capture your audience: facilitation that works!

Capture Your Audience: Capture Your Audience: Facilitation that Works!Facilitation that Works!

Cindy Currie, Director STC Region 1 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Philadelphia Metro Chapter ConferenceMarch 11, 2006 2

What captures you?What captures you?

Take a moment to recall your most favorite business event.

Consider what makes it so memorable.

Write these things down.

Tell them to us when you’re called on.


What made these events memorable?What made these events memorable? Was it the: Topic? Facilitator? Audience? Circumstances? A combination of these things? Something else entirely?


I know it’s a drag, but … I know it’s a drag, but … People have very short attention spans! Many business events fail (yes, fail!) due to:

Lack of cohesive design and planning Lack of goals and objectives Straying off the subject Lasting too long

Some people simply do not want to be there


So what do you do?So what do you do?Put some careful thought into the design and planning of your event.

Have clear and achievable objectives.

Technical ContentTechnical Content ProcessProcessCreate a balanced agenda.

Employ the principles of engagement…


Principles of engagementPrinciples of engagement People perform best when they are in pleasant and

satisfying surroundings. (Environment) People learn best by doing. (Participation) People must be ready, willing, and able to

receive what you are sending them. (Readiness) People assimilate new information more easily when

it builds on knowledge they already have. (Association)


Principles of engagement:Principles of engagement:environmentenvironment People perform best when they are in

pleasant and satisfying surroundings.


Principles of engagement:Principles of engagement:participationparticipation People learn best by doing.


Principles of engagement:Principles of engagement:readinessreadiness People must be ready, willing, and able

to receive what you are sending them.


Principles of engagement:Principles of engagement:associationassociation People assimilate new information more

easily when it builds on knowledge they already have.


The role of the facilitatorThe role of the facilitator Getting agreement on

agenda and processes Conducting the meeting or

event Guiding discussion Staying neutral Ensuring that decisions are

made and work is divided among members

Keeping the group on task

Monitoring the “pulse” of the meeting and keeping energy up

Ensuring everyone participates and no one dominates

Creating a safe and positive environment

Intervening when problems rise

Creating a comfortable environment


Introducing … Introducing … IcebreakersIcebreakers EnergizersEnergizers


Why use these techniques?Why use these techniques? Engage the audience

Mentally Physically

Provide building blocks for higher learning skills Demonstrate and/or illustrate point(s) Build teams/relationships Overcome fear and ease tension Motivate and enliven Provide practice and application Fun! Fun! Fun!


Design issuesDesign issues Audience—size, prior knowledge (of each

other and/or topic), attitudes Objectives—what are your goals? Time—per person, time of day, best use Location—room set up, ease of movement Materials—amount, expense, preparation Test and evaluate for appropriateness Fun!—but not a waste of time


IcebreakersIcebreakers Short and quick Force interaction Non-competitive Highly creative Interesting Fun! - but not a waste of time

… … eliminate anxiety and tension …eliminate anxiety and tension …


Icebreaker ExamplesIcebreaker ExamplesTo introduce people... Provide a beach ball. Participants throw the beach

ball around the room—each person introduces himself or herself when they catch the ball.

Create a list of attributes (likes football, has a cat, drives a sports car, and so on) that apply to the participants. Pass out the list and have participants go around the room to find someone who matches each attribute. The first one to finish the list “wins.”

Have participants take two items out of pockets or wallets. Use these items for show-and-tell as each person introduces himself or herself.


Icebreaker Examples Icebreaker Examples (continued)(continued)To introduce topics or themes... Brainstorm—create mind maps, affinity diagrams Create a puzzle, examples: think outside the box,

put yourselves in order without talking, IQ test, scenario or “what if.”

Create teams with a task or problem to solve. Use activities as advance organizers.


EnergizersEnergizers Short and quick Force interaction or not Competitive or not Highly creative Interesting Fun!

