When I read a book, I like complex characters who can both succeed and fail, and who grow and develop through their own character arcs. But in the real world, we mistakenly expect our heroes — e.g., business and nonprofit…
Throughout 2022, I facilitated two working groups within the board of directors of a nonprofit organization. Each group met monthly online and was tasked with figuring out a really gnarly problem. In October, it was time to report out to…
You’ve got a big meeting or workshop coming up. The stakes are high. The issues are complex and emotionally charged. You know you need external expertise to help guide the conversation and navigate the complexities. But how do you find…
How do you close a workshop and send people off with the motivation and goodwill to take the steps they’ve decided upon together during the session? I like to end a workshop by giving participants an opportunity to express gratitude…
Like a good consultant answering any either/or question, I say, “Yes!” Facilitation skills can be taught When I was at a DC-area think-tank more than a decade ago, a graphic facilitator visited and taught the staff how to write on…
Facilitating a workshop for the first time can seem daunting, but you can learn the facilitation skills necessary to provide a workshop experience that changes your participants, their organizations, and the world! Maybe you’ve never facilitated a group before, or…
On many occasions I have worked alongside “graphic facilitators,” also called “visual recorders.” These terms refer to the person who often stands to the side in a workshop, quietly rendering the group discussions into a work of art, using markers…