Social reporting is digestion time. And it makes a great meal out of the workshop by adding an additional layer of reflection to it. A well-digested workshop meal leaves more long-lasting sensations and memories than an overfilled banquet.

digestion time

Lately, I was coaching a colleague in the social reporting process of a one-week workshop. We jointly coined the expression of social reporting as “the digestion of a good meal”.

The workshop is the meal – the social reporting the digestive

The workshop is the meal. As facilitator of the social reporting my colleague was responsible for the little digestive.

After the delicious workshop meal we have to digest. Some take a walk, others a nap. Some need a coffee, a tea, a cold drink, a cigarette… Nipping a drink we exchange how it was, how we feel, what made the meal so special, what sensations we had and still have, what thoughts we are reflecting on, what we appreciated, what we still question, what puzzles us, what we plan to do next with all this…

The social reporter helps to digest by asking some prompting “digestion questions”. We don’t start cooking and eating a new meal (so no new workshop session). We just invite everybody to reflect and digest and share some learning and key messages.

How do you do this? Here some options:

By asking a few reflecting questions

  • What is your key learning from this session?
  • Was there a moment today when you had the feeling “the coin dropped”, you understood, an “aha-moment?
  • What does this all mean to you/ for you work/ your team/ your programme…?

By offering time and space to do so

  • some key moments in the programme are yours (at the beginning of the morning session…), you give an update what happened, you invite people to approach you
  • the Reporting Wall needs a central place, visible to all
  • coffee time is reporting time, you work… and drink your coffee later…

By documenting people’s thoughts

  • journalistic mini-interview of 1 question
  • short video statements (max 1 min/ person)
  • daily summaries, quint-essence on a blog post
  • photo story: select some good photos, print them and ask people to comment
  • ask each day for 2-3 co-reporters, giving you feedback what they heard from colleagues and what they thought themselves, have a short debriefing with them at the end of the day, 10-15′ only (remember: it’s digestion not new discussions)

By inviting people to report themselves

  • offline Twitter box
  • comments, messages, questions on the reporting wall
  • Blog posts as individuals or in small groups
  • creative heads shall show their drawing talents…
  • prepare a reflection sheet/ transfer to practice sheet

By being present

  • You are Mr. Social reporter
  • Listen to what people have to tell

What is your experience with social reporting?

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