Good facilitators use a wide range of process tools, but what are they? Here are 16 of the best...

1. 16 Process Tools for Effective
Meeting Facilitation
Source: Bens, Ingrid (2005) Facilitating With
Ease, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco
1
2
A participative approach
to goal setting – Every
voice must be heard
Uncover potential issues
and conflicts with a
series of straightforward
yes or no questions
3
4
Ensure all sides
get a fair and
equal hearing –
Reduce tension
in conflict
Accumulate potential
ideas with a group –
Remember at this stage
there are no bad ideas
5
6
Rank ideas quickly in
a group setting based
on priority
The gap between
‘where we are’ and
‘where we need to be’
is often a good way into
‘what we need to do’
7
8
Unpick the
underlying cause
of a problem
An effective way
to scrutinise and
evaluate the
pros and cons of
a situation
9
10
Bring order to a
seemingly random or
complex debate with a
matrix that organises
ideas based on how
likely they are to be
effective
Better to be
prepared for
setbacks than
be surprised
by them
11
12
Explore lots
of issues in
a short
space of
time
Collect anonymous
feedback from
participants
13
14
Turn all of your
bright ideas into
structured plan
for action
Identify clear action
steps with more
thorough questions
15
Focus equally on
giving and receiving to
ease any conflict
among participants
16
A step by step approach
combining any number
of the process tools
mentioned above
To read more about process tools for effective meeting facilitation,
visit www.activepresence.com/facilitation-skills/