Sarah Fejfar
I'm such a serious person. And at one point in my life, I was called a fun hater. And I am so intrigued by pinjaman. And we just got to share with us today because he's taken this concept of play, which doesn't feel serious to me at all and inserted it into events, where serious people are attending. But he's able to use it in such a way that it opens people up and creates deep connections very quickly. I am totally and utterly fascinated. He uses Lego as the way and means to this transformation and I can't wait for you to hear about it.
Sarah Fejfar
Inquiring minds want to know, how are entrepreneurs like us daring bravely to build a stage ditch the sweat pants and step up to them? Like, how do we create our own transformative events so we can get our message out into the world in a bigger way. It's not only profitable, but it's actually something we can be proud. That's the question. And the answers are inside this podcast. My name is Sarah Fejfar welcome to Greenroom Central.
Sarah Fejfar
Hey, it Sarah, I have an invitation for you right now. You can join entrepreneurs from across the globe who share a passion for hosting their own events become part of the community that inspires and cheers you on over at Green Room central.com. Today I brought Benjamin Warsinske founder of branded world into green room central studios. He's a brand culture expert and certified Lego serious play facilitator. His focuses on how purposeful play contributes to effective people strategies, particularly in the areas of employee engagement, while being interpersonal relationships, high performance leadership and organizational culture change. He hosts virtual and in person events, including networking, educational online, masterclasses and multi day private client workshops that use Lego to spark creativity.
Sarah Fejfar
Benjamin! Welcome to Greenroom Central studios say hello to Linchpin Nation.
Benjamin Warsinske
Hey, thanks so much for having me, sir. I'm excited to be here.
Sarah Fejfar
So I want you to tell us a little bit about the type of people that you attract to your events. You know, we've talked about how they're aficionados, if you will, of the role of like creative creativity and work and life and I want to understand more about those types of people. Because until now, I'd probably have to admit that I wouldn't race my house, my, my, my own hand to like, describe myself that way.
Benjamin Warsinske
That's such a good question. It's so funny, it's actually, it's not really the people that you would think that that come to the events that I host, it's really professionals from all different walks of life. So I've had people from very technical skills like, like, software developers, technologists, engineers, and then also like accountants, and HR, and really just like all kind of all professionals of all different levels, kind of, like seek seek out, you know, this, this opportunity to, to kind of spark their creativity and tap into to their their playfulness.
Sarah Fejfar
Ah, so it really runs the gamut. And we probably can't put them in any one box is what you're saying.
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, it would be it'd be kind of hard. But I would, I would kind of say, like, the professional, like, knowledge workers of any industry type, and then kind of the maybe the small business, the entrepreneur, those types, if I if I were to kind of categorize
Sarah Fejfar
Sure. Okay. So let's, let's talk about those events that these people are coming from, for and I want you to share about your powerplay accelerator events. And then I'm especially curious about those pause and play events. Can you share those with linchpin nation?
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, so the the all kind of stemmed back from prior to the pandemic when I was hosting events around Chicago. And it was called bricks and brands conversations through play. And it was really kind of like, an unconventional approach to to networking. So the whole idea was you would come to this event, you'd be given a, a kit of Lego and you wouldn't share your title or your your business or anything like that. It was more about the human connection through play. And so what really happened in those events was people really began to connect and get to know each other on a much deeper level, to the point where I had people raise their hands and stop me like 10 minutes in and say You know, this person across the table from me was a complete stranger. And now I feel like I've known them my entire life. And that's when I like really just was like, Okay, there's something to this. And so from there, I've kind of expanded my offerings into the powerplay accelerator, which is a, a monthly subscription, service online membership, where I host different live events in my community, that they use facilitated play to bring people together into to learn about yourself, and your leadership style, and how you show up and how you communicate. And also your creativity. Often what I've found in the events is that people don't feel creative, or they don't think of themselves as creative. But when they go through these activities, their creativity just kind of pours out. And then they kind of realize, hey, I'm much more creative than I thought I was. And and this is a great example of that.
