Library of facilitation techniques
find the right tool for your next session
Plan, execute and synthesize highly-insightful user interviews
In the Design Sprint process, the interview is a crucial step to test your prototype.
This method provides a deliberate and scientific approach to conduct effective interviews. A consistent process and unbiased mindset yield realistic feedback. Effective scoring gives clarity to the results and primes you to make strategic decisions.
Pro Action Cafe
A blend of Open Space and World Cafe that gets large groups of people working on action, in a co-creative, peer coaching environment.
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique
They say “A Calm Mind is an Effective Mind” and with a calmer mind, you can better explore those challenges in life with calmness and centered awareness.
Constant change, learning new things, and uncertainty are a few of the situations that can cause even the calmest people to feel some stress.
This 5-step exercise can support people in stressful times by helping them to get grounded in the present moment when your focus is distracted by unhelpful thoughts.
Yes, and Picnic
4 conversations about how to listen, acknowledge, and build
This activity helps participants notice the impact of different listening and response styles, especially how we unconsciously block or build on each other’s ideas. Use this when you want to shift communication habits, build awareness of default patterns, and/or teach communication skills.
What will you tell who about what made your day today?
At the end of a meeting, participants have to go back to their boss, organization, community or family. There they'll asked a question like "what did you do?". This prepares them to that question, informs them about what others will say - and who maybe the source of this message and it give them as well as you feedback on the session. It also reinforces commitment.
Roses, Buds and Thorns
Roses, buds, and thorns is a quick and simple team exercise that can be performed at the start of a group meeting. The idea is to evaluate a project, team task, or even your day by having each team member come up with a Rose (positive highlight), Thorn (struggle or challenge), and Bud (opportunity for improvement). The goal of this activity is to open up discussion among team members and acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of others. This can allow you to put measures in place to do more of what's going well, and fix what needs fixing. As well, this activity inspires creativity and debate within teams. Discussing Buds can encourage new, creative ideas to come to the fore. Finally, the activity allows you to gain insight from all members of the team as communication and honesty are important for every group!
Organization's History
This technique helps to create a historical timeline for your organization with the collective work of your group members.
This activity can be a stand alone workshop or part of a planning workshop.
Three Questions
Even though Three Questions takes just a few minutes, it provokes the participants into reflecting for a long time.
Magical Gifts
In pairs, each person gives a "magical" gift to their partner that relates to what their partner has shared with them.