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Facilitator Club

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11 contributions to Facilitator Club
Butter, anyone? 🧈
I might be late to the Butter party, but I've recently discovered it and I absolutely LOVE it so far. The nature of interaction feels a lot easier to develop psychological safety in virtual sessions and seems more fun. Does anyone else use Butter or has used Butter? What did you like or dislike about it?
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33
New comment Nov '23
3 likes • Mar '23
I've been experimenting with Butter for a while and find it's much more intuitive and fun to use than a platform like Zoom. The integrations with other products are helpful and being able to plan and time a session and pre-load content into the meeting makes facilitation more helpful. If anyone wants to know more just send me a DM You can use Pro for free for the first few days but for 30% off the first three months, my referral code is: butter.cello.so/8cTOAAeLKnN (I'll receive a small credit for each person signing up which as a solo consultant would certainly come in handy!)
3 likes • Mar '23
@LaYinka Sanni It's been a few months, and I was using the product in team workshops and to run more social meetups. Downside-wise, it doesn't have as many integrations as I'd like to see but they are working on that so I expect more will come with time. There's a product community and events running in the product so it's fairly easy to become familiar with it
Let's talk about Icebreakers
Sometimes when people hear the word 'icebreaker' they cringe or might feel super anxious about taking part in one. Yes, icebreakers can make you feel a bit awkward initially, but they are proven to help enhance relationships and encourage creativity. 'Icebreakers can help increase team bonds, boost performance and creativity'—Harvard Business School study Integrating icebreakers into your workshops or meetings is a great way to get everyone relaxed and ready to participate. But how do you choose the right ones so that you avoid those dreaded awkward silences? Here are my Top 2 Icebreakers that are easy to implement (in-person or online): 1. My First Job Ask everyone in the group to write down their name, their first job, and what they learned from that job. Then go round the group and have everybody read theirs out. 2. Pointless Questions Prepare a few fun questions ahead of the workshop, then go round the room and have everybody take turns answering the questions. It’s as simple as that—you don’t even need to write anything down! Here are some question suggestions to get you started: - If you could invite a celebrity over for dinner, who would it be and why? - What is your most prized possession and why? - You can have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life. What do you choose? Here are some more icebreakers for you to explore! What's another great icebreaker that I can add to my list?
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New comment Jan 9
5 likes • Feb '23
For icebreakers to work, I think they need to be appropriate, inclusive and positive or constructive. I taught my team to run information webinars and explained that they needed to have a welcoming and community type feel rather than just being talked at (we wanted to encourage interactivity as we were an online community team) I came up with different themes or types of icebreaker questions: community questions (about being part of communities, favourite communities), topical questions (e.g. an awareness day or time of year), evergreen questions (what the weather is like, where people are based), and hairdresser questions (types of questions to encourage people to open up about themselves like you would have at a hair salon) We tried to think about what would feel most natural and interesting to the audience and then just tested and tweaked from there!
1 like • Mar '23
@Kerri Price Agreed, the purpose and intent matters most. For some workshops, having a space for people to connect on a personal level provides an effective way to increase familiarity and foster connection which then helps to increase confidence in sharing ideas and giving feedback. As long as it helps improve the output, it's a relevant activity.
How do you handle Difficult Participants? Do you ever become ONE OF THEM?
As a facilitator, I made an interesting discovery about DIFFICULT ATTENDEES. From time to time, I become one of them MYSELF. This happens when the trainer: ▸ Rambles ▸ Lacks any sense of humor ▸ Is not prepared (e.g. reads notes) ▸ Did not build their ethos as an authority on the topic ▸ Says things I disagree with AND are unable to defend their opinion ▸ Presents as a fact things they only know from books, not from experience How about you? Is there something that can turn YOU into a difficult participant?
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New comment Feb '23
1 like • Feb '23
This is interesting. Are we talking about intentionally participating in a way that is unhelpful, constructively challenging, or unconsciously being 'difficult' and perhaps only noticing afterward? If we are challenging in good faith or because the purpose of the session isn't right or that a concept or idea is missing, then there could be some merit in that, but the trick would be in how it was done. And in ensuring this is respectful and constructive. I suppose I'd begin with considering why I would consciously be a difficult participant - what impact this would have on the purpose of the work, the wider group, and on the leader. I'd also consider what social or group dynamics may be at play. I've been in positions in the past where I have seen others challenged or disrupted and it feels like power dynamics could be at play. I've lost count of the number of times I've received what feels like unhelpful pushback from men (with gendered insults). Now that's not good...
0 likes • Feb '23
@Lukas Liebich thanks for the context - that's really helpful When we ask questions, challenge or give feedback it can be hard to see how it could be misrepresented if we're trying to be constructive, but that can happen. I think it's a situational balancing act based on the impact on flow of the session and impact on clarity for everyone. In some cases, we could consider giving feedback privately, or after the session. Good facilitators will seek feedback and want to act on it :)
What kind of playlist do you use for workshops?
Currently I am in the search for some inspiration for songs /tracks for making my own playlist filled with music that is chill but sparks creativity at the same time. If you have tips about genres that works well or other points that gives me inspiration on this topic I am all ear for suggestion 🙌🌟
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New comment Mar '23
1 like • Feb '23
The playlist will depend on the intention of the workshop and what I know about the people I'm working with. I've been part of cohort learning where the facilitators have asked for the participants to suggest songs and if appropriate, that can be helpful
Your favourite things
What do you love? Let's talk about the things we enjoy and appreciate most! Feel free to answer one, some or all of these questions... 1. What has been your favourite job so far? 2. What is your favourite place? 3. What is your favourite workshop icebreaker? 4. What is your favourite pre or post workshop snack? 5. What is your favourite time of year? 6. What book have you enjoyed the most? 7. What is your favourite software app? 8. What is your favourite kind of music? 9. What is your favourite quote, or one that is most meaningful to you? 10. What is your favourite way to spend your free time?
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New comment Feb '23
1 like • Feb '23
@Tomoo Okubo Great choice! I love Queer Eye!
1 like • Feb '23
@Rebecca Courtney me too! Those lingering sunsets and the prospect of jacket potatoes and bonfires...
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Serena Snoad
3
15points to level up
@serena-snoad-8054
Good Community matters. I help non profit and charity community teams and support community pros to improve good practice and wellbeing.

Active 365d ago
Joined Feb 17, 2023
UK
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