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Oops. A facilitator’s mishap is a good reminder that I can adapt

barbara pedersen business, collaboration, complexity, consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, Discussion, Diversity, facilitation, Fun, hybrid sessions, in-person facilitation, Inclusion, listening, nonprofit, online facilitation, Planning, process, Simplicity, storytelling, strategic planning, team building, team work, virtual, virtual facilitation, Visual facilitation

I enjoy successfully facilitating strategic planning, team building, conflict resolution, idea generation, focus groups, and other sessions. To keep things balanced, here’s my recent facilitation blooper and a timely reminder. I arrived at a hotel for a 1½-day, in-person strategic

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Nodding while facilitating and the unexpected consequences

barbara pedersen Belonging, business, collaboration, complexity, consulting, Conversation, design, Discussion, Diversity, Equity, facilitation, feedback, fierce conversations, hybrid sessions, in-person facilitation, Inclusion, Indigenous people, intersectionality, lessons, listening, online facilitation, Planning, process, silence, strategic planning, Talking, team building, team work, technology, virtual, virtual facilitation, Visual facilitation

I nodded while facilitating and learned a lesson I won’t forget. Some time ago, I facilitated a small online focus group to gather community input for a nonprofit initiative. As I listened carefully to each participant, I unconsciously nodded my

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Everything you want to know (or say) … and are afraid to ask (or say.)

barbara pedersen business, community, complexity, consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, Discussion, Diversity, facilitation, feedback, Fun, in-person facilitation, Inclusion, lessons, listening, Planning, process, Simplicity, stories, storytelling, strategic planning, team building, team work, virtual, virtual facilitation
Everything you want to know (or say) … and are afraid to ask (or say.)

I use a simple yet impactful facilitation activity that encourages participants in meetings and sessions to express their concerns, hopes, and fears without worrying about being disregarded, looked down upon, ridiculed, or punished. It’s called “everything I want to know

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Experience. Renewal. Celebration

barbara pedersen 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
Experience. Renewal. Celebration

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

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