Library of facilitation techniques

selection of various approaches to messaging

Make the team design their agreed 'cereal box' representing their team identity.

We live and work in turbulent times, juggling never-ending to-do lists, back-to-back meetings, and constant context switching. When people enter a meeting, they often carry mental clutter – unfinished tasks, lingering thoughts, or stress from the previous discussion.

This simple yet effective exercise helps participants mentally transition into the meeting by externalizing their distractions, physically letting them go, and creating a fresh focus for the discussion ahead. I use this whenever I sense a group (whether virtual or in-person) is distracted, overwhelmed, or coming straight from another meeting. It works well when combined with a check-in question that gets everyone speaking.

warm-up activity from Rachel Davis via AJ&Smart

A simple exercise to get people to look around and share a laughter after some funny moments - suitable for remote teams as a quick energiser.

This activity is a perfect holiday-themed icebreaker or energizer that combines creativity, quick thinking, and festive cheer. It encourages engagement, collaboration, and lighthearted fun, making it ideal for team-building, holiday parties, or virtual gatherings. By using emojis, it taps into visual problem-solving skills while keeping the atmosphere playful and inclusive.

from "The Moth" Game of Storytelling. Connection, sharing, listening to others.

from The Emotional Culture Deck (ridersandelephants.com)

Beginning to understand your influence style