Have you ever finished a live session and thought:
“Hmm… that didn’t quite land the way I expected.”
So you start tweaking your slides, looking for new tools, or swapping out activities.
But sometimes the real issue in your live session is something much harder to see.
✨A blind spot✨
A blind spot is something you do in your session that affects the experience… but you don’t notice it while it’s happening.
Not because you’re careless or because you mean to.
Often it’s because you are juggling so many things at once:
Tracking time.
Managing tech.
Watching the chat.
With so much going on it’s almost impossible to step outside yourself and see what participants are actually experiencing.
The problem?
If you don’t see your blind spots, they can quietly crush engagement in your session without you knowing.
We all have blind spots.
Years ago, I remember getting feedback on a live session from my facilitation mentor.
She immediately spotted things I couldn’t see at all:
- I was talking too fast.
- I was jumping in the second there was silence.
- I was asking long, complicated questions… and then wondering why I was met with blank stares on the screen.
Getting that feedback was a huge revelation.
From inside the session, I thought things were going pretty well. But hearing her observations was like someone turning on the lights. Suddenly, I had valuable information.
And once I saw it I couldn’t unsee it.
The best part? The fixes were small.
Slow down a little.
Pause longer.
Ask simpler questions.
Those tiny adjustments made an immediate difference.
Participation increased, the conversations got richer, and I felt far more confident knowing what to pay attention to.
How can you see your blind spots?
One simple way is by watching your session recordings (that’s how elite athletes do it!)
But first it helps to know what to look for.
After analyzing hundreds of live sessions (including my own), I’ve discovered that there are 6 common blind spots that show up again and again.
Here they are along with a simple fix.
1️⃣ Doing most of the talking
Nerves and time pressure make it easy to keep explaining.
But engagement rises when participants contribute.
Fix: Add a chat prompt, poll, or question every 3–5 minutes.
2️⃣ Rushing through silence
Silence feels uncomfortable, so people jump back in quickly.
But participants need thinking time before responding.
Fix: Ask a question and count to 5 before speaking again.
3️⃣ Asking long-winded questions
The question makes perfect sense in your head.
Participants hear multiple parts and freeze.
Fix: Ask short questions like: “What stood out to you?”
4️⃣ Not engaging people early
It feels efficient to jump straight into the content.
But if people don’t participate early, they often stay quiet.
Fix: Start with a quick chat prompt or poll.
5️⃣ Letting one person talk too long
It feels polite to let someone finish.
But balanced airtime keeps the whole group engaged.
Fix: Interrupt warmly:
“Let’s pause there so we can hear from a few others.”
6️⃣ Overcomplicating instructions
You understand the activity because you designed it.
Participants hear the instructions once and get lost.
Fix: Keep instructions to three steps or fewer and drop them in the chat.
Remember: Everyone has blind spots. And fastest way to improve your sessions is to see what is already happening more clearly
Over to you 🎤
What’s a blind spot that you have discovered in your live sessions?
I’d love to hear it! Just hit reply to this email.
This week’s Facilitator Finds 💪
In this section, you’ll find curated events, resources, tips, and tools that I’ve found super valuable — and I think you will too!
🎙️Say What Sticks: The Neuroscience of Memorable Communication. A fantastic episode of the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast where Carmen Simon breaks down the science behind what makes messages memorable—packed with insights that translate directly to leading more impactful live sessions.
✍️ Facilisplaining Breakout Room Instructions. A hilarious LinkedIn post from Facilitrainer Said Saddouk that perfectly illustrates blind spot #6: overcomplicating instructions. If you’ve ever watched participants look confused before a breakout… this one will feel very familiar. 😅
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
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Creatively yours,
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