Library of facilitation techniques

simple activity for closing a group session (or other uses)

It is said that, “the many are smarter than the few,” but under what conditions? This activity encourages participants to reflect upon their own collaborative successes and failures for the purpose of determining which factors help to achieve effective collaboration.

• Frame: Famously utilized by AirB&B to get at the heart of some of their culture issues. The idea is that there are three things that move the needle on psychological safety and team effectiveness:

• • Elephants - The "elephants in the room" or things people are avoiding and not talking about. These tend to create a sense of ambiguity and helplessness. Elephants must die.
  • Dead Fish - These are the "old tapes" that people refuse to let go of. They've been around so long that they're beginning to stink up the place. These tend to sour people on each other by undermining trust and creating fictions. Dead Fish must disappear.
  • Vomit - This is our ability to speak freely, directly, and openly with another person without fear of reprisal. If we're not listened to in this way, it can build up over time and bad things can happen. Vomit has to happen.

• Outcomes: Creates more honesty and psychological safety; Surfaces crucial issues on the team
  

• Demo: Leader shares an example of an old tape or story they've been carrying around and are ready to let go of
• Process/Steps:
• Facilitator introduces the framework by drawing three columns on a flipchart (or a flipchart for each)
• Facilitator asks the group for an example of either an Elephant or a Dead Fish
• Team members affirm, clarify, or provide additional context
• Group decides how to appropriately address or let go of the issue (usually by naming some hard, next steps)
• Facilitator captures on flipchart
• Group is invited to add to the flipcharts over the course of the day
• Facilitator reviews additions at the end of the day

Using an item as an symbol to allow everyone to have an opportunity to speak.

Something fun to bring people away from their seat, get on their feet and knowing more about each other.

Die Marshmallow-Challenge kann in mehreren Teams stattfinden, die dann gegeneinander antreten oder in Gruppen innerhalb eines Team. Pro Gruppe max. drei bis sechs TeilnehmerInnen. Wie viele Teams dann insgesamt an der Challenge teilnehmen, ist flexibel gestaltbar. Bei Gruppen mit mehr als 30 TN empfehlen wir 2 bis 3 ModeratorInnen.

connection activity

Group selects one interesting, particularly challenging case to work with live.

✓ Understand the ‘how’ of influencing.

✓ Demonstrate an understanding of the 5-Step IWA Model and its application.

✓ Understand the role of authority in influencing others.

✓ Develop a Game Plan for immediate implementation (if appropriate).