Looking to Engage your Groups More? 5 ways to experiment.

While coaching is grounded in being shaped and paced by those we are working with, if you are

leading webinars, training and facilitation events, engagement can be a key issue. In today's post I

Using Photos in creating an agenda. Copyright J. Britton

wanted to cover five approaches you may want to explore, or consider incorporating in your next group or team process.

What I love about group and team work is that every conversation is different. The personalities and styles of the people we get to work with shape our approaches, language and pace. This is important to keep in mind, and points us to the value of having a robust toolkit, one that you are adding to year after year. What are you adding to your own toolbox right now?

Rather than just the ho-hum routine of most group sessions, why don't you consider some of these engagement strategies:

1. Using more images and/or photos - You may have heard me gushing about my love of using photos and images in the programs I design. I've been incorporating photos into my group and team work for more than eight years now. This is in part because I am often working with a global audience where there may be different first languages. Photos can also serve as a spark for new ideas. I continue to hear from groups of all types how they find the use of photos as a way to access more of their "gut" or intuitive knowledge.
Consider how you might bring in more inages or photos into your work.
For some ideas view my November 2015 blab on Visuals in Our Work, and/or check out the 40 Ways to Use Visuals E-manual which includes step by step instructions on how to use visuals in programs around change, innovation, working with vision, values, planning, etc.

2. Using icons - related to the last point around images and photos, consider you how might use icons in an upcoming program. For years we have stressed the importance of reinforcement and have recognized how graphics can replace a lot of text. How might you be able to use icons in your work. How can you have group or team members create their own lexicon of icons as well?

3. Using the body - Getting people up and moving around is another strategy to boost engagement. i even know for myself as a learner that if I am needing to sit all take and take in information I will zone out, even with the best intention of staying focused. Consider what you have in your backpocket with respect to energizers, and movement based activities. As always, be aware of safety and risk implications with movement.

4. Using Post-Its  - For the last 20 years I've incorporated post-its and index cards into my work with teams and groups. Whether we use them as a way to get everyone's voice on the table around evaluation or whether we use it as a way to explore perspectives or priorities, post-its are a must for any facilitation toolkit. They are very handy even in environments where you need to be more mobile. Make a list of where you could incorporate post-its into your upcoming work.

5. Adding more experiential approaches  - My own roots were in the experiential world, and some of my fondest early memories in leading groups were using the great resources of Project Adventure. in the 1980s. I truly believe we learn through being active and engaged, and in my own program design try to build in as many group engagement opportunities as possible. When working with groups and teams as facilitators remember that we make for a richer experience by setting  up the environment or container for learning and then stepping back and letting the group do the work


Stay tuned for part two of this post next week as I will share resources you may want to explore each of these five areas as you build your engagement toolbox.

Have a wonderful week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPT
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2009) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Email: info {at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

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