Facilitating Skill Sharing Sessions

Recently a colleague asked me, “Laura, how are you able to get a group of complete strangers to bond so quickly?” It made me pause and reflect on my approach. Creating a strong bond among individuals is rooted in fostering psychological safety, shared experiences, and vulnerability. Here are some strategies I employ: 1. Establish a Shared Purpose Early On: - Define the group's purpose clearly. - Focus on the intention behind the gathering, promoting authenticity over perfection. 2. Initiate Vulnerability-Based Icebreakers: - Dive beyond surface-level introductions by asking meaningful questions: - "What's a personal achievement you're proud of but haven't shared with the group?" - "What challenge are you currently facing, big or small?" - "What truly motivated you to join us today?" These questions encourage genuine connections by fostering openness and humanity. 3. Engage in Unconventional Activities Together: - Bond through unique experiences such as: - Light physical activities (get outside and take a walk) or team challenges. - Creative endeavors like collaborative projects or improvisation. - Reflective exercises such as guided meditations followed by group reflections. 4. Facilitate "Small Circle" Conversations: - Encourage deeper discussions in smaller groups before sharing insights with the larger group. - Smaller settings often lead to increased comfort, paving the way for more profound interactions in larger settings. 5. Normalize Authentic Communication: - Lead by example as a facilitator or leader by sharing genuine and unexpected thoughts. - Setting the tone for open dialogue encourages others to follow suit. 6. Highlight Common Ground: - Acknowledge shared themes and experiences after individual shares. - Recognize patterns like shared pressures, transitions, or identity struggles to unify the group. 7. Incorporate Group Rituals: - Commence or conclude sessions with grounding rituals like breathwork, gratitude circles, one on one share. In what ways have you been able to create cohesion quickly amongst a group of individuals in a training session? #fasttracktotrust #humanconnection #facilitatedconnection

Running out of ways to keep your sessions engaging? This cheat sheet gives you tools to open strong, build trust, energize the room, and end with impact. Here’s what you’ll find inside: Opening Activities → Light-touch ways to start sessions with clarity and connection—beyond just “go around and introduce yourself.” Trust Builders → Exercises that foster psychological safety and openness, especially in mixed or new groups. Participation Boosters → Simple techniques to draw out quiet voices, prevent domination, and keep discussions balanced. Energy Lifters → Quick energisers and transitions to shake off fatigue and bring focus back to the room. Closing Techniques → Tools to wrap up with purpose: synthesize learnings, confirm next steps, and leave participants feeling heard. Use this cheat sheet to guide the energy and outcomes of your next session. ----- 🔔 Follow me for more facilitation insights #Facilitation #FacilitationSkills

Traditional planning sessions can sometimes feel stagnant. To keep your team engaged and ensure productive outcomes, incorporating a variety of facilitation techniques can make a significant difference. Here are some of my favorite techniques that support collaboration, catering to both introverts and extroverts: 💡 Fishbowl Discussion - Create an inner circle (the fishbowl) for active discussion while the outer circle observes. Participants rotate between circles, ensuring everyone has a chance to contribute. 💡 World Café - Set up small groups to discuss different topics at separate tables. Participants rotate tables, allowing for a diverse exchange of ideas and perspectives. 💡 Role Playing - Have participants act out scenarios to explore different perspectives and solutions. This interactive method can lead to deeper understanding and empathy. 💡 Mind Mapping - Use a visual diagram to represent ideas and their connections. This technique helps in seeing the bigger picture and how different ideas relate to each other. 💡 Six Thinking Hats - Assign different thinking styles (e.g., creative, critical, optimistic) to participants. This technique encourages looking at problems from multiple angles and generates well-rounded solutions. Trying new techniques not only makes the session more dynamic but also ensures that every voice is heard. What interactive techniques are your favorites? Let’s exchange ideas! --- Ready to spice up your next strategic meeting or workshop? Let’s chat! #StrategicPlanning #Facilitation #Leadership