Introduction
Introduction
Free Facilitation Course: Simple tips for less terrible meetings
1. Setup roles and rules so that it feels like a game
1. Setup roles and rules so that it feels like a game
2. Define a time limit per topic to ensure you end up on time
2. Define a time limit per topic to ensure you end up on time
3. Use sticky notes to show where the discussion is
3. Use sticky notes to show where the discussion is
4. Create a parking space for new ideas and off topic elements
4. Create a parking space for new ideas and off topic elements
5. Use votes to not talk for hours about what's already obvious
5. Use votes to not talk for hours about what's already obvious
6. Make people work in smaller groups and then share the summary
6. Make people work in smaller groups and then share the summary
7. Separate the mindsets to make it less confusing
7. Separate the mindsets to make it less confusing
What you learned and how to make it stick
What you learned and how to make it stick
Imagine this meeting. Anna speaks about the screws that must be changed in a machine. Bob reacts by making a joke about what screws and pastors have in common. Marc reacts about the joke with a tiny detail too. And finally the conversation is about the type of cake we should get for the birthday of Julia. At this moment you ask yourself: "How did we get here?".
This story shows that humans get quickly side tracked in meetings. And as we get lost we need some ways to keep us on track.
So here are three things you can do to ensure everybody sees the progress that is being made in the meeting and can stay on topic:
Put sticky notes on a wall and move them during the conversation
Use one sticky note per idea or topic
Write in an easy to read way