listening Archives | Page 3 of 11

A Facilitation Moment: Choosing a meeting space

barbara pedersen July 28, 2023July 28, 2023 Belonging, collaboration, community, consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, in-person facilitation, Inclusion, listening, nature, Planning, silence, strategic planning, Visual facilitation

The success of a session can hinge on one moment of facilitation. A facilitator recognizes these moments and responds appropriately for the benefit of the group. I am writing a short series called “A Facilitation Moment” to share stories of

A Facilitation Moment: a challenge by a participant

barbara pedersen July 28, 2023July 28, 2023 Belonging, collaboration, community, complexity, consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, Discussion, Diversity, Equity, facilitation, fierce conversations, in-person facilitation, Inclusion, listening, nonprofit, online facilitation, Planning, silence, Simplicity, strategic planning

A facilitation moment. You know it! You are facilitating a group and this happens. ➡ A participant forcefully challenges an activity.➡ A participant challenges you or someone else about an idea.➡ A individual stands up and yells at everyone.And so

A Strategic Plan is like a rainforest.

barbara pedersen May 22, 2023May 22, 2023 books, business, business planning, collaboration, consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, facilitation, hybrid sessions, in-person facilitation, listening, nonprofit, online facilitation, Planning, Simplicity, strategic planning, team building, team work, virtual, virtual facilitation, Visual facilitation

A simile, metaphor, and analogy arrived in a workshop. It’s not a joke! These techniques make wonderful facilitation tools. I recently facilitated a two-hour session to help members of a leadership team review, understand, and re-commit to their strategic plan.

Facilitate Active Listening with a staff team

barbara pedersen March 29, 2023March 29, 2023 Belonging, consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, Discussion, Diversity, Equity, facilitation, Fun, Inclusion, intersectionality, listening, strategic planning, Talking, team building, team work

Two people standing and facing each other. One is talking and gesturing and one is listening intently.

In a recent team building session with a staff team, I spontaneously facilitated an Active Listening technique as a group activity to help the participants enhance their communication skills. I usually use Active Listening with individuals talking in pairs. In