135 - A journey from Architecture to Facilitation with Florencia Ortelli

When it comes to workshops, we often talk about “making space” for people to express themselves creatively and authentically.

It’s a metaphorical phrase, but there is a lot to be found in the more literal interpretation.

 And who better to explore both sides of that interpretation than Flor Ortelli - an architect-turned-facilitator?

 In this episode, we interrogate the impact physical spaces have on our creativity and collaboration, how to design spaces for collaboration, and why we should always prioritise people and the way they use a space should always take priority over its design.

Find out about:

●     How architecture and facilitation share far more in common than we think

●     Why it’s a fatal failing to build without considering by whom and how the space will be used

●     How Flor is connecting dots between Agile, listening skills, and user-focus

●     Why the pressure to have good ideas threatens even the best workshops – and how to release that pressure

●     Why the value of sharing ideas is inherent, not dependent on our judgements of ‘good’ or ‘bad’

●     Whether the attitude we bring into a space has more of an impact than the design of a space

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Questions and Answers

[01:16] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?

[02:38] What made you choose this route, instead of doing what most architects do?

[07:19] What have you taken from architecture that informs your approach to facilitation?

[09:00] And what have you had to unlearn from architecture?

[11:29] What was your strategy for releasing control as you moved from design to facilitation?

[14:24] What is the relationship between physical space and facilitation?

[17:19] What makes an ideation process work – and do you have a favourite exercise for it?

[23:31] In your experience, what makes a workshop fail?

[31:21] What is your process for narrowing down ideas and choosing one(s) to move forward with?

[35:44] Could you share your opinion on hybrid working?

[39:47] If someone wants to build their own ideation room, what would you recommend they include?

[43:48] You are writing a book – can you tell us about it?

[46:14] What is it about Agility that you think is relevant to designers?

[47:46] What is the one tip you would give designers, in relation to your book?

[49:47] What is the one thing you would like listeners to take away from this episode?

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👉 What happens when being “professional” gets in the way of being human? My new podcast Unprofessionalism explores the rules we’re taught to follow at work, and what happens when we break them. Listen here: https://unprofessionalism.buzzsprout.com/  👈