🌴243. From Collingwood to the Conference Room feat. Mark McKeon (Weekend Rewind)

I’m joined by Mark McKeon—ex-AFL player, high-performance coach with Collingwood, creator of The Go Zone and Everyday Counts. We dig into the real-world parallels between elite sport and facilitation: preparation, energy management, room design, AV (yes, batteries!), and what it truly means to be audience-centric.Why listenIf you want practical, field-tested ways to run the room (from set-up to mindset) and still have fuel left in the tank, this one is gold.What we coverSerendipity to stage: How a one-off corporate talk turned into 1,400+ presentations.Sport → Facilitation: The “you on game day” mindset and why it matters when you’re the one with the ball (aka the mic).Start with the end in mind: The magic-wand briefing question: “If this goes perfectly, what three outcomes happen?”Audience-centric delivery: Get out of your own head; read the room; respond to cues (phones out = change it up).Split-brain skill: Stay present and steer the session toward outcomes—at the same time.Room craft (the unsexy advantage):Avoid long, skinny rooms; position yourself in the middle if you must.Always use a stage for big rooms.Ditch the lectern; go lapel mic (hands free).Ask AV for fresh batteries (non-negotiable).Prefer rounds, open at the front for smaller groups; block off the back in large rooms so people sit closer.Expect the unexpected: Sirens, alarms, gear hiccups—your calm sets the tone.Energy management: Arrive early, then disappear until showtime. Take breaks solo. One coffee. Move your body in the morning. No alcohol the night before.The Go/Slow/No Zone system (sustainable peak performance):Go Zone (≈2 hrs): Door shut, notifications off, single-task the most important items. Buzzer on.Slow Zone: Still productive, lighter context-switching.No Zone: True recovery—phone off, do what restores you.Aim for a 2:1 ratio of Go:No across the week; schedule both and move it, don’t lose it.Memorable, not gimmicky: Use images/props only when they’re congruent with the message (007 = Organization, Optimism, 7 Habits; crocodile suit = thick skin in sales). Don’t let tricks upstage the teaching.Breaking in: Do every rep you can (Rotary, clubs, internal meetings). The best marketing? Do a great job.Favorite lines“Be audience-centric. You’re there to serve them, not your slide deck.”“Stress isn’t the problem—lack of recovery is.”“Don’t be a prisoner to your structure—steer toward outcomes.”“Move it, don’t lose it—especially your No Zones.”Practical checklist (use before your next workshop)Ask the magic-wand outcomes question.Confirm room shape, stage, seating, lectern = no, lapel mic = yes.Fresh batteries in the mic pack.Schedule this week’s Go blocks (2 hrs) and No blocks (recovery).Plan a “phone-out pivot” (what you’ll do if attention dips).Decide your entrance and first 60 seconds.Script 2–3 audience-centric checkpoints (pause, pulse questions, turn & talk).Timestamps00:00 Intro & Mark’s left-field path to facilitation06:30 Sport → stage: pressure, ownership, performance12:10 Briefing right: outcomes first, then design17:45 Audience-centric delivery & reading cues23:20 Room set-up that actually helps you facilitate31:05 Mic choices, AV etiquette, and battery rules36:30 Energy rituals: pre-show, breaks, and recovery43:20 The Go/Slow/No Zone system (with ratios)52:10 Stories vs. gimmicks: making images serve the message58:00 First-time facilitator advice that still hitsLinks & mentionsMark McKeon – Go Zone & Everyday Counts (search his site/books to dive deeper)Collingwood FC (context for Mark’s high-performance background)Try this this weekBlock one Go Zone (120 minutes) before lunch, every day for five days. One task at a time. Door shut. Notifications off. Then book three No Zone hours across the week. Report back—I want to hear what changed.Pre-order my new book WORK FAME and get featured on the Wall of Work FameSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comLet's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.