My #1 Facilitation Fear…

When you read a slightly clickbait header like this, you might expect a story about group resistance, forgetting materials, or something going wrong with the workshop space. Sure, those are worries I have too. But for years, they weren’t my biggest fear. The thing that has troubled me most, and shaped how I show up in my work, is something completely different…

My voice. 🗣️

And yes, this applies to many professions, but without a voice, it’s pretty hard to facilitate a workshop, give a presentation, or lead any kind of group session. Especially because these events are often high-stakes, hard to reschedule, and involve many people.

The trouble started years ago with what, in hindsight, was probably an untreated throat infection. Because a “weak voice” runs in my family, I assumed it was just how my voice worked. But for years, I had a sore throat, and I’d lose my voice quickly. Small-group conversations were the worst, like in a bar, a restaurant, or a birthday party, with lots of background noise.

It started to impact my life in a big way. Whenever I had a workshop coming up, I’d avoid talking to people to “save my voice.” I skipped family gatherings, told my wife, “Tonight I can’t really talk,” and I even avoided pre-workshop meetups. And it turned into a negative spiral. The tiniest uncomfortable feeling in my throat would make me pull back and barely speak for days. 😔

Years later, I finally went to a speech therapist. Something I should have done much sooner. Together, we figured out that I probably had a serious throat infection back then, but that my voice today is actually fine.

Sure, talking over the noise in a busy bar is still tough. But I learned something unexpected: the moment I speak up to a large group, my voice actually becomes clearer. 😃

We practiced whispering, projecting, and even singing. Way out of my comfort zone. But it helped me understand how my voice works. And more importantly, it helped me trust it again.

Not long ago I facilitated a public Liberating Structures workshop, and only afterward I realized I hadn’t worried about my voice once. Such a great moment. And even on days when my throat doesn’t feel 100%, I don’t panic anymore. I know I’ll be fine. ✅

Anyway. These days, I trust my voice again. And that feels like a small win worth sharing. It’s also kind of funny. I used to think facilitation was about structure and exercises. Turns out, for me, it started with something simpler: finding confidence in my own voice.

Have you ever had something like that in your work?
Something you didn’t realize was affecting you until much later?