Sketch of November 21st 2011 LAEV meeting - click to make bigger
Here’s a sketch I did at one L.A. Eco-Village’s monday night meetings last year. Eco-Villagers meet nearly every monday night all year… you can read about what goes on there in the meeting notes on our wiki.
This drawing is in my sketchbook number 60.
(photo from a recent meeting Ron facilitated using small groups)
I’m leading another Advanced Facilitation Workshop on Wednesday, September 15th at the LA Eco-Village (117 Bimini Pl), from 7 to 9pm and invite you to attend. This workshop explores more sophisticated tools and strategies that facilitators use to ensure groups effectively reach decisions. Participants will have the opportunity to practice facilitating challenging situations and receive feedback from the instructor and training participants. Recommended pre-requisite: Intro to Facilitation or some facilitation experience. Fee: $35 (sliding scale available) Reservations required: crsp@igc.org or 213/738-1254. For those interested in learning more about facilitation, consider attending Beatrice Brigg’s upcoming “Leading Effective Meetings” training on September 30th through October 2nd.
Folks listening to a presentation during the LA Streetsblog fundraiser that the Eco-Village hosted
Every week, different members of the LA Eco-Village facilitate meetings that lead to decisions that impact the community. To learn how its done and improve the effectiveness of whatever group you meet with, I invite you to attend an Introduction to Facilitation workshop I’m leading at the LA Eco-Village on Wednesday, July 28th from 7pm to 9pm.
Here’s the summary of the training:
Facilitators play a key role in helping a group make decisions. They help create a safe environment where everyone feels like their input is valued. In this workshop, you’ll explore the benefits of facilitation, explore the group decision making process, explore various tools a facilitator uses, and have the opportunity to practice facilitating a group (and receive feedback on your efforts).
Fee: $35 (sliding scale available)
Reservations required: crsp@igc.org or 213/738-1254
For more information about the facilitation services I provide, my background and 10 tips for facilitation, check out this two-page flyer I created.
For those interested in learning more about facilitation over a few days, the International Institute for Facilitation and Change will host a three-day “Leading Effective Meetings” training from Sept. 30th to October 2nd in Los Angeles.
Photo of a Food Lobby Coop Meeting that occurred at the LA Eco-Village
Tonight (Tuesday, June 15th), from 7pm to 9pm, I’m leading a Running Effective Meetings Workshop at the LA Eco-Village, and I invite you to attend. To rsvp, contact crsp@igc.org or 213/738-1254. $35 sliding scale.
Many of us spend much of our times in meetings. Having attending numerous meetings as a facilitator and participant, I’m happy to share the following 10 quick tips for running effective meetings with you:
1. Designate a Facilitator: Whether it’s a member of the group such or your group decide to bring in an outside facilitator, the facilitator’s role is to help keep the group focused and moving forward.
2. Develop an agenda before the meeting: At the core of a good agenda are items that require the group to make decisions. Project how much time each item will take and assign the outcome you hope to accomplish.
3. Stick to the agenda during the meeting: Many temptations exist to stray off topic. Stay focused to get the work done you need to get done and record other ideas brought up at the meeting for future meetings.
4. Record decisions made: Have a notetaker at every meeting to take minutes and have them record each decision, who is responsible for implementing it and if any future actions need to happen.
5. Start and end on time: When groups slide from starting and ending on time, people loose motivation for attending meeting.
6. Set groundrules: Groundrules help ensure civility between members. Some examples: test assumptions, share all relevant information and focus on interests, not positions.
7. Address conflict when it comes up: Dealing with conflict can be challenging but not dealing with it and letting it fester can potentially be worse.
8. Use graphics: Have someone scribe notes on a dry-erase board or poster paper to visually record people’s thoughts.
9. Evaluate: Occasionally ask what about the meetings work well and what could be improved…experiment with ways to improve meetings.
10. Thank people for attending: If folks feel appreciated and valued, they are more likely to show up at future meetings, especially if they are a volunteer.
If you’re group needs an outside facilitator to make your meetings more effective, please contact me.
Ron Milam facilitating a session at the recent LA Streets Summit (photo taken by Drew Reed)
As a resident of the LA Eco-Village and professional facilitator, I’m pleased to invite you to the following three trainings scheduled to take place at LA Eco-Village over the next few months:
|
Introduction to Facilitation, April 1, 7pm to 9pm |
| Facilitators play a key role in helping a group make decisions. They help create a safe environment where everyone feels like their input is valued. In this workshop, you’ll explore the benefits of facilitation, explore the group decision making process, explore various tools a facilitator uses, and have the opportunity to practice facilitating a group (and receive feedback on your efforts). |
| Advanced Facilitation, May 19, 7pm to 9pm |
| This workshop explores more sophisticated tools and strategies that facilitators use to ensure groups effectively reach decisions. Participants will have the opportunity to practice facilitating challenging situations and receive feedback on from the instructor and training participants. |
| Running Effective Meetings, June 15, 7pm to 9pm |
| This workshop explores the key components necessary to ensure meetings are effective and result in decisions that help an organization move forward. These components include: developing an agenda, knowing people’s roles and responsibilities, having a decision making process, facilitation and good listening skills. |
Los Angeles Eco-Village 