Sarah Fejfar
That's so great that your poll, you're able to pull that side of people out at events through play. And now you are specifically using Legos, tell me tell me a little bit more about that, because you're like certified to
Benjamin Warsinske
it sounds so like you like, I never imagined I would be certified. But I stumbled upon Lego serious play in the methodology, with through through networking. And it basically has become my, the way that I operate my business and how I bring people together and how I work with teams, and leadership teams and executives. And it really is a way to really kind of like, it's like the catalyst to spark and have difficult conversations or to try to innovate and hear different perspectives around a tough situation. And it really what it does is it allows people to have an equal playing field, and to kind of have their walls come down and be open to, to different perspectives, different ideas, and really kind of have their voice be heard as well. So it becomes like a co creation process, to what to where when we get to the end, everyone can agree on the way that the team wants to move forward. And they all have had a part in playing towards that, that idea so that they have some ownership in it. And so it's a really fascinating, like just approach to problem solving into culture and connection and communication as a whole.
Sarah Fejfar
I specifically want to pause on that word connection a bit. So I think a lot of things that you just named are probably why your types of events, foster connection, but talk a little bit more about that.
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, so connection, I think like, connection is so funny, because we all kind of talk about connection. And we know that connection is super important. But oftentimes, in other kind of social situations or in networking, or different types of events, the connections kind of are surface level, or they feel more transactional. And I think what I like about Lego series play and kind of this purposeful play is that it allows people to connect on a much deeper level. And in the same way, in working with teams, you can kind of have this surface level kind of connection, and you understand your role and their role and how you work together and, and the job that you're trying to do. But you may not know the details below the surface, or maybe they haven't shared an interest or, or a way that they're creative with you. So you don't really understand all of their their skill sets or what makes them kind of fully human. And so by putting yourself into this play environment, you can really start to understand who people are on a on a bigger, bigger scale.
Sarah Fejfar
I love that it reminds me of when I was back in my corporate days. And I was pretty closed off from my coworkers. But what I did notice on a day to day basis, what I noticed is when we would go on these, like going camping trips, if you will, when we would go on to our events as a team of people that were like, you know, putting on the event. You know, those coworkers, we just got to know each other so well because we were kind of like we were together for so many hours of the day, so many days in a row and you just like naturally like personal stuff comes up and you just and you kind of let your guard down because perhaps you're tired or whatnot. And I just I that's where I made the best relationships and form the strongest ties and bonds and you're saying that we can get there a whole lot faster with those who come to our events by injecting like this very? I don't know, I don't know what type what word to call your type of play out? Like how do you describe the type of play that you offer? At your events? And then to companies who hire you?
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, I call it kind of purposeful play or facilitated play, in that it's not, it's structured. And there's a, there's an objective to it. So it's not just kind of freestyle play, which is, which has its own value to it. But it this is all about, you know, what is the problem that we're trying to solve? And then how can we create this the psychologically safe environment, to have everybody come together and be able to express their, their own opinions and ideas and, and thoughts in this safe space to, to problem solve, and come up with a solution that we all agree with, and how we can move forward. So it's, it's in kind of the corporate setting, that's how I use it. in kind of a networking, like setting, it's more about how can we really connect with one another and feel like we've made some, some real friends so that at the end of the evening, when we all go our separate ways, we may actually reach out to that person and be like, hey, like, how are you? Like, I want to know, I'm not just trying to say, how are you to try to get some business like from you, I want to know how you are because of that the model you built, and how passionate you are about your kids, or about that vacation you want to take or what that your dream house is like, how are those plans going things like that, like actually build that the connection. And when we build that connection, and that trust, then the relationship is, is much stronger for business opportunities or other opportunities to, to come about?
Sarah Fejfar
Oh, I absolutely love everything that you just say is said. So it's really like this purposeful facilitated play is a strategic tool. And you're you're using it to form those connections that can be leveraged down the road in business. But we were talking a little bit about how it's also a strategic tool to pull out creativity in entrepreneurs. Tell me a little bit more about that.
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, so I've had the opportunity to work with several entrepreneurs, and some startups, and some small businesses. And what I've noticed is in using play as a, as a tool to, to help kind of set their strategy, find their vision, come together as a team, all these these different facets, of, of kind of brand, building and building your, your, your company and your culture, the play really kind of brings out like, like we said, you know, their personality, and when you bring out your personality, your values start to show up. And so it's really amazing to see everybody's personal values. And then to have that conversation about well, what are our company values? You know, we say our company values are XY and Z. Do we really aligned with that? Or are we are we just kind of saying that because we want to try to reach or attract a certain type of client that we think is our ideal client. But really, we need to reevaluate and figure out how we can bring more of our personal values into that company, organization and culture so that we can really align and really feel like, like, we're we're in alignment and word. What we offer is, is really us.