… … provide a brief mental and physical break … provide a brief mental and physical break … reinvigorate … continue – refreshed …reinvigorate … continue – refreshed …


Energizer Examples Energizer Examples Mental Break Puzzle or exercise Topic trivia Bingo Role play Flash cards, Pictionary, other frame

games


Energizer Examples Energizer Examples (continued)(continued)Mental Break Tell A Story – Have participants stand in a circle. The purpose of this

activity is to build a story around the topic with each participant contributing one sentence that must:

Make sense and at the same time add some fun to the activity Build on to the last sentence Be grammatically correct

For example:#1: “I was walking to breakfast this morning.”#2: “A dog came up to me.”#3: “I said good morning to the dog.”#4: “The dog asked me what I was going to have for breakfast.”

The activity continues until all of the participants have contributed or until the facilitator feels that the group has been energized.


Energizer Examples Energizer Examples (continued)(continued)Physical Break Have everyone stand in a circle. Instruct participants to act out your instructions when

selected. The person pointed to mimics the assigned role and the persons on each side take contributing roles. Make up enough elements for each participant, for example: "Super Model" – Participant could assume a fashion model

pose, and participants on each side could be photographers. "Elephant“ – Participant could use his or her arms to

represent a trunk. The two participants alongside form a circle with their hands and place them on the side of the participant pointed to serve as "ears" of the elephant.

Continue until everyone has a turn.


Energizer Examples Energizer Examples (continued)(continued)Stress Relief Instructions: Place on firm surface. Follow directions in

circle. Repeat until stress

is relieved or until unconscious.

BANGBANGHEADHEADHEREHERE


AfterwardsAfterwardsDebrief Discuss—field questions Apply—make sure everyone

understands why they participated Evaluate use for future meetings

and programs


Energizer Case StudyEnergizer Case Study“We’re having a Leadership Day in three

weeks! It’s going to be a full day of mostly boring presentations. We need some energizers. Get some ideas together and we’ll get back together.”

… Karen’s Boss


So, now what?So, now what?1. Gather information/do quick needs assessment.

Wake people up, revitalize, and refresh

What are the objectives

One mid-morningOne mid-afternoon

Where will the activities fall in the agenda?

As little as possibleHow much money can I spend?

NoWill we have time to move people around in groups?

Theater styleWhat is the room setup?80How many people?

AnswerQuestion


So, now what? So, now what? (continued)(continued)• Gather research materials.

• Do research and identify potential activities.

• Review potential activities with management.

• A picture puzzle • A set of Legos• A math quiz

• An after-lunch dance energizer• A BINGO game• An “observation” exercise


So, now what? So, now what? (continued)(continued)• Change / refine objectives.

• Sort through potential activities and make a selection.

• Develop sample activities.

BINGO Game BINGO Game

Math quiz Math quiz


So, now what? So, now what? (continued)(continued)• Test / pilot the activities.

• Revise activities based on pilot feedback

• Choose facilitators for activities.


How it turned out!How it turned out! Response from the audience was

positive. The long stretches of “presentation”

were broken up with audience participation.

Participants reviewed and reinforced the information.

It was fun!


In summary, then In summary, then Energizers and icebreakers…Energizers and icebreakers… Introduce and engage participants Set the tone for the event Vary delivery Help participants relate better to speaker

or facilitator and material … Reinvigorate participants Alleviate tension and frustration Divert / refocus attention


Top tips for choosing techniquesTop tips for choosing techniques Quick and simple to use. Appropriate for your participants:

AgeGenderRole or organizational level

Perceived as relevant by participants. Non-threatening to participants.


Dos and Don’ts for you …Dos and Don’ts for you … Do bring your personality with you.

Don’t be afraid to take some risks. Do expect to make some mistakes. Don’t be talked out of the fun! Do steal other people’s good ideas.


Cool links and other resourcesCool links and other resources www.businessfundamentals.com/IceBreakers.htm The Big Book of Business Games

by John Newstrom & Edward Scannell

http://www.businessfundamentals.com/IceBreakers.htm


Sample Icebreaker / EnergizerSample Icebreaker / Energizer

capture your audience: facilitation that works!

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