1. 16 Process Tools for Effective
Meeting Facilitation
Source: Bens, Ingrid (2005) Facilitating With Ease, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco

2. 1
Aparticipative
approach to goal
setting – Every voice
must be heard

3. 2
Uncover potential issues and
conflicts with a series of
straightforward yes or no questions

4. 3
Accumulate potential ideas
with a group – Remember at
this stage there are no bad
ideas

5. 4
Ensure all sides get
a fair and equal
hearing – Reduce
tension in conflict

6. 5
Rank ideas quickly in a group setting
based on priority

7. 6
The gap between ‘where we are’ and ‘where we need to be’ is often
a good way into ‘what we need to do’

8. 7
An effective way to
scrutinise and
evaluate the pros
and cons of a
situation

9. 8
Unpick the underlying
cause of a problem

10. 9
Bring order to a seemingly
random or complex debate with
a matrix that organises ideas
based on how likely they are to
be effective

11. 10
Better to be prepared for
setbacks than be surprised
by them

12. 11
Explore lots of issues in a short
space of time

13. 12
Collect anonymous feedback from
participants

14. 13
Identify clear action steps with more
thorough questions

15. 14
Turn all of your bright ideas into
structured plan for action

16. 15
Focus equally on giving and
receiving to ease any conflict
among participants

17. 16
A step by step approach combining any number of the
process tools mentioned above

18. Download the Expert Guide for facilitators:
www.activepresence.com/meeting-facilitation-skills