Sarah Fejfar
Mm hmm. I love that I could see how this would be super useful for a small business entrepreneur to bring their team together on let's say, a quarterly or annual planning meeting and inject this type of purposeful play into their meeting agenda. I love that, especially love how you said that our values show up when we play. I wonder why. I wonder it's just to feel like more of a safe environment. And so we just naturally gravitate towards what means the most to us? I don't know.
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, I think you're exactly right. And I think it's really funny, because I've had, I've had people kind of balk or like object to, to the, the session prior to even experiencing it and kind of saying things like, Oh, well, you know, like play like, how can this really work or, and so then once they get into it, those same people that were like, like this, this won't possibly work. They're the same ones that are now champion and championing it and saying, like, wow, I never knew how creative I was and like, I really understand, you know, my team a lot better and like and how we can use this as a communication tool and this aid to help us with different concepts and ideas, and, and it's so it's really interesting to see, like you can't hide from when you're in that state of play. Like, like, if you're saying what you think people want to hear, that's going to, you're going to kind of get called out. Because when you're in that state of play, you just naturally are yourself, or you're going to be more yourself than than not. And so that that's, it's gonna kind of lend itself to to really, like, show your, your true your true values.
Sarah Fejfar
So good. And I know we talked before that I probably would have been one of those naysayers back in the day, because I did. I did have the the unfortunate nickname of fun hater at one of my previous companies, and I think I'm recovered or recovering. Let's, let's shift gears a little bit and talk about facilitation, and you're masterful, and I just want to I want to dig into a little bit about why that is and what tips you could give to other event leaders so that they can be a little bit better at facilitation.
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, you know, facilitating is something that I kind of fell into, in studying urban planning, we would bring together all of our stakeholders and facilitate these different design kind of workshops and visioning workshops. And we were trying to bring out these ideas and visions from from our stakeholders. And often it was really hard without using a tool like, like Lego series play. And so what I've learned over the years, and even even in the online space in, in live streams, or podcasting, or whatever the medium is, the I think the biggest lesson is to make everyone feel involved and make everyone feel safe and calm. So if you can welcome people, if you can make sure to, like call on on everyone kind of make sure that everyone has an equal chance to, to chatter to share. That makes that goes a long ways. When you can recognize others, when you can connect to people together and say, Hey, I think you guys are really hit it off. That just that alone can can lead to so much and can increase their their experience as well. Because the it will become much more memorable to be like, Oh, wow, I went to this event. I didn't know anybody there, all of a sudden, I was welcomed. And then I got connected to to this person. And this person, it turns out, we have so much in common now I have a call with them, and who knows where that could go. And I just feel so grateful for having taken the time to come to this event, because it is a big effort to to show up even to show up online or to show up in person. I think we took that for granted. And now we have so much available to show up to that you really have to be purposeful and intentional about if you're going to be hosting an event. Really, how are you going to make sure that everybody can benefit from it and find value in it?
Sarah Fejfar
Hey, I don't want you to miss out. Did you know that this conversation always continues inside the linchpin nation community. It's a free modern discussion forum exclusively for greenroom central listeners that will have a profound impact on the way you look at events in your business. Get answers to your biggest questions here behind the scenes nuggets from event leaders, and get access to helpful templates, guides and checklists. As you start in scale events in your business, be part of the daily discussion with entrepreneurs just like you, you can join for free over at Green Room central.com I'll see you inside 100% Couldn't agree more. I yeah, I often really push event leaders to tell me why why are they hosting this for their business? And why are they hosting us for their community? Like what is it about your thing that would make it so that it's desirable for me to have to do all the things that I have to do in order to show up at your thing? Live it's a big deal to pause my real life and my business life and make space to show up to something live, whether that's virtual or in person, it's a big deal. And you really need to be clear on the why and it especially in your marketing in order to get people in the room then once you're there, deliver because you know they'll they'll be your biggest cheerleaders on filling your next event. I want to take a little bit of a right turn here and and talk about swag my love for swag and I don't Have a love just for like the the cheap throwaway stuff. But the stuff that makes a guest feel like they were just given like a really thoughtful gift that they'll use and they'll cherish. And you do just that because you create. You curate these play kits. And so I want you to share with linchpin nation, like what you send to your members, and then how you use them during during your events.
