Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Focusing Highlight?
Focusing Highlights are monthly 2-hour webinars for people to learn or expand their knowledge about Focusing, its philosophy, and its many crossings. They may be in any language. Presenters volunteer their time to present a Focusing topic close to their heart. Participants donate any amount to register, and all proceeds go to supporting the Institute’s mission. Participants are not required to be members of the Focusing Institute.
What is the format of the class?
Highlights are held live on the Zoom Webinar platform. We intentionally use webinar format for this series to increase accessibility for those who can’t attend live, may not want to be onscreen, or prefer to wait for the recording. In a Zoom Meeting, everyone can see each other, whereas in a Zoom Webinar, only the host and presenter/s are visible – as if they are on stage and the participants are in the seats of a darkened auditorium. It is possible to invite a participant “on stage.” Most of the time, however, participants communicate by typing, which the presenter or Host then reads out loud. Please note that breakout rooms are not available in a Zoom Webinar.
Prior to the webinar, Melanie will support you in planning the flow of your class and to help you prepare for the technical aspects. Throughout the live class, you will be accompanied by a Zoom-savvy Tech Host. The Host will take care of all technical aspects of the experience so that you can focus on communicating your topic. The Host will also take a few minutes at the beginning and end of the class to introduce and close the class. The webinar will be recorded, sent to all registrants, and may be distributed further.
How do I interact with participants in webinar format?
During the webinar, you will be able to see and interact with your support team. Here are some ways that previous presenters have interacted with participants:
- Leading experiential exercises and inviting attendees to write in their responses
- Allowing a few participants to come on screen to share or to work with you
- Having a co-presenter or co-leader
- Preparing a few poll questions ahead of time for participants to respond to
Can I watch an example of a class?
Yes! Here's where you can see a list of all Highlights which have been offered. You can't watch any without their passwords, but it will let you know what others have done. Melanie can advise you about which one might be especially useful to watch and can provide you with the link. Contact her at [email protected] to ask.
Who can present a Focusing Highlight?
Presenters can be Certified Focusing Professionals (Trainers), FOTs, Coordinators-in-Training (CiT), or Coordinators with experience sharing their topic. Please be current on your TIFI membership. Contact [email protected] to propose an idea for a Highlight that you'd like to present. We can then decide together whether your class would be a good fit with the series. We also welcome you to suggest someone you think we should contact to ask them to offer a class.
Why should I present a Focusing Highlight?
Offering a Highlight supports the Institute while giving you and your work great exposure. We named this series Focusing Highlights precisely because we hope to highlight some of the great work being done in the international Focusing community. This gives presenters an opportunity to share their passion with the Focusing world, as well as help support the Institute, which we deeply appreciate. The Institute takes care of the technical, logistical, and marketing aspects of the webinar, so it’s a great way to offer an online class without having to worry about navigating technology. Many presenters also time their Highlight to boost registration for an event they are sponsoring, or to promote a book they have written.
What is the audience like?
While Highlights are open to all, almost all participants have had at least some Focusing experience prior to the webinar. An average of around 50-100 people register, with half of those registrants attending live (the other half opting instead to view the recording). Remember, with webinar format you don’t see the participants, but you are able to see your support team. Those participating live have been curious, friendly, and eager to participate. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding this series.
How would I organize my class?
Great question! Each presenter is unique and there are many successful ways to organize your webinar. Over the years we have noted that good classes are often weaved with three main threads: theory, story, and experiential exercises. Theory outlines your topic, perhaps with the help of slides and diagrams. Story brings the teaching to life – and helps participants relate. Finally, guided exercises let participants experience the ideas in their bodies, and perhaps even carry forward a personal issue. We find that classes which iteratively interweave these three threads are the most successful.
Why webinar format for Focusing Highlights?
- SERVING A VARIETY OF PEOPLE AND PREFERENCES
It’s important to us to have various modalities, various types of experiences, available to the public. The Highlights are not intended to connect people with each other. We have lots of other opportunities for that. If we didn't have Highlights as webinars, then every single offering we had would be meeting format. That would mean that there’s nothing for people who want to attend a class that doesn’t make them feel pressured to have their camera on and to interact. - A RIGHT TO BE ANONYMOUS AND CHECK US OUT
For people who aren't already members of the Focusing community, or who don't want to be, anonymity is often much more appealing. Having one online event every month that is NOT particularly interactive is more inviting for people who want to check out Focusing without being on screen or needing to interact in any way. It can, for many people, create a more safe environment. - IT MAKES IT MORE PRACTICAL FOR US TO HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF TEACHERS
The more controlled environment of the webinar format (among other parameters we put on the Highlights) works well as an entry point for our wide variety of teachers. Having a set, unchanging and controlled format creates a good way for us to allow any certified teacher to teach, even if we don't know them well. It means that on our end, there is only one variable, which is the teacher themselves. - GETTING TEACHERS TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO TEACH IN A DIFFERENT WAY
We’ve found that it is often unexpectedly useful to teachers who would never have chosen webinar format. It can shake up their idea of what is possible for the way they teach. Approximately 100% of the time, they would never have chosen it, but it ends up being a much better experience than they expected. They might still prefer in future to do classes in meeting format, but it has gotten them out of the idea that Focusing can't be communicated in this way. - FUTURE SALES
A webinar format tends to create an experience that is just as appealing (or almost so) as having attended live. The live attendees and those watching afterward are more or less equals.
I’m in! What next?
Great! Let us know by writing to [email protected]. Please provide a brief description of what you would like to present, a brief bio, and the month in which you wish to offer your Highlight. We will take it from there!