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A step-by-step guide to planning a workshop

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How to use room setup styles to maximize engagement

Engagement and participation are two key words that every facilitator, event organizer and meeting professional sets as a goal when designing meetings, training sessions or conferences. Room setup plays a big role in making engagement happen. Room setup is the seating arrangement of participants: the placement by which they receive content and interact with one another. It is a critical aspect of every event because the atmosphere the physical space creates will impact the experience in obvious, and subtle, ways. As an event begins, there’s always an invisible barrier between a speaker and their audience. In fact, there is also a psychological barrier among participants, especially when they do not…

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.…

29 online energizers for more engaging meetings

Online energizers are one of best way to beat virtual fatigue. Meeting for extended periods in a virtual environment and looking at a screen all day is draining! Keeping participants engaged in online settings is a challenge but by using games and activities, we can improve engagement and outcomes too. In live settings, facilitators often use activities to increase group energy and focus. These energizers might include physical activity, encourage creative thinking, or simply create space for fun. Here’s a secret: the same can be true in online workshops and remote meetings! While connecting virtual teams over video chat and other online tools has become the norm, too many teams…

Agenda 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…

12 leadership roles for effective, dynamic leaders

While leaders might appear to occupy a single position, the reality is that leaders often need to be fluid and shift leadership roles in order to effectively manage and empower their team. Sometimes, leaders take the role of a coach and help team members find opportunities to grow. On other occasions, they need to be a decision maker on an important matter or sometimes hold space for the rest of the team in the role of a facilitator. Understanding these roles, when to deploy them and how they can impact your team can help you be a more engaging and effective team leader. In this guide, we’ll explore the different leadership…

14 effective feedback techniques and methods for giving better feedback

Effective feedback is a gift. When we use feedback techniques to share how we feel, what changes we'd like to see and give appreciation or constructive criticism, we create opportunities for growth and change. But for too many teams, feedback is a loaded word that can create a fear of judgement and negativity. Use proven techniques for giving and receiving feedback to help your team feel heard, show appreciation and be honest about what needs to change. These methods below are great for holding a productive feedback session while also building the skills necessary for a continuous feedback culture. Let's dive in! Techniques for group feedback Finding space to give…

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…

How to build a strong team culture in eight steps

Building a team culture that helps everyone in your organization feel valued and empowered to do their best work should be a priority for every organization. Without a healthy company culture, you can see toxic behavior, reduced productivity, and even lose members of the team! But how can you and your team co-create an organizational culture you can be proud of and that makes your team want to come into work every day? In this article, we’ll explore why team culture is important and discuss eight ways you can start to improve your culture today. Let's dig in! What is team culture? Team culture is a collection of values, behaviors,…

group of young people looking at a computer

28 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…

How to write a meeting agenda (and run better meetings!)

Learning how to write a meeting agenda that sets the stage for an effective and engaging gathering is an important leadership skill. Not only will it help you be organized and on time, but it will also help you and your team make the most of your time together. In this guide, we’ll explore what makes a meeting productive and guide you through the process of designing a great meeting agenda. You'll also learn practical tips you can use to improve your next meeting and get every team member engaged and involved. Ready to leave behind boring, unproductive meetings? Let's dive in! Going into a meeting without a purpose or…

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…

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