{"id":13399,"date":"2022-05-03T07:00:55","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T11:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/?p=13399"},"modified":"2026-04-21T12:56:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:56:34","slug":"how-to-build-trust-as-a-meeting-facilitator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/how-to-build-trust-as-a-meeting-facilitator\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build Trust As a Meeting Facilitator"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Whether you&#8217;re facilitating a complex meeting or a daily standup, if your meeting participants don&#8217;t trust you (<em>or your methods<\/em>), they will not trust the meeting results.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Robin Dreeke, of People Formula, led the FBI\u2019s Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program. Tips in his book[1], <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Its-Not-All-About-Techniques\/dp\/057809665X\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Y16MDHAOXGYE&amp;keywords=\u201cIt\u2019s+Not+All+About+Me\u201c&amp;qid=1651010618&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=it+s+not+all+about+me+%2Cstripbooks%2C98&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cIt\u2019s Not All About Me: <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Its-Not-All-About-Techniques\/dp\/057809665X\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Y16MDHAOXGYE&amp;keywords=\u201cIt\u2019s+Not+All+About+Me\u201c&amp;qid=1651010618&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=it+s+not+all+about+me+%2Cstripbooks%2C98&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Top Ten Techniques for Building Quick Rapport with Anyone\u201d<\/a> speak loud and clear to professional facilitators. Below, we&#8217;ll examine a few of his recommended techniques for building trust.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13389 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Yuriy-Seleznev_Trust_Shutterstock.jpg\" alt=\"How to Build Trust As a Meeting Facilitator\" width=\"639\" height=\"426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Yuriy-Seleznev_Trust_Shutterstock.jpg 639w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Yuriy-Seleznev_Trust_Shutterstock-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 639px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Know What Done Looks Like<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThe first step in the process of developing great rapport and having great conversations is letting the other person know that there is an end in sight, and it is really close.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Whether you come from an Agile mindset or waterfall background, leadership begins with a line of site. You must know where you are going. When you don&#8217;t, everyone senses that you are groping and lost. Trust begins with the willingness to follow a leader who knows where they are going.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Become Non-verbally Appealing<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cWhen you walk into a room with a bunch of strangers, are you naturally drawn to those who look angry and upset or those with smiles and laughing? Smiling is the number one nonverbal technique you should utilize to look more accommodating.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Trust should not be assumed, but it can be earned. Your non-verbal and para-verbal signaling is more important than word choice if you want to build trust. You can&#8217;t say one thing but display something else. In addition to human connection methods such as empathy, seeking to understand, and avoiding judgments, consider the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Tilt your head a bit to the side so you don\u2019t run the risk of looking straight down on people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Stand at an angle or a bit to the side and avoid being &#8216;front and center&#8217; too much. You want to give people visual access to the front and center, whether it&#8217;s an easel, screen, or whiteboard. We call this area W.I.P. or the work-in-progress area. When that work is finished, move it to the side for the next content that belongs front and center, not you.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">And of course, smile (sincerely).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Slower Rate of Speech<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Research has shown that rapidly speaking in certain situations can increase credibility and even make you sound more intelligent. The goal, however, when meeting new people is to make them feel comfortable. To accomplish this we are better off speaking slower than normal and pausing at times to give people space to absorb what we are saying. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Educators understand <a href=\"https:\/\/practicalpie.com\/cognitive-load-theory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cognitive Load Theory<\/a> suggesting that any learning experience has three components: 1. Intrinsic load, 2. Germane load, and 3. Extraneous load. Of course, if I say much more on this topic, you will rightfully accuse me of causing cognitive overload. Therefore, if you want more on this topic, I recommend &#8220;Effective Education Videos&#8221; (I know, ironic eh &#8212; an article on videos).<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Put on Your Sweater (Hide Rank)<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Putting your ego aside and focusing solely on the wants, needs, and opinions of people around you isn\u2019t always easy. But being non-judgmental builds trust.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">According to Robin Dreeke, &#8220;People who allow others to continue talking without taking their own turn are generally regarded as the best conversationalists.&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Its-Not-All-About-Techniques-ebook\/dp\/B0060YIBLK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-13402 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Screen-Shot-2022-05-02-at-9.30.48-AM-193x300.png\" alt=\"How to Build Trust\" width=\"193\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Facilitate each topic as a learning opportunity. Seek out the stories of others. Remind yourself that good things happen when we prioritize our two ears over our ego.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Listening Builds Trust<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Listening skills build trust quickly, so learn to put your own agenda on hold.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We all have agendas. The key to building trust with people, however, is to put our own wants, needs, dreams, and opinions on hold to better learn about the person we are speaking with. After all, the most valuable people take the time to understand what other people value.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">As Robin Dreeke says \u2014 \u201cWhen the focus is on the other person and we\u2019re not anxious to tell our own story, we also tend to remember the details. We\u2019re mindful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Thoughtfulness<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">Thoughtfulness doesn\u2019t have to be a big thing. Little gestures like offering a participant who is coughing a cup of water, a mint, a tissue, or even hand sanitizer can go a long way in building trust and rapport.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Questioning<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cOnce the individual being targeted supplies more words and thoughts, a great (facilitator) will utilize the content given and continue to ask open-ended questions about the same content.