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Next Cohort Deadline June 13th Apply Today
Next Cohort Deadline June 13th Apply Today
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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.

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Podcast | May 22, 2024

In this episode of the Facilitation Lab podcast, Douglas Ferguson talks with Jim Kalbach, Chief Evangelist at MURAL and author, about his facilitation journey and expertise in mapping. Jim shares a pivotal experience leading a workshop at LexisNexis and how it propelled his career. He discusses the influence of room setup on collaboration, the power of visual maps for team alignment, and his interest in Wardley maps. Jim also reflects on the evolution of facilitation with technology, the shift to remote workshops, and the future of facilitation as a widespread skill. The episode emphasizes the transformative role of facilitation and visual tools in improving group collaboration.