198 - The Difficulty of Crafting the Simple with Gabor Bittera

“Keep it simple, stupid” is a popular refrain which might be better translated as “make it harder, stupid”!One of the most common misunderstandings Gabor Bittera encounters in his mission towards simplicity is the belief that simple = easy. Far from it, in fact. Sometimes, creating simplicity is the hardest task in a workshop.Thankfully, Gabor has done the hard miles and has advice that can save you from complicating the process of simplifying your workshops… leaving you just with the fact that it isn’t always easy!We explore what it means to facilitate simplicity, with simplicity, and for simplicity in this episode—jumping from practical advice and templates to deeper questions around purpose and effectiveness. It was a joyful conversation and I hope you will get as much from it as I did.Find out about:Why Gabor prioritises simplicity over ease — no matter how complex it can be to simplifyHow to facilitate using principles from Scrum, linguistics and storytellingWhy simple facilitation requires more of our attention and careWhich part of the workshop process Gabor believes is hardest to simplifyWhy the art of facilitation includes designing constraints and restrictionsWhat the perfect group size is for both subgroup and whole-group workHow to use specific accountability to create more impactful workshopsDon’t miss the next episode: subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.And download the free 1-page summary, so you can always have the key points of this episode to hand.LinksWatch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.Subscribe to Gabor’s Substack — Scrum TimesRead or subscribe to Gabor’s MediumConnect to Gabor:On LinkedInSupport the showCheck out the podcast map to see the overview of all podcast episodes: https://workshops.work/podcast-map

Om Podcasten

The world is waking up to the power of facilitation. Whether hosting a workshop, hosting more engaged meetings, or leading productive teams - this podcast is for everyone who works with groups and thrives to bring the best out of them. Join us weekly as Dr. Hadnes invites facilitators, trainers, and coaches to share their insights and stories from the facilitation frontlines. These candid long-form conversations aim to demystify facilitation, making it accessible to everyone interested in mastering the art of group collaboration. Gain valuable tips and insights from leading experts, and discover the magic ingredients behind successful workshops. Plus, enjoy a complimentary 1-page summary of each episode to quickly integrate key learnings into your practice. Visit workshops.work/podcast for more.