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, so I, thank you, I love this part, because I'm so big on the experience and the brand experience, and how can we continue to level up and improve it. And so I'm always looking at how I can improve what I send to my, my participants, my members and my clients. And so what, what was the pandemic that really forced me to, to have to kind of go this route, probably earlier than I had anticipated. But it also was a great opportunity. So what I've learned is that in kind of the welcoming, like I used, I use the the kit as kind of a welcoming tool, it's it's materials that you will use in the, the experience in the training or in the, the in the membership, and it's all kind of curated and personalized to the individual, as much as I can make it because I want everyone to feel again, part of part of this experience. And I want them to kind of really loved the materials, I don't want them to use it just once and and then like, give it to the kids or something like I want them to kind of understand that, that the kit is is intended for, for as a tool as a strategic tool to help help you communicate help you create ideas help you spark your creativity. And so what I included in there is an explore pack of of Lego, I also include a custom kind of mini figure, that's a it's completely random thing. So when you open it, it's like you don't know who you're going to get, I don't know who you're going to get. And then it's, it's a fun activity of you ever wonder like, Who is this character, and what are their values, and do my values align with them. And like, what's really fun is that character often makes its way into all the different models throughout the experience. And it just adds to the kind of the creativity and kind of the fun of it. I also include a Lego piece separator which is a lot of fun. A lot of people don't know what a Lego brick separator is. But oftentimes if you get your tiles in your your plates and your bricks stuck together, it can be impossible to get them off. And so the Lego bricks up rate is a handy tool. And then I include some other fun things in there. And, and it's all tied back to my, my online community as well. So that we have a, a both a digital and a physical experience.
Sarah Fejfar
So you you create you curate these, these kits and you send them to your guests, and then they get to open them before the event and then you integrate them into the the event itself. Right?
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, actually, I have them open the event, or open the boxes and unboxing as part of the event. So as we're getting into the swing of things, then we go through kind of a I call it skill building. So we get everyone kind of familiar with, with Lego building and, and what the piece parts and pieces are. That's where we'll unbox and see what's in the kits. And and then we'll start to use certain pieces from the kits as we get into the experience.
Sarah Fejfar
That's so fun. Unboxing. So is there like a note on top that says like, do not open until whatever?
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, yeah, I tried to keep it I tried to say you know, like this is for this particular event. And then within I have an instruction card and a QR code and that that allows them to log on onto the private community space and to us download the mobile app so they can start to have both the digital experience and the tangible experience with the Lego.
Sarah Fejfar
So good. Ah, love the use of the QR codes in the kit. That's so fun. Thank you for sharing, I really want to encourage everyone to level up their game, their swag game, especially with virtual events. I think it's so important to have something like tangible, tactile, that it just like Richins the experience in the virtual setting when like something from the host business is like in the home of or the office of the person who's who's attending. I think it's like table stakes in my opinion.
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, and it really breaks up the the experience as well. No one wants to come to an online event and just watch on screen kind of passively. But if you can engage and build and think with your hands And then share. Now you're you're interacting in, you're engaging and you're using both parts of your brain. And it just becomes this much more immersive, fun experience.
Sarah Fejfar
So good. Benjamin, before we wrap up today, I've got a bunch of rapid fire questions if your game. Yeah, I kind of want to get into that. Okay, so I want to talk about, I want to hear what do you say to yourself, like backstage and on stage. So kind of your mindset.
Benjamin Warsinske
With my mindset, like before I go into like facilitation, I like to play either one of my favorite songs, which has like absolutely no lyrics, but it just like, pumps me up, and gets me into like this fun state of state of mind. And then, and then I just kind of like try to ground myself in center. And as I prepare to go out and begin.
Sarah Fejfar
And then once you're in front of a crowd, is there anything that you tell yourself to, like, keep the nerves down? Or keep your energy up?
Benjamin Warsinske
You know, it's so that's a good question. It's like, usually, I think it's like, you got this. And then it's also just like, have have fun, like, because I know when I show up, and I'm having fun, that also creates more of a fun and calming and safe experience for others to open up. So I try to lead by example.
