Discussion Facilitator Gifts

"Isn't it time to forget the cat and start belling the violence?"

Polite discourse in the 2020's

"Shall we start with an icebreaker?"

Inclusive speech

'Complete sentences?? Jeez, how verbose can you get?'

"That's five votes for In The Midst of Winter....three votes for The Hollow Ground....and, again, one vote for Moby-Dick."

The Importance of Planning Thoroughly in Advance

'All those in doubt, raise your eyebrows.'

"This is the communications workshop, right? Let’s get started, I’m prepared!"

"This isn't the big city anymore, Jim. I'm the facilitator now."

'I thought people were quite receptive to the change seminar.'

The first week of the brainstorming session went slowly.

'Come on, Walter, you're wasting out time! Stop using complete sentences!'

Substance Abuse Seminar: How Not To Get Hooked!

"You're wondering why I've called you here."

"You'll learn a lot at our book club...like how to read between the wines."

How to engage an audience

'I'm feeling a sense of conclusion here, so let's draw things to a close.'

'He has a very open mind. Everything goes in one ear and out the other.'

"We'll start with some 'ice breakers' and 'team building' games..."

Keys to Success: Focus, Alertness, Concentration...

Start the session by doing something unusual.

'This training session is all about challenging assumptions. For example you see someone looking depressed, dishevelled, unkempt it's easy to jump to conclusions. But they may not be a social worker, they may be a client!'

The meeting will start a little late, intelligence is lost in the building somewhere.

"I just completely disagree with what you just said about America lacking focus."

As the Chief Corporate Adrenal Gland of the company, Fred's recommendations were rarely a surprise.

"I hope I haven't taken you aback by asking you to attend the change seminar."

The facilitator from hell.

'And now, Gentlemen, that we have our thinking caps on, let us continue.'

'Ladies and gentlemen, today we're going to get down to nuts and bolts.'

'Do you get the feeling that, in educational workshops, there are way too many buzzwords thrown around?'

'Benson will you stop trying to dominate the meeting.'

"Well...this meeting is about...ummhh...structure and...ummhhh...preparation. Well...ummhh...at least I think so..."

'We're running late and I have much to cover. Can you hold your eight-part question for later?'

The First Powerpoint