nonprofit Archives | Page 4 of 5

Learning from our past to plan our future: a Historical Scan

barbara pedersen June 20, 2022June 20, 2022 business planning, complexity, consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, Discussion, facilitation, Future forecasting, governance, in-person facilitation, listening, nonprofit, strategic planning

I love a great Historical Scan technique when facilitating. I was reminded of the power of the Scan when I used it recently with the board and staff of a large provincial nonprofit organization. They wanted to decide the core

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

How did we do? Evaluating short and long-term facilitation processes

barbara pedersen December 13, 2021December 13, 2021 consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, Discussion, facilitation, in-person facilitation, lessons, listening, nonprofit, online facilitation, Planning, strategic planning, virtual, virtual facilitation, Visual facilitation

“Thanks for your excellent facilitation of this process.” These are gratifying words to receive in an email 3/4 of the way through a 10-month strategic planning process. The ebb and flow of a longer facilitated process are uniquely different than

SUCCESS – it’s not always what you see. A garden analogy for facilitating teams and organizations

barbara pedersen July 19, 2021July 19, 2021 consulting, Conversation, design, Dialogue, Discussion, facilitation, Fun, gardening, lessons, listening, nature, nonprofit, online facilitation, outdoors, Planning, Simplicity, strategic planning, summer, Talking, technology, virtual, virtual facilitation, Visual facilitation

I am a member of a local community garden and last week, saw this sign drawn by a gardener on a whiteboard in our garden shed. Stay encouraged, be positive. SUCCESS – it’s not always what you see. I immediately