Facilitator skills & knowledge in a learning 2.0 world
5 July 2009This is an excellent post by Nancy White. It’s in answer to the question by Tony Karrer: “In a Learning 2.0 world, where learning and performance solutions take on a wider variety of forms and where churn happens at a much more rapid pace, what new skills and knowledge are required for learning professionals?” Nancy tackles the…
New Facilitating With Confidence Course announced
22 June 2009Victoria University is hosting one of our Facilitating With Confidence Courses. They have agreed to make some places available for people from outside the University. The dates are: Part A: July 13 & 14 Part B: August 17 & 18 Part C: September 1 & 2 If you’re interested contact Ida Callea (03) 9919 4007…
The power of modelling behaviours
22 June 2009I’ve always understood the importance of modelling behaviours, although I’m not entirely sure where or how I learnt this. I do remember when I changed jobs, oh, 20 something years ago, and finding myself working with two amazingly talented people, Terry and Sarah (hi, guys, if you’re out there!). Terry was, and still is, a…
Lessons from the field (part 2)
13 June 2009So I learnt some stuff about facilitating. That’s not all I learnt in Indonesia: Aid workers tell some of the best, and funniest stories – and best of all is when they try to gazump each other! Roti = white bread, not the yummy roti we know and love There’s no such thing as a…
Gifts from Improv Theatre
22 April 2009Today I was privileged to present at the Australian Institute of Training & Development Conference in Sydney. My session was about exploring six of the key improv ‘rules’ that I’ve found useful when using improv in workshops, for training, or for my own development. As I’m no good at preparing notes in advance, I promised…
Secret of my (our) success
17 April 2009Half jokingly I often say that I hang out with talented people, and that’s the secret of my success. It’s only partly a joke because it happens to be true. In fact, Seth Godin (I think) said you want to be the least talented person in a room full of talented people. That way you…
Visiting Madison, Wisconsin soon? Lucky you!
14 April 2009Sometimes I’m asked about facilitating and what has been the most useful thing I’ve learned. The answer surprises some people. The number one, most useful, never leave home without it, thing I’ve learned (drum roll please)… is to be s p o…
At the edges
14 April 2009Over there at 37 Days Patti Digh is at it again, challenging herself, and us, to discover, well, stuff about ourselves. And, of course, this is not where the challenge started. It started with a challenge to do a small thing, for ourselves, for 37 days. Doesn’t sound so hard does it? I chose not…
World Cafe reflections
10 April 2009I’ve been using the World Cafe process a lot lately – with groups of policy makers, scientists, planners, community activists and bushfire survivors. Here’s what I’ve learned. 1. Use a broad theme for the discussion question, and use the same question for all the rounds of discussion. People will naturally diverge and talk about what’s…
Open Space Technology – an ‘operating system’ for complexity
25 March 2009If I didn’t know about Open Space, I reckon I’d have to invent it! Barely a day goes by when I don’t use what I know about Open Space – sometimes directly by actually using Open Space Technology as a meeting process, or more often, as a way of understanding and relating to whatever is…