The best laid plans are those that include contingencies. Forum members take time out of their busy schedules to attend meetings because they anticipate value from them. That attitude may shift if they experience sessions with too little to do. […]
When you start an exercise in your group, do you know who will go first? It may depend on the purpose of the exercise and it’s wise to think it through in advance. Whether you hit that goal often depends […]
Overloaded business leaders may have a hard time shifting from their work perspective to their Forum perspective when they first arrive to their meeting. Opening the meeting with a minute of silence gives members a chance to make that transition […]
You may think that a question is just a question. You ask it and wait for everyone at the table to respond with their ideas and feedback. But…it does not always work that way. Experienced facilitators come to their discussions […]
Warren Buffett once said that in the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield. Facilitators can embrace this observation to enhance a meeting’s take-away value. Before the group adjourns, ask your members to look back on […]
When it comes to listening, are you a dog or a cat? Dogs are born to listen, often with that whimsical head angle…cats, not so much. Dogs perk up whenever someone speaks to them and they listen intently. Cats can […]
Ready…FIRE!…(aim)… That sequence doesn’t seem quite right! “Always Be Prepared” is the Boy Scouts’ motto, made famous for how it can apply to just about any pursuit. And it’s a great principle for facilitators to follow, too! Winging it when […]
Spark energy with color! Have you ever seen someone write on a white board with only one colored marker? Monotone. Boring. It can even be difficult to read as the board fills up. Using a flip chart or white board […]
As a group facilitator, have you ever considered that it makes a difference who goes first when working through a group exercise? The best person to kick things off may vary depending on the purpose of the exercise, so it’s […]
Creativity and innovation are abilities that can be improved with some practice. Here are a few tools for you to use to stimulate some creativity. A Brief Video In this 5-minute video, you will learn three strategies that you can […]