Delivery Matters

Stories behind workshop plans,
sticky notes and markers.

Author: Deborah Rim Moiso

How to become a great workshop facilitator

Facilitation skills can be applied in a variety of contexts, such as meetings, events, or in the classroom. Arguably, the setting in which facilitation skills shine the most is the design and running of workshops. Workshops are dedicated spaces for interaction and learning. They are generally very hands-on, including activities such as simulations or games designed to practice specific skills. Leading workshops is an exciting, rewarding experience! In this piece we will go through some of the essential elements of workshop facilitation: What are workshops? Workshops are a time set aside for a group of people to learn new skills, come up with the best ideas, and solve problems together.…

Workshop design 101: how to craft a successful agenda design

So, you’ve decided to convene a workshop, a special time set aside to work with a team on a certain topic or project. You are looking for brilliant ideas, new solutions and, of course, great participation. To begin the process that will get you to workshop success, you’ll need three ingredients: participants willing to join, someone to facilitate and guide them through the process (aka, you) and a detailed agenda or schedule of the activities you’ve planned. In this article we will focus on that last point: what makes a good agenda design? Having a good agenda is essential to ensure your workshops are well prepared and you can lead…

Teacher as facilitator: how to improve your lessons with facilitation

There is a lot of overlap between education practices such as the “flipped classroom”, direct education, participatory learning, and facilitation. Building relationships, exploring topics creatively, and, of course, asking questions together you are probably doing something akin to facilitation in the classroom already.In this article we will explore what educators can learn from facilitators: insights, best practices and activities you can run in your classroom to boost engagement and collaboration! Facilitation might just be the source of insights, frameworks and ideas you are missing in your quest to make your lessons the best they can be. In the following paragraphs, we will look at: What is facilitation in education An…

group of young people looking at a computer

29 Decision-making techniques for making effective decisions

In our groups and organizations, we want to move forward and have an impact. We want to get things done, take action and change things in the world. To do that, we need to align on what we will do together, and how. In other words, we need to decide. But what decision making techniques are the most effective at making good decisions quickly and effectively? Deciding in a group setting is not always easy! In fact, arguments over whether a decision has been taken (and it’s time to implement it) or not yet (so we are still discussing) are one of the most common sources of conflicts in a…

How to run an effective group decision making process

Group decision making is how teams get stuff done. We join forces in order to achieve our goals, creating groups, teams, and whole organizations in order to advance toward a vision. Making decisions on how to move forward is an important part of making this work, but when it comes to group decision making, the process can become messy or ineffective. Why is it so common to argue over whether a group decision was taken or not? When should we decide together, and when is it ok for a group leader to go ahead with a final decision? What are the different ways of taking decisions? Which will work for…

What is a facilitator and what do they do?

As a professional facilitator, there are certain questions I find it really hard to answer. Such basic, chit-chat-at-the-dinner-party questions, in fact, that it’s almost embarrassing. Questions like: What is a "facilitator"? Why do people hire you? What is it that you actually do? To get to the bottom of these matters I’ll be using my own experience, that of colleagues from my networks and, in particular, data drawn from the State of Facilitation in 2023 report, which is based on over 1100 responses to a global survey. If you are considering starting a career as a facilitator, read on to be prepared for all these questions that will soon be…

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What are hybrid events? (Complete guide with examples and best practices!)

Trainers and facilitators around the world have been experimenting with hybrid events in earnest and the results are in: it is possible to facilitate engaging, participatory conversations with groups of people joining in different ways. This honest* guide to planning and facilitating hybrid events has all you need to aim for success in this novel environment. Learn how to plan, design and run effective hybrid events with examples from people who have run and participated in this hybrid environment. This honest guide to hybrid events is packed with practical tips, insights and information to get you started setting up, designing and running successful hybrid events. First of all, you’ll find a…

a graphic design representing an agenda, participants and notes in a meeting

How to facilitate a meeting (practical tips and best practices)

Meeting facilitation is a vital skill for anyone leading a group and hoping to get stuff done. When we facilitate a meeting, this means setting up a dedicated spaces in which to discuss, create, prioritize and decide together. Those spaces are different from our normal interactions. They are set aside from the rest of the flow of the day and have rituals for starting, ending and running them. We call them meetings. Learning how to facilitate a meeting effectively and improve team interactions is a valuable skill for managers, leaders and facilitators alike. Read on to find out how you can improve how you plan and run your meetings! I…

Our Guide to Facilitation Week 2022

Where focus goes, energy flows. And in October, the world of facilitation’s focus is on the rich calendar of co-created events of Facilitation Week! Facilitation Week is a yearly marathon catalyzed by IAF, the International Association of Facilitators. This year, it will run from the 17th to the 23rd of October, in all time zones, live and online!There is always a lot to learn and you can expect every session to be lively and participatory. But before you go check out the entire event list, heed a word of warning! The week is absolutely packed with great events running for free, online, and open to anyone. There is so much…

A step-by-step guide to planning a workshop

Going from a mere idea to a workshop that delivers results for your clients can feel like a daunting task. In this piece, we will shine a light on all the work behind the scenes. On a good day, facilitation can feel like effortless magic, but that is mostly the result of backstage work, foresight, and a lot of careful planning. Read on to learn a step-by-step approach to breaking the process of planning a workshop into small, manageable chunks. The flow starts with the first meeting with a client to define the purposes of a workshop. In other words, we are working on the assumption that the facilitator has…

36 engaging hybrid activities (that work in any environment!)

To ensure participation of all attendees in a hybrid event, facilitators need to find creative solutions to make sure everyone is heard, seen and included! In this list of 36 hybrid activities, we have selected methods and tools that do just that, so get started designing your hybrid event with everything from icebreakers to decision-making tools! Hybrid gatherings, in which some participants join remotely and others in person, are a growing trend in facilitation worldwide. For those designing and running workshops and meetings, this poses new, unique challenges. How to make sure everyone is included and heard? How to create connections and deepen understanding among participants? How to run activities…

How to train new facilitators – a step by step guide

Training new facilitators in the use of facilitation skills is essential as the profession gains recognition and organizations come to realize the advantages of having facilitative leaders and team members. But how to begin? In this piece, IAF endorsed facilitator and new SessionLab team member Deborah shares tips and tools from her experience of 5+ years introducing students and professionals to facilitation. She leads us through the programme of a half-day introductory workshop session in which participants experience facilitation tools first-hand, reflect on them, and collect methods and skills in their first facilitation toolkit. As a facilitator and trainer, you may sometimes be asked to reveal what is going on…

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