Some facilitation tips I’ve picked up from great facilitators like Kevan Kjar and De Hicks.

Walk like George W Bush

“Some folks look at me and see a certain kind of swagger which in Texas is called walking.”

George Bush was confident and strong even when he was wrong. When facilitating a meeting a confident and elevated voice will be remembered even if you make a blunder here and there.

Prepare like Peyton Manning

“Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the hell you’re doing” ~ Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning was known for his relentless preparation. His coaches called him the piranha because he would consume so much information about the opposing team and still want more. When facilitating a meeting, channel your inner Peyton Manning.

There’s a whole slew of prep guides out there but it’s good to start with: Why, What, Who, Where, When, and How.

Remember the Rider and the Elephant

“The mind is divided, like a rider on an elephant, and the rider’s job is to serve the elephant.” ~ Jonathan Haidt

A meeting is also like a rider and an elephant. As the facilitator you are the rider, your job is to serve the elephant, the group. As a facilitator you have the power to steer the conversation but if that elephant wants to go somewhere else sometimes you just have to ride it. Overtime you’ll develop an intuitive sense of when to take a ride and when to use more forceful tactics to steer the elephants.

Remember you are a guest

“Fish and visitors smell in three days.” ~Benjamin Franklin

De Hicks has taught us that as a facilitator you are an invited guest into a new organization. This is particularly true when facilitating a meeting for an individual organization. As guest your duty is to bring them new ideas and challenge their thinking. Like having your in-laws visit, hosts can only take so much. Develop a sense of when to challenge and when to hold back. Don’t be overburdensome and don’t overstay your welcome.