Library of facilitation techniques
find the right tool for your next session
Methods (1504)
Rock paper scissors Dragon - Knight - Grandma
A Group Rock papaer siscors mini Tournament
The "Yes" Game
Can I take your spot? The "Yes" Game is an interactive exercise that helps participants explore the dynamics of agreement and disagreement.
Es ist Mittwoch
Teilnehmer*innen wiederholen einen neutralen Satz mit zunehmender emotionaler Intensität, bevor sie ihn sprechen. Variationen umfassen das Hinzufügen einer Rechtfertigung oder das Spielen reiner Emotionsgeräusche. Ziel ist es, Szenen aus Emotionen heraus zu entwickeln.
Wonderful Circle
simple activity for closing a group session (or other uses)
Better Connections
What is Collaborative Learning? (1.1)
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.
Elephants, Dead Fish, and Vomit
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
Sort Yourself Up
Something fun to bring people away from their seat, get on their feet and knowing more about each other.
Marshmallow-Challenge (nach Peter Skillman)
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.
Collaborative Jigsaw Puzzle
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.
Head Heart Hands (aka Hands Hearts Minds)
connection activity