discussions Archives | Barbara Pedersen

Experience. Renewal. Celebration

barbara pedersen June 12, 2024June 12, 2024 Belonging, business, business planning, collaboration, community, consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, Discussion, Diversity, facilitation, fierce conversations, Fun, governance, hybrid sessions, in-person facilitation, Inclusion, lessons, Life Work Balance, listening, nonprofit, online facilitation, Planning, process, reading, Simplicity, stories, storytelling, strategic planning, Talking, team building, team work, technology, Trends, virtual, virtual facilitation, Visual facilitation

I recently celebrated 30 years of my facilitation business and coincidentally recertified as a Certified Professional Facilitator with the International Association of Facilitators (IAF). These milestones got me thinking about experience, renewal, and celebration. I hope my musings help anyone

The Healing Power of Conversation

barbara pedersen December 22, 2023December 22, 2023 Belonging, business, collaboration, consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, Discussion, Diversity, facilitation, Fun, holidays, in-person facilitation, Inclusion, listening, nonprofit, online facilitation, Planning, silence, Simplicity, stories, storytelling, strategic planning, Talking, team building, virtual, virtual facilitation

All I want for Christmas is to express my deepest appreciation for every person who contributed to a group conversation and to the facilitators who supported them. I, and I think, many other people, feel there is little we can

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 beautiful object to enhance conversations

barbara pedersen April 12, 2022April 12, 2022 consulting, Conversation, Dialogue, Discussion, facilitation, Fun, listening, mandala, nonprofit, online facilitation, silence, Simplicity, strategic planning, virtual, virtual facilitation, Visual facilitation

“Bring them again!” I often place these globe-like metal objects on the tables at in-person sessions I facilitate. Participants love them. Their enthusiasm inspires me to share ideas and activities about ways I use the objects as an aid to