In this episode, I engage in a very thought provoking conversation with Mia Eng. Mia is an executive coach, facilitator, and consultant who partners with individuals and organizations on their journey to develop the leadership capability that is aligned to their vision and mission. Mia provides space and structure for individuals and teams to identify development goals that enable improved performance; eliminate barriers to the desired transformation; and design and execute their path to success.

As a facilitator, Mia has facilitated workshops, meetings, and learning events using LEGO® Serious Play® online and in-person. Most recently, Mia has leveraged this method with teams exploring various topics including role priorities for managers in technical services; innovating learning and instructional design for colleges and universities; translating values into action in professional services, and establishing a vision and behavioural norms for under-performing teams.

As a coach, Mia is skilled and experienced at using any one of a variety of instruments to supplement the coaching structure to support the developing leader in building awareness and identifying points of impact. The coaching process is focused on clear and observable change that achieves the coachee's desired results. Not only does Mia also use LSP in one-on-one coaching, she is launching the LEGO SERIOUS PLAY x Coaching training in September 2023.

Learn more at www.cognascent.co or connect with Mia at mia@cognascent.co or on Linkedin
at www.linkedin.com/in/miaeng

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Challenges & Goals:

Mia’s main challenges include helping people move from learning to application, encouraging participants to envision small steps towards their goals, developing a positive emotional attachment to the process, and facilitating change in resistant individuals or groups. She also focuses on ensuring clear communication, respecting people’s time, being realistic about expectations, and overcoming initial resistance when introducing new methods like LEGO Serious Play.

Critical Takeaways:

The hardest part of learning is applying insights to action.
Connecting learning objectives with personal values can increase engagement.
Setting realistic expectations for the outcomes of workshops or interventions is crucial.
Doubt about the method is often doubt about oneself; adults may feel hesitant to admit they don’t know something or fear looking silly.
Judging even positively can have unintended negative consequences by setting a new standard for others to compare themselves against.

Emerging Patterns:

The importance of mindset shifts in achieving personal and professional growth.
The need for personalized approaches when facilitating change.
Balancing information gathering with practical application.
Creating safe spaces for learning without judgment.
Recognizing that true learning requires putting new information into practice.

Key Moments:

“A lot of my transformation was about changing my mindset, seeing myself in a different way.”
“Taking in information is not the same as learning.”
“What happens when they leave that safe space and go out into the world and have to now create a step and action?”
“So I think those two things, you know, what’s the one step they’re gonna practice and what is the benefit going to be for them in terms of the emotional benefit.”
“I can’t undo in four hours something that has taken root over 15 years.”
“People appreciate the real, not always the overpromise.”
“Individuals learn and grow as a result of their experiences and interactions with the world.”
“The learning process is incomplete until we’ve actually done something.”
“Doubt about the method is often doubt about themselves.”
“We need to have the one step that is just going to start inching us closer.”