Sarah Fejfar
Love, love, love that. Share your best tip for filling events, getting registrants,
Benjamin Warsinske
my best tip is continue to follow up. You know, people are super busy. So you may send out you know, 100 invites, and you may only hear from maybe half of them, take the other half that you haven't heard from and just follow up. And don't follow up in a, you know, high pressure way I like to check in and see how they're doing and see what they're up to comment on that. And then also say, Oh, hey, by the way, I'd love to see you here, or hey, like this person just signed on for this event, I'd love to have you come I think you'd be you'd be it'd be great for you to meet them. So continue to show the value of your event and why you think they should come. making it personal is another really big thing that has helped because it is all about people and humans at the end of the day, not necessarily the numbers.
Sarah Fejfar
See the humanity? Yeah, love that. What's your favorite event moments, at the events that you host?
Benjamin Warsinske
I think it's the the when the light bulb goes off for people when they're kind of like reflecting individually and realizing like how I see like I can like visually see their confidence like just boost. Oftentimes, if they're if they're very introverted or quiet. Those are the people where their confidence is soars. As the you as they kind of tell the story of the model and what it means and why they built it that way. And, and then they start to maybe someone has asked a question like, Oh, I love how you, you put this brick here? Or why did you choose the place or minifigure in this pose, and then they just kind of start to share and they just like light up. And that that's the most fun for me is just seeing people light up and seeing the light bulb moments and kind of seeing their their confidence boost?
Sarah Fejfar
What's so special? What's the best thing about hosting your events? Is it the light bulbs too?
Benjamin Warsinske
Yeah, I would say just the fact that I get to share my passion and my love for Lego with others and, and how Lego is not just a toy, it's it's really the strategic tool that we can use to solve problems and come together and really connect. And I think that that's, that's like what I love most about about it.
Sarah Fejfar
I want to know, what are you reading right now?
Benjamin Warsinske
I just finished reading. Don't feed the elephants by Sarah Knoll Wilson. And the book just came out on February 1, I got an advanced copy. She was just on my podcast, as well. I'm like a huge, like super fan. But it's all about how to like avoid like how to stop avoiding hard conversations. The elephant in the room, so to speak. And it just has amazing information and her story is incredible. as well.
Sarah Fejfar
Oh, thank you for sharing. So I want you to to tell linchpin nation, like what you've got going on and that you that they should know about and where they can find you and especially share the name of your podcast to that would be fun.
Benjamin Warsinske
Awesome. Well, thank you. Um, so my the biggest thing I have going on is my community, the Brixton brands Network. You can find it at Community dot branded world.co. And join, I would love to see you there. Inside the community. I host a mixer twice a month, called the members mixer, fancy name. And then I also host a podcast called The brixon brands podcast. And really the whole idea is to bring today's leaders together to talk about how we can how we envision the future of workplace culture and leadership and the brand experience as a whole.
Sarah Fejfar
So good. I'll link all of that up in the show notes. As well as that book that you just recommended. Benjamin, it's been such a treat to chat. I can't wait till the next time. Thank you so much for being here today.
Benjamin Warsinske
Thanks so much for having me. This was a blast.
Sarah Fejfar
Thank you for listening to the greenroom central podcast. If you love this episode, then please take a screenshot on your phone and post it to Instagram and be sure to tag at therapy for and let me know why you liked it and what you'd like to hear or who you'd like to hear from in the future. That'll help me know what to create for you.
Sarah Fejfar
Also, I know you've got one solid gold nugget of advice on filling your events from Benjamin today. But if you'd like a few more 107 To be exact, then I want you to head over to filling events.com Right now, I want to help you quickly master event marketing and fill your events. Even if you've never done it before. I've scoured the online business world and found 107 of my favorite strategies. working right now, to fill your next virtual or in person event. I want you to create the event promotion plan that you need from these easy to implement customizable strategies. It's over at filling events.com
Sarah Fejfar
Now in case you're curious, this podcast is built on Kajabi. I am loving how easy it's been to get things set up. But more so I'm thrilled that my entire business is run within one platform, from my emails to my pages to My Courses and now to my podcast. It's all under one roof. If you love simplicity and scalability as much as I do, then go to premium central calm to get a free 14 day trial from Kajabi who I am thrilled to say the sponsor of this podcast.
Sarah Fejfar
I appreciate your commitment to leveling up and learning the mindset and strategy of live events. Keep going, keep learning. If you want more, I want you to head over to greenroom central.com For show notes and all the links from today's episode.
