Facilitation Patterns in a frame

Each pattern describes a problem which occurs over and over again in our environment, and then describes the core of the solution to that problem, in such a way that you can use this solution a million times over, without ever doing it the same way twice. -- Christopher Alexander

What is Facilitation?

Facilitation comes from the latin _facile_, which mean _easy_. In fact, the role of a facilitator in a group setting is to "make things easy". It involves planning, organizing, and setting or supporting rules and goals within such groups. It is my goal here to collect and share many of the tricks, techniques and practices that facilitators use in their work.

Facilitation Patterns

Facilitation Patterns are then general reusable solutions to common facilitation problems. Take a look and let us know what you think!

The patterns I have collected here fall into these categories :

Cards Choosing Closing Discussing Generating Ground Rules Language Opening Organizing Preparation Safety State of Mind Time Keeping Understanding

Cards add a pattern

As Is / To Be Process

Moving Parts Architecture

Stack

Hand out numbered index cards to people that raise their hand....

Choosing add a pattern

Card Swap

Dot Voting

Kinesthetic Graphing

No Handshakes

Reverse Mitosis

Roman Voting

Ask the group to vote with their thumbs : * *Thumbs...

6 Thinking Hats

Take Turns

Closing add a pattern

Action Items

Retrospective

Return On Time Invested

Discussing add a pattern

Be a Coach

Big Visible Chart

Direct Group Authority

Borrow authority from the group. By prompting the group to make...

Don't Answer Questions

Fishbowl

Create a fishbowl. Only people sitting in the "fishbowl" can talk....

Form Groups

Break the large group into smaller groups where each group is...

Gathering Ritual

Use a gathering ritual to gently bring the focus of the...

Get Up

Monitor the energy and engagement in the room. When it runs...

Invite Others To Talk

Invite others to talk.

Parking Lot

Write down off topic ideas so that the person that brought...

Physical Models

Talking Stick

Introduce a talking stick. Only the person holding the talking stick...

Use Cards

Capture the important ideas on index cards or stickies. One idea...

Generating add a pattern

Facilitator Writes

As facilitator, you should write. This will slow things down (limited...

No Talking

Ask the group to stop talking and brainstorm ideas quietly for...

Participants Write

Allow your participants to write, prefereably all at the same time....

Secretary

Ground Rules add a pattern

Decide How To Decide

No Stories

Add "No Stories" to your [ground_rules].

One Conversation

Suggest "One Conversation" as one of the [ground_rules] to keep this...

Use Gestures

Use agreed upon gestures to express agreement and readiness to talk....

Language add a pattern

Ask Powerful Questions

Ask Questions With Answers

Only ask questions that you actually want answers for. Instead of...

I Language

Don't use the word "you". As an added benefit, the word...

"I See", "I Feel", "I Imagine"...

Use this template : "I see X, I feel Y, I...

"On a scale of..."

Ask for the amount of this thing on a discrete scale....

Use AND not BUT

Use Declarative Language

Use declarative language to promote an environment of trust and empowerment....

We Language

Build team cohesion by using "We" instead of "I". This is...

"What are you going to do about that?"

Opening add a pattern

Define Your Role

Define your role up front, and set people's expectations correctly.

Ground Rules

Ask the group to agree on [ground_rules] to guide their discussion....

Ice Breaker

Introductions

"The purpose of the meeting is..."

Start every meeting with the phrase "The purpose of the meeting...

Question Based Agenda

Visible Agenda

Put the agenda on the wall to allow everyone to take...

Organizing add a pattern

Affinity Grouping

Mind Map

Play a Game

3 Things

So structure everything in 3's.

Preparation add a pattern

Center Yourself

Find an Ally

Find an ally in the group. Or two, or three. You...

Prepare Your Space

Safety add a pattern

Lower My Status

Model the "low status" behaviors (asking questions, asking for help...) you...

Make Mistakes

Present A Problem

Raise My Status

Temperature

If you suspect safety may be low, take the group's temperature....

State Of Mind add a pattern

I Trust You

Model that choice for your team. Choose to trust them and...

No Attachments

Keep no foolish consistencies, if it doesn't work, throw it out!...

No Personal Agenda

People Hear What They Need To

You can can trust that they heard exactly what they needed...

Put Your Distractions On the Shelf

Ask the participants to each write down any distractions and put...

Seek First To Understand

Time Keeping add a pattern

Ask To Extend

When meetings are running late, ask the group what it wants...

Time Box

Time Keeper

Time Stickies

Understanding add a pattern

Gather Data

Gather data to from the group to bring about this shared...

1 Thing

Before making a suggestion or providing feedback, find the one thing...

Rephrase

Restate someone's point back to them to allow them to both...

Say Little

add a pattern see progress