facilitation
Guide to system mapping
A system map is a visual depiction of the relationships between actors within a system. Often, system maps depict flows of information and/or resources. In this four-part blog series, Emily Gate, Srik Gopal, Lauren M. Smith, and Joelle Cook of FSG give guidance, share...
Rhiza collective
Rhiza is a women-led collective of cultural workers and facilitators that uses storytelling, healing, organizing, and research to support social transformation and environmental justice.
8 keys to running a successful remote meeting
Planning a remote meeting may seem like a lot of work, but it can be much more efficient than getting everyone together in one room at the same time. Using these eight key elements will help you and your team members successfully make it through a remote meeting,...
Why ‘active listening’ will make you more productive, and how to do it
There are two types of listening: passive and active. With passive listening, you don’t chew on someone’s words too much; you simply react to what they say and try to get your own points across. Active listening is different, and in my opinion a lot more productive....
Kitchen table conversations
Personal conversations are our most powerful tool for affecting people’s mindsets. However, asking people to keep track of complex ideas in conversations is a bit like asking them to play mental chess. So here we use pictures and physical models to keep track of...
How to design an agenda for an effective meeting
Here are some tips for designing an effective agenda for your next meeting, with a sample agenda and template below. You can use these tips whether a meeting lasts an hour or three days and whether you’re meeting with a group of five or forty.
Do more with an agenda review | Daniel Hunter
Agenda reviews don’t need to be one-way activities. It can be really useful to stop frequently and invite questions and reflections… I’m amazed at how few facilitators bring levity to the agenda review. It’s a great time to model the kind of...
Manual for group facilitators | Now available for download
Taking root in the Quakers’ society and Native American cultures, facilitation aims to optimize group participation all the while promoting values of honesty, responsibility and cooperation. Inspiring much of the literature on facilitation in print today, A Manual for...
Relationship conflict and the community of selves
Realising that we are a community of selves with different needs, feelings, and perspectives on the situation, helps us to explain the horribly tangled and uncertain emotions that we often feel at such times. This, in itself, can offer a big sense of relief. If we...
The tyranny of structurelessness
An article by Jo Freeman first written in the 1970s articulates insights into grassroots dynamics and politics surrounding orgamisational structure(s). Freeman highlights the inequitable power issues in so-called structurelessness.
The Citizens Handbook: Practical assistance for those who want to make a difference
An excellent and extensive collection of resources on: planning and acting; getting noticed; evaluating; getting and keeping people; leading; meeting and deciding; facilitating; fundraising; group structure; door-knocking; conflict resolution; listening...
Strategy tools
A collection of tools and resources relevant to organising and agenda setting, planning, implementing, learning and negotiating.
Spokescouncils: Learning from Stop New Nukes
By the time I arrived at the camp the first spokescouncil meeting had already taken place… Everyone was welcome and affinity groups sat behind their spoke in the traditional ‘pizza slice’ formation with spokes effectively working in a fishbowl. However it was...
Rhizome Co-op: participation, activism & consensus
Rhizome are a co-op providing facilitation, mediation, consensus building and training to grassroots activists and communities across the UK, and to those organisations that support activism in all its forms.
Planning workshops: 350.org resources for climate campaigners
Are you interested in hosting a workshop to build the capacity of your local organizing group and fellow activists? We make our curriculum available for anyone to use with one caveat: organizing a workshop is tough work, and requires good facilitators and training....
Organizing Toolbox: New Organizing Institute
Welcome! Whether you’re here to develop your own skills or to put a training together for others you’ll find videos, templates and resources for your organizing, campaigning and training work. These materials have been developed and refined by organizers...
How to act better in meetings
This essay is about how men act in meetings. Mostly it’s about how men act badly, but it includes suggestions on how men can do better. The essay is useful to everyone wanting to improve their meetings.
Groupwork Institute of Australia
The Groupwork Institute has been at the forefront of facilitation and collaborative management services since 1984. Our approach has two levels: A wide range of practical skills and processes that are easily understood. Building actual Emotional Intelligence so people...