A Super Bowl without neutral referees? The World Series or World Cup without neutral umpires? Any tripartite government without the judicial branch? Conduct a meeting to build consensus without neutral facilitation? The answer to all of them – Don’t even think of it! We promote an evidence-based meeting approach that converts subjective points of view…
We all have the ability to play numerous roles in life, such as switching quickly between parent and child when attending a family gathering, or switching quickly between friend and customer when shopping or dining with a significant other. Likewise, structured facilitator training enables facilitators to switch their consciousness quickly between the roles of facilitator…
Daniel Pink’s newest research proves that the end of a meeting is more important than the beginning. Endings leave lasting impressions. Recency triumphs over primacy. And yet, how often have you found yourself in the hallway after a meeting wondering what was accomplished? What did we agree to? Or worse, you disagree with someone…
The Global SCRUM GATHERING ® Austin 2019 was kicked off on a warm Monday morning in May by Daniel Pink. Because his research focused on time and timing, Daniel compiled and published his results and findings in his newest book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. Additionally, his presentation averaged a five-star rating from…
Over the years, students and alumni have clamored for a simple reference sheet of our curriculum and how to prepare for a meeting. We think we have it now and hope you agree. Meetings can be expensive and wasteful, especially when poorly prepared. Therefore, download a PDF of the Meeting Pathway guide and Meeting Canvas…
During a recent four-day conference, we facilitated more than 20 speakers and varying presentations, each citing distinctive topics ranging from embracing social responsibility to utilizing Google® Hangouts for small groups. Participants applauded our approach, and we decided to share it here to help you become a more effective facilitator. Challenges Associated with Facilitating Speakers and…
A meeting without conflict is a boring meeting, and we’ve seen very little value derived from predictable and unexciting meetings and workshops. Internal and external conflict reflect emotions that, when harnessed, enable creative change. So rather than run, learn how to understand and manage group conflict. Additionally, the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) aspires for…
Using the principles of Facilitative Leadership, even novice facilitators will succeed if they can: Draw line of sight from the meeting deliverable to the quality of life of the meeting participants. Know where they are going and how to lead. Provide compelling evidence that the meeting will impact the wallet size of participants. Prove WHY the meeting…
Staying relevant and compelling when you facilitate multiple generations presents significant challenges. Problems develop when meetings include different mindsets, communication styles, and personal preferences. Scheduling, work patterns, and technology intensify friction. Teams are ever-changing and often cross time zones and cultural boundaries. A servile attitude provides you with the simple secret when you facilitate multiple…
“Creating Products that Customers Love” strikes us as highly poignant, as much of the world heads toward a holiday season with much gift-giving. Roman Pickler’s book, “Agile Product Management with Scrum” provides the single best book, barely over 100 pages, to understand the role of Product Owner. Some even claim it remains one of the…