As I’m getting to know Madison, I’ve been meeting quite a few new people. When we meet, many of them ask, “What do you do to stay busy?” I used to be a bit embarrassed to answer this question honestly, but lately I’ve been more frank by responding with something like, “Well, I haven’t been [...]
Facilitate the Voices in Your Head
October 3, 2011 By 5 Comments
I once designed and led a teleclass entitled , “Not Just Another Meeting,” for a group of 10 UN/AIDS workers in Geneva and it didn’t go all that well. I had a difficult time teasing out their issues and challenges. I prepared a great guidebook with everything I knew and could find on meeting facilitation. [...]
Earthquake Trumps Kaddafi
September 26, 2011 By 3 Comments
In my experience, the more thoroughly I prepare for a group engagement, the smoother it usually goes. But in some arenas and job roles, we don’t have the luxury of extended preparation. Sometimes, we are called to be emergency facilitators, or at the very least, we are challenged to grapple with unexpected surprises. This week’s [...]
12 Acts of Courage to Change Meetings for Good
August 1, 2011 By 2 Comments
Last week I received a fresh shipment of my book, This Meeting Sux. 12 Acts of Courage to Change Meetings for Good. This book answers a call I received several years ago to come to the aid of meeting participants trapped in meetings that aren’t working. In this week’s article, 12 Acts of Courage to [...]
Rant for a Positive Meeting
May 31, 2011 By 3 Comments
Bringing Meetings Back from the Dead
July 13, 2010 By 1 Comment
Creativity Generator for Managers
June 22, 2010 By 1 Comment
Our feature article in this issue Creativity Generator for Managers, is comprised of a short 15-question quiz, by Dr. Robert Epstein, to assess your ability to inspire creativity in others. Your scores will identify your current competency levels and will alert you to additional practices that may help you inspire more creativity in your groups [...]
OIVEY, the Lost Secrets of Intervention
May 24, 2010 By 4 Comments
This week, I want to keep it light and playful, and as always, practical. Harry Webne-Behrman is a close friend and co-leader of the JOFC workshop in Madison and an expert on conflict resolution. Harry loves trying to teach me Yiddish phrases and loves it even more when I try to use them. Last week [...]
Facilitateaphobia
May 11, 2010 By 1 Comment
This week’s article will be of particular interest to new facilitators who often doubt themselves and fear stepping out to lead a group. And, it may also interest those experienced facilitators who may continue to feel these feelings as well! My colleague and fellow facilitator, Fred Niziol submitted an excellent perspective he entitles, Facilitateaphobia, about [...]
Transmitting Self-Cooperation
November 3, 2009 By 3 Comments
A couple of years ago, I attended a weekend workshop on the Alexander Technique. The Alexander Technique works with your body awareness to help identify and release bad habits of movement that you have built up over a lifetime of stress. This tool is especially useful for singers, musicians, actors, dancers or athletes to help [...]
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