The world has moved to Zoom. Have your sessions caught up?
In this episode of Another Day, Another Workshop, I’m joined by virtual facilitation expert Gwen Wansbrough to explore how to turn “just another online meeting” into a meaningful, high-energy live experience.
We go back to Gwen’s very first online session during Spain’s strict lockdown and how one simple prompt in the chat completely shifted the mood from heavy and disconnected to energized and hopeful.
From there, we unpack the Breakthrough Arc she uses to design engaging sessions again and again.If you ever feel drained after online workshops, stuck talking to black screens, or overwhelmed by tools and tech, this one is for you.
In this episode:
✅ The 3 phases of a powerful online experience (safety → challenge → new possibilities)
✅ Gwen’s 8-step Breakthrough Arc for designing live sessions
✅ How to open a Zoom call so people actually want to turn on their camera
✅ What a “power prompt” is – and why it beats “Where are you joining from?”
✅ How to use the chat as your secret engagement superpower
✅ Managing tech without losing your mind (and when to keep it very simple)
✅ Why you should always protect time for a proper closing
✅ The Online Engagement Scorecard and how it helps you see where to improve
✅ How stand-up comedy made Mehdi a better facilitator
📌 Chapters0
0:00 Why most Zoom calls feel so exhausting
02:05 Meet Gwen: from UN work to global facilitation
06:45 Her first online session in lockdown Spain
09:09 Using the chat to change the emotional state of the group
13:51 The 3 phases of transformative online experiences
15:50 The 8-step Breakthrough Arc explained
16:16 Creating safety in virtual rooms
18:41 Power prompts vs “Where are you based?”
20:56 Getting cameras & mics on without being pushy
25:45 Keeping energy and focus throughout the session
28:03 Tools Gwen actually uses (Zoom, Miro, StreamAlive)
32:40 Slides or no slides? Finding your own style
35:01 Handling tech when it feels overwhelming
37:21 Why a tech co-pilot can change everything
39:45 How to close sessions so people remember them
42:10 The tiny details that make a huge difference
44:29 1% better every session (and what Mehdi learned from stand-up)
46:54 The Online Engagement Scorecard
49:17 Why virtual facilitation is here to stay
54:08 Mehdi’s reflections on webinars vs workshops
58:54 Facilitation as a lifelong craft
1:01:15 Where to find Gwen & final goodbye ritual
🛠️ Resources and Links
🧭 Gwen’s website https://www.gwynwansbrough.com/
📰 Gwen’s newsletter The Quest https://www.gwynwansbrough.com/newsletter/
📊 Online Engagement Scorecard https://www.gwynwansbrough.com/scorecard/
💌 Mehdi’s site & newsletter www.facilitators-corner.com💼
Connect with Mehdi on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehdi-en-naizi-75b533116/