Library of facilitation techniques

This exercise can be used as a warm-up for project and other planning processes. It can also be used in team building.

Encourage team reflection in a fun and expressive way!

Fishbone diagrams show the causes of a specific event.

I dread the moment when people ask me, “What do you do?” I don't know how to explain that I am a performance technologist, or an instructional designer, or a facilitator. So I cheat by saying that I am a trainer.

Here's an activity that helps you become more fluent in explaining what you do for a living.

A focused meditation to become present and aware. We accept our feelings, leaving behind what we doesn't serve us right now. A ideal way to open a workshop or team meeting.

Participants throw an invisible ball to one another through their computer screen, paying attention to how it changes as it gets passed around.    

Whoosh, bangs, zaps etc. are passed around the circle. Great opportunity to introduce failure bow

One person speaks gibberish and the other interprets

Learn through careful observation.

Observation and intuition are critical design tools. This exercise helps you leverage both. Find clues about the context you're designing for that may be hidden in plain sight.

In pairs, participant A attempts to communicate the use and value of a modern-day object to participant B, who plays the role of someone from 500 years ago.