Foundation Sprint. If you’re passionate about facilitation, product innovation, or just want to learn how to start big projects the right way, this book and its ass...

In our ongoing series based on "The Coaching Habit" by Michael Bungay Stanier, we're diving into the fifth of seven questions: The Lazy Question. This question, "How can I help?", is a simple yet powerful tool that helps managers focus their efforts and avoid unnecessary work. Today, we'll explore its importance, how to use it effectively, and some personal anecdotes that highlight its impact. The...

Welcome to another installment of "Confessions of a Facilitation Artist," where we delve into the art of facilitation and explore how it can transform our work and life. This week, we're continuing our series on "The Coaching Habit" by Michael Bungay Stanier, focusing on the profound Foundation Question: "What do you want?" Introduction to the Foundation Question The Foundation Question is a power...

Welcome to this insightful journey into the world of coaching and leadership, where we explore how to enhance our problem-solving skills and promote self-reflection. Today, we're diving into the focus question, a powerful tool from Michael Bungay Stanier's "The Coaching Habit." This question is designed to help us identify the core issue at hand by asking, "What's the real challenge for you?" The...

Welcome to Confessions of a Facilitation Artist , where we delve into the art of effective communication and coaching. Today, we're continuing our exploration of The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier, focusing on the second question in his coaching framework: the AWE question, which stands for And What Else? The Importance of the AWE Question The AWE question is deceptively simple yet incre...

Hey there, Facilitation Artists! Welcome back to to this week’s blog (or podcast if you prefer that) where we're diving deep into "The Coaching Habit" by Michael Bungay Stanier. In case you're new here, I'm Monica Joy Krol, and this is the second episode/blog post in a series that's structured like a book club. I'm not going to edit the podcast version, so if you hear "um," "so," or any filler wor...

Hello everyone! Welcome to a new series here on the blog (or podcast version if you prefer that), inspired by one of my new favorite books: "The Coaching Habit" by Michael Bungay Stanier . I'm so excited about this journey that I'm practically bursting with enthusiasm (as you'll soon discover!). Over the next several weeks, consider this space a virtual book club where we'll explore and apply the...

Hey everyone, Monica here, and welcome to another deep dive into the world of meeting effectiveness! In this blog post, we're wrapping up our series on effective meeting strategies by exploring a crucial element: action items and takeaways. While it might seem simple, mastering this aspect can significantly impact your team's productivity and progress. The Power of Ending Strong I recently had the...

Hey there, meeting maestros and facilitation fanatics! Welcome back to our ongoing series on mastering the art of effective meetings. If you've been following along, you know we've been unpacking the CONFAB framework, a powerful tool for transforming your gatherings from mundane to magnificent. Let's quickly refresh our memories on the CONFAB method: * C larify your goals, purpose well stated. * O...

I know, you thought I was saying the F dash dash dash word. But if you look closely, there are 4 asterisks! It’s because this week I’m helping you understand how to “FRAME TIME!” As I like to say, it's “about time” we talked about this! In case you listened or read my last post , yes this is one of those pre-written posts and pre-recorded podcasts. It’s the last one I batched before heading out to...

Confession: I experimented last month with batch recording and scheduling posts. The positive is that I was consistent in posting, and when life got busy or scary, I wasn't scrambling to meet my goal of completing a blog post. Productivity for the win. But productivity isn't everything. It's useful, and I'm not saying I won't continue. However, the downside is that it wasn't authentic. Last week,...

Hey there, fellow meeting enthusiasts! Monica Joy Krol here, your unedited Facilitation Artist, and welcome back to "Confessions of a Facilitation Artist"! This week, we're diving deep into a topic that can make or break a meeting, agendas! Setting the Stage: The CONFAB Framework If you're new here, I've been working through my CONFAB framework for effective meetings: * C larify your goals, purpos...

Hey, meeting enthusiasts! Monica Joy Krol here, your friendly neighborhood Facilitation Artist, diving deep into what makes meetings truly effective. If you're new to my podcast, "Confessions of a Facilitation Artist," welcome! I'm a product leader and facilitator passionate about solving problems in higher education. Setting the Stage: The CONFAB Framework In this series on meeting effectiveness,...

Hey there, meeting warriors! 👋 As a facilitation artist and product leader, I've experienced countless meetings - some transformative, others painfully forgettable. Today, I want to share a game-changing insight: the secret to remarkable meetings is crystal-clear PURPOSE. Why Purpose Matters Most meetings suffer from a critical disease: purposelessness. Sound familiar? You're not alone. A majorit...

Hey there! Today, I'm sharing some raw thoughts on the delicate balance between productivity and human connection in meetings and workshops. The Power of Emotions in Meetings Ever wondered why some meetings leave you feeling drained, while others energize you? It all comes down to emotions. In my effective meetings workshop, I use the Feelings Wheel to illustrate this point. When participants reca...

When I first stepped into the world of remote team management in 2013, I was a fresh-faced Customer Solutions Advocate working with Scrum teams in India. The challenges were immense: an 11.5-hour time difference, just ONE HOUR of weekly interaction, and significant language and cultural barriers. As a newcomer to product management and Scrum methodologies, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of ob...

Hey facilitation fans! Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on my fall facilitation cohort and sharing the juicy details you've been asking for. But before we dive in, I want to share something personal that made this experience truly special. At the beginning of last year, I set a major intention to create more "true fun" in my life. Little did I know that designing and facilitating this program w...

Prioritizing Your Life: The Art of Juggling Glass and Rubber Balls As we kick off 2025, it's essential to reflect on how we manage our responsibilities and priorities. In this week's post, I want to delve into a powerful metaphor that has guided my understanding of life management: the juggling act of glass and rubber balls, inspired by Bryan Dyson's insightful commencement speech. Understanding t...

As we enter 2025, it's time to reflect on our goals and set intentions for the year ahead. Instead of focusing solely on typical resolutions like weight loss or spending less, let's explore a more profound approach to personal growth and creativity. Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Big Magic" offers inspiring insights into living a creative life and embracing curiosity. One of the key ideas from the book...