Last spring someone involved in the preparatory group of a learning event told me in earnest: "Group discussions are an add-on." I couldn't believe my ears. "What, an add-on?" I thought. This person gave expert presentations more value than group... Continue Reading →
“Do you have a checklist for preparing and designing workshops?” is a question I am often asked. I have no checklists. I use visual planning maps and above all I have many questions. I promised myself to never stop asking... Continue Reading →
Lately, I overheard the following story in the train. A team was supposed to meet for a two-days retreat. Two days before the retreat no agenda was mailed out; only the venue and time frame were communicated. The retreat was... Continue Reading →
Lately, I joined a webinar on webinars organized by GFAR and the Global Landscapes Forum managed by Peter Casier. The generous offer for “a peep behind the curtains: How to set up and run a webinar” made me curious. It was... Continue Reading →
Esther Choy's idea of using creative job titles to spark conversation is fabulous. In her blog post How to hook your audience’s attention at a networking event she tells how she introduces herself as storyteller when she goes to networking events and... Continue Reading →
I love lists; all sorts of lists. List writing is easy, fast and productive. When I am stuck the best thing to do is making a list. I grab a piece... Continue Reading →
I often observe people in meetings, seminars, or workshops. It is my job to do so. For steering the process, I am regularly taking the temperature; I need to know how involved participants are. Engagement is visible and can be felt. On... Continue Reading →
Are you about to plan your next workshop, learning event, or conference? Then you know that there is a lot to clarify before we, the facilitators, can start designing the workshop agenda. I am always starting with the 3 Ps:... Continue Reading →
Be honest, sometimes debriefings from group discussions are a real pain. I suffered as participant when the reporting back was too lengthy, too repetitive or too detailed. I also suffered as facilitator because I hadn’t given the debriefing as much... Continue Reading →
