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Facilitation | July 10, 2024

Struggling to regain attention after breakout sessions? In this blog post, discover effective techniques from both professional facilitators and kindergarten teachers. Learn why managing attention transitions is essential for productive workshops and explore methods such as hand signals, sound cues, and call-and-response phrases. Incorporate visual signals, countdowns, interactive engagement, and movement-based techniques to maintain focus. Draw inspiration from kindergarten techniques like songs, rhymes, and “magic words.” Choose the right method for your style, introduce it early, and ensure consistency. Enhance your facilitation skills and keep your sessions running smoothly with these practical strategies.

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Effective communication is crucial for successful facilitation, whether leading workshops, team meetings, or community groups. This article explores strategies to enhance communication skills and foster an inclusive, engaging environment. Key strategies include active listening—focusing on the speaker, reflecting, and showing empathy; clear and concise messaging—using simple language, staying on topic, and employing visual aids; encouraging open dialogue—asking open-ended questions, creating a safe space, and valuing all contributions; and utilizing non-verbal communication—maintaining eye contact, using gestures, and adopting an open posture.

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At this year's Facilitation Lab Summit, Erik Skogsberg and Dirk Van Onsem delivered a thought-provoking workshop titled "Facilitating Change Through Systems Mapping." The session was designed to help participants understand and leverage the power of systems thinking to drive change within their organizations.

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Podcast | June 14, 2024

In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, host Douglas Ferguson speaks with Julie Baeb, a Senior Consultant at Team Works. Julie shares her diverse career journey from advertising to architecture and eventually education, where she developed a STEM enrichment program. They discuss pivotal moments in Julie's facilitation career, including a transformative professional development session and a human-centered design retreat she led for school administrators. Julie emphasizes the importance of icebreakers, observation, and incorporating play and movement into sessions to foster engagement and psychological safety. The episode highlights Julie's commitment to building strong, connected teams through thoughtful facilitation.