Library of facilitation techniques

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

Can I take your spot? The "Yes" Game is an interactive exercise that helps participants explore the dynamics of agreement and disagreement.

This activity opens up the conversation and makes visible the need to gain a broader perspective of issues in order to effectively explore and address them. What we individually know and experience is important, what we can’t see is just as important in understanding a complex issue.

• 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

I was using this approach when facilitating workshop on Continuous Improvement within my organisation. I saw another approach using this method and continuous with this sharing as I feel it was bringing across different message.

The Way of Council

This exercise will help develop 'systems intelligence' with a view to being able to influence people in the right direction and in the right way.

Learning Journeys invite participants to step out of their daily routine and to experience places, people, and organizations that are relevant to issues they are working on.

Way to disperse a few closing/feedback questions throughout the room