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h4><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Focus Builds Trust<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">According to Robin Dreeke, one of the most reliable trust-builders is our \u201cfocus.\u201d After all, as human beings, we frequently prefer different things. One thing we have in common is that we love to know that our voice is being heard and we are truly seen.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Below are five <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/\"><span class=\"s1\">Best Practices<\/span><\/a> articles that reinforce the basis of trust and support the topics we spoke of above.<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\" https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/how-to-ensure-neutral-facilitation\/\">How to Ensure Neutral Facilitation<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/nonverbal-expressions\/\">Nonverbal Expressions: How to (Not) Gesture while Facilitating<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/managing-change\/\">Seven Top Skills for Managing Change in an Enterprise or Organization<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/servant-leader\/\">The Servant Leader Solution Benefits Everyone<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/building-consensus\/\">Thoughts, Words, and Deeds \u2013 Foundation for Building Consensus<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Remember, nobody is smarter than everybody.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;\">[1] Adapted from &#8220;According to an FBI Behavior Expert, These 10 Techniques Quickly Build Trust with Anyone, by Michael Thompson, Personal Growth, Medium<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In a world where everyone can engage in decisions that affect them<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>______<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Lead the Change\u2014One Meeting at a Time<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Are you ready to transform how decisions are made, problems are solved, and alignment is built in your organization?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>True meeting leadership goes beyond setting an agenda.<\/b> It requires a facilitator who can navigate complexity, balance voices, and drive toward outcomes with clarity and consensus. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training\/\"><b>Professional Meeting Leadership Workshop<\/b><\/a> and facilitation training equips you to do just that\u2014blending <b>human-centric methods<\/b> with <b>structured analytical tools<\/b> to foster rigor, inclusivity, and results that stick.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b><\/b><b>Practice live.<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b><\/b><b>Get expert feedback.<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b><\/b><b>Build confidence that lasts.<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Whether your meetings suffer from unclear objectives, disengaged participants, or decision fatigue, this workshop will help you <b>identify the root causes<\/b>, <b>apply proven facilitation techniques<\/b>, and <b>emerge as the leader every team needs<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Take the first step today\u2014transform your meetings and magnify your impact.<\/b><b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">\ud83d\udc49 <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training\/\"><b>Click here to reserve your seat now.<\/b><b><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\"><i>#facilitationtraining #meetingdesign<\/i><\/span><i><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Because every meeting should be a catalyst for change\u2014not just another calendar event.<\/b><\/span><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>______<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">With Bookmarks no longer a feature in WordPress, we provide the following for your benefit and reference.<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">20 Prioritization Techniques = <a href=\"https:\/\/foldingburritos.com\/product-prioritization-techniques\/\">https:\/\/foldingburritos.com\/product-prioritization-techniques\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Creativity Techniques = <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mycoted.com\/Category:Creativity_Techniques\">https:\/\/www.mycoted.com\/Category:Creativity_Techniques<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Facilitation Training Calendar = <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training-calendar\/\">https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training-calendar\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Liberating Structures = <a href=\"http:\/\/www.liberatingstructures.com\/ls-menu\">http:\/\/www.liberatingstructures.com\/ls-menu<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Management Methods = <a href=\"https:\/\/www.valuebasedmanagement.net\/\">https:\/\/www.valuebasedmanagement.net<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Newseum = https:\/\/www.freedomforum.org\/todaysfrontpages\/<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">People Search = <a href=\"https:\/\/pudding.cool\/2019\/05\/people-map\/\">https:\/\/pudding.cool\/2019\/05\/people-map\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Project Gutenberg = http:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/wiki\/Main_Page<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Scrum Events Agendas = <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/scrum-facilitation\/\">https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/scrum-facilitation\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Speed test = <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/result\/8715401342\">https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/result\/8715401342<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Teleconference call = <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DYu_bGbZiiQ\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/DYu_bGbZiiQ<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The Size of Space = https:\/\/neal.fun\/size-of-space\/<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Thiagi\/ 400 ready-to-use training games = <a href=\"http:\/\/thiagi.net\/archive\/www\/games.html\">http:\/\/thiagi.net\/archive\/www\/games.html<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Visualization methods = <a href=\"http:\/\/www.visual-literacy.org\/periodic_table\/periodic_table.html\">http:\/\/www.visual-literacy.org\/periodic_table\/periodic_table.html#<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>______<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you&#8217;re facilitating a complex meeting or a daily standup, if your meeting participants don&#8217;t trust you (or your methods), they will not trust the meeting results. Robin Dreeke, of People Formula, led the FBI\u2019s Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program. Tips in his book[1], \u201cIt\u2019s Not All About Me: The Top Ten Techniques for Building Quick [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[453185969,453185951,11161],"tags":[453192158,453192159,453192542,453192543,453192541,453189577],"class_list":["post-13399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communication-skills","category-leadership-skills","category-meeting-structure","tag-building-trust","tag-building-trust-in-meetings","tag-michael-thompson","tag-put-on-your-sweater","tag-robin-dreeke","tag-trust"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - 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