ENGAGED FACILITATION

My style of Facilitation will ease your process by planning, guiding and managing your group or event. I will ensure that your objectives are met effectively with clear thinking, good participation and complete buy-in from all involved.

I will remain objective and take a neutral stance. But I will dare to play Devil’s advocate to be thorough. I step back from the detailed content and from my own personal views, and focus purely on the group process.

My key function as facilitator is to hold a safe space for your group’s process and an manifest an environment in which it can thrive, thus aiding your team in reaching a successful outcome, resolution or conclusion.

Facilitation comes in a variety of forms for me, whether I am planning and running a community or staff meeting and facilitating its outcomes or organizing a regional or national conference or strategizing session. I  facilitate from and Inclusive and Mindful perspectives and use a variety of tools such as Technology of Participation or the Charette Procedure in environments such as Open Space Technology or Community Readiness.

 

GUIDELINES TO EFFECTIVE MEETINGS

  1. Only hold a meeting if it is necessary.
  2. All meetings must have clear objectives.
  3. Meeting information should be circulated to everyone attending prior to the meeting. Include the following information:
    • Meeting objectives
    • Meeting agenda
    • Location/date/time
    • Background information
    • Assigned items for preparation
  4. Consider inviting a neutral person to facilitate sensitive meetings.
  5. All meetings should have an agenda that includes:
  6. Topics for discussion presenter or discussion leader for each topic
  7. Time allotment for each topic
  • Meetings must start on time. Starting on time rewards those who are punctual. Starting on time also sets the stage for how serious you are about making the meeting effective.
  • Meeting participants should:
    1. Arrive on time
    2. Be prepared
    3. Be concise
    4. Participate in a constructive manner
  • The meeting facilitator must ensure notes are recorded and are part of the groups meeting archives.
    • Any decisions made by the group
    • Assigned action items should be documented
    • Meeting effectiveness must be reviewed at the end of each meeting and suggested improvements applied to the next meeting.