I was preparing for a couple of sessions this past week, designed to share my story in a program called Thought Leaders Business School (TLBS). I was therefore thinking about why it’s worked so well for me. Continue reading “Alone Together”
Zoom farther out
The facilitation activity I use most often is a spectrum exercise. I draw a horizontal line and label each end, either with opposite words (e.g. proactive/reactive) or happy/sad faces or yes/no. Then I invite participants to mark an X where they sit on that continuum on whatever issue we’re talking about. It makes visible two different things: does the group tilt toward one pole or the other (i.e. “If this line were a teeter totter, would it tilt to the right or left?”), and how consistent are participants in their views (i.e. how spread out or clustered are their Xs)? It takes three minutes and makes lots of good information visible. I love high leverage tools.
Back Where You Started
The shared experience of collaborative planning is a significant outcome in itself. It can build a sense of team, increase depth of understanding, build common vocabulary, and give people a touchstone on which to call in the future when a group starts to drift.
But is that shared experience enough? Don’t we also need to produce something together through it? What happens if our shared experience is one of seemingly landing right back where we started?
A Handy Opener
When we’re trying to sell something or engage people in a project, we often find ourselves guessing what will pique their interest. What’s the hook that will encourage them to stick with us?
Instead of guessing, ask them.
Don’t Be The Hero
We all know that person who likes to make things about them, don’t we? The one who turns the spotlight on himself, even at someone else’s party. The one who can talk for hours about her favourite topic: her. I don’t want to be that kind of facilitator.
Continue reading “Don’t Be The Hero”