{"id":386,"date":"2016-08-18T00:01:25","date_gmt":"2016-08-18T04:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/facilitativeleadership.wordpress.com\/?p=386"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:32:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T17:32:19","slug":"meeting-inclusiveness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-inclusiveness\/","title":{"rendered":"Ensuring Meeting Inclusiveness &#8212; How to Value Diversity &#038; Plurality"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>The primary responsibility of a facilitator is to protect the participants. Furthermore, the facilitator helps drive the group toward its desired deliverable. Since the deliverable is built to serve the participants, people should take priority over the issues. To some extent, both people and issues are managed by creating an environment that is conducive to productivity. Easier said, than done, to ensure meeting inclusiveness.<\/h2>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The\u00a0International Association of Facilitators (IAF) aspires for you to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Encourage positive regard for the experience and perception of all participants<img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-10238 size-full\" title=\"Four_Hats\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/shutterstock_362158361.jpg\" alt=\"How to Recognize Diversity, Ensuring Meeting Inclusiveness\" width=\"500\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/shutterstock_362158361.jpg 500w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/shutterstock_362158361-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Create a climate of safety and trust<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Create opportunities for participants to benefit from the diversity of the group<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Cultivate cultural awareness and sensitivity<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Value of Meeting Inclusiveness<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Dr. Edward de Bono provides expert insight into parallel thinking; i.e., there can be more than one correct answer. Listening to others, their perspectives, and rationale creates more robust products. Because of selective <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitation-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">perception<\/a>, the aggregation of all points of view provides stronger insight than any single point of view. When facilitating a group of nine people, for example, look for the tenth answer. Our technique refers to this concept as N+1, where N equals the number of participants, always seeking the +1 perspective, thus encouraging meeting inclusiveness. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Use of Meeting Ground Rules<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Remember to embrace and enforce meeting and workshop <em><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/ground-rules\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ground Rules<\/a><\/em> to create a climate of safety and trust. See our discussion on <em><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/be-here-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ground Rules<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>for\u00a0additional comments and suggestions. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Key to Innovation<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Diversity, or plurality as we prefer to call it (suggesting the beauty of a mosaic rather than the fracturing of something), is undoubtedly the key to innovation. See de Bono&#8217;s<em> Six Thinking Hats<\/em> (modified to <em>Seven Thinking Hats<\/em> with the <em>MGR<span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">USH<\/span> F<span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">AST<\/span><\/em> technique to also include the &#8220;Process&#8221; or royal purple view) or other means of facilitating perspective found in your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Meetings-That-Get-Results-Facilitators\/dp\/1523093153\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GWYMVM2ZSI2B&amp;keywords=meetings+that+get+results&amp;qid=1693246696&amp;sprefix=meetings+that%2Caps%2C141&amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>MGR<span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">USH <\/span><\/em>manual<\/a> or other expert sources such as Roger von Oech&#8217;s <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Creative-Whack-Pack-Roger-Oech\/dp\/0880793589\/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3F2KY3DI7B2CR&amp;keywords=creative+whack+pack+cards&amp;qid=1693246879&amp;sprefix=Creative+Whack+Pack%2Caps%2C297&amp;sr=8-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Creative Whack Pack<\/a>.<\/em> Consider special <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/icebreakers-for-large-groups\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Icebreakers<\/a>, break-out sessions, or <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/team-building\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">team-building<\/a> exercises that emphasize the value of plurality because meeting inclusiveness follows integrative exercises. As a result, Scannell and Newstrom offer hundreds of options among other expert tools. Take this opportunity to leverage the tactile sense, and consider some of the professional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Learning-Business-Theory-Lego-teachers\/dp\/1687284504\/ref=sr_1_56?crid=2L47MN8SYA9R7&amp;keywords=Legos\u00ae+for+business&amp;qid=1693247057&amp;sprefix=legos+for+business%2Caps%2C155&amp;sr=8-56\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Legos\u00ae<\/a> activities or others designed to prove the value of plurality and its positive impact on the quality of deliverables.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>______<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">Meetings must rise above the tiny opening of words and embrace the fullness of human insight\u2014through listening, visuals, stories, numbers, and symbols. The transformation begins not with tools, but in mindset. Leave your ego at the threshold, and step into the structures of meetings that get results.<\/span><\/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=\"color: #ff0000;\"><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>The primary responsibility of a facilitator is to protect the participants. Furthermore, the facilitator helps drive the group toward its desired deliverable. Since the deliverable is built to serve the participants, people should take priority over the issues. To some extent, both people and issues are managed by creating an environment that is conducive to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10238,"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":[55884429,453185956],"tags":[453192347,453192345,453191120,453187462,5941409,453192348,453191119,453192570,453192346,238774],"class_list":["post-386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meeting-support","category-problem-solving","tag-creative-whack-pack","tag-dr-edward-de-bono","tag-how-to-recognize-diversity","tag-iaf","tag-international-association-of-facilitators","tag-legos","tag-meeting-inclusiveness","tag-roger-von-oechs-creative-whack-pack","tag-scannell-and-newstrom","tag-six-thinking-hats"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ensuring Inclusive Meetings That Value Diversity and Plurality<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"People and issues are harmonized through environments that are conducive to plurality --- thus ensuring meeting inclusiveness.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-inclusiveness\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ensuring Meeting Inclusiveness --- How to Value Diversity &amp; 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However, he also observed meetings that worked. What set them apart? A well-prepared leader who structured the session to ensure participants contributed meaningfully and achieved clear outcomes. Throughout his career, Metz, who earned an MBA from Kellogg (Northwestern University) experienced and also trained in various facilitation techniques. In 2004, he purchased MG RUSH where he shifted his focus toward improving established meeting designs and building a curriculum that would teach others how to lead, facilitate, and structure meetings that drive results. His expertise in training world-class facilitators led to the 2020 publication of Meetings That Get Results: A Guide to Building Better Meetings, a comprehensive resource on effectively building consensus. Grounded in the principle that \u201cnobody is smarter than everybody,\u201d the book details the why, what, and how of building consensus when making decisions, planning, and solving problems. Along with a Participant\u2019s Guide and supplemental workshops, it supports learning from foundational awareness to professional certification. Metz\u2019s first book, Change or Die: A Business Process Improvement Manual, tackled the challenges of process optimization. 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