This document provides an overview of facilitation tools and methods that can be used with minimal preparation. It discusses tools for welcoming and connecting participants, expanding and narrowing discussions, and learning and discovery. Specific tools covered include Mix-Max Groups, More of/Less of, the ORID Discussion Method, and 15 Words. The document explains the purpose and setup for each tool and how they can help facilitate meetings at different levels of public participation from informing to empowering. It concludes with practicing one of the tools based on a case study or project example.

1. LOOKING THROUGH THE CRYSTAL BALL:
THE U.S. WORKFORCE IN 2030
PI Network,
IAP2 Cascade Chapter
May 15, 2013
Essential, Versatile Facilitation Tools
Presented by L. Melanie Chase
Organizational Development Consultant
Chase Solutions

2. Learning Objectives:
• Name key considerations in meeting planning from the
perspective of a facilitator
• Experience a demonstration of essential and versatile
facilitation tools/methods that can be used with minimal
preparation, including:
• Welcoming and Connecting Method: Mix-Max Groups
• Expanding and Narrowing Tool: More of/Less of
• Learning and Discovery Methods: ORID Discussion Method, 15
Words
• Identify the purpose for the tools/methods and suitable
applications
• Practice facilitating one of the methods with your
colleagues based on a case study or real regional project
example
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3. Topical Overview
Agenda:
1) Background/Context Setting (10 min.)
2) Tools: (55 min.)
Welcoming and Connecting Method: Mix-Max Groups (10)
Expanding and Narrowing Tool: More of / Less of (2)
Learning and Discovery Methods: ORID Discussion Method (20),
15 Words (20)
3) Discussion of Tools’ Purposes (2 min.)
4) Practice (using case study or example) (23
min.)
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4. Background/Context Setting
Continuum of Public Involvement: Across Levels, Low to High
Public Involvement Techniques:
• Vary by type of project, stakeholders, and level of public influence in
decision making, and controversy
Inform. The Inform level is the least engaging of the various
levels of participation.
Consult. The Consult level provides information and gathers
feedback from participants, but may not use that input in
decision-making.
Involve. The Involve level directly engages the public.
Collaborate. To Collaborate means to engage the public
in decisions made during each step of the project,
including defining the issues, developing alternatives,
formulating recommendations, and sometimes even
implementing recommendations.
Empower. The Empower level gives the public the authority
to make decisions that will be ratified.
Source: Tempe Involving the Public Manual
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5. Background/Context Setting
Continuum of Lg.Group Facilitation Methods—Amount of Structure
Large Group Facilitation Techniques:
• Vary on core dimensions such as amount of structure, facilitator’s role,
purpose of session, optimal number of participants, length of
intervention, number of sessions, and use of outside speakers (and
amount of pre-planning).
Purposes:
• Planning methods to help set a direction for an organization or a
community,
• Structuring methods to redefine working relationships among
organization members and create new structures for doing work, and
• Adaptable methods that vary, including planning, structuring, and other
complex, important purposes
• Welcoming and Connecting; Narrowing and Expanding; Learning and Discovering.
• Plenty to choose from, see:
http://www.iaf-methods.org/methods
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6. Background/Context Setting
Large Group Facilitation Methods
Principles:
• Organizations and communities are living systems.
• Organizations and communities don’t change, people do.
• The knowledge required for successful change resides within the
stakeholders who comprise the organizational or community system.
• Uses a systems approach to tap into organization member’s creative
intelligence for shaping the future in meaningful and empowering ways
through:
• high levels of participation and information sharing;
• purposeful dialogue to create shared meaning, understanding, and
context;
• shared decision making to build commitment and;
• focused action planning for timely implementation.
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7. Background/Context Setting:
• Meeting Planning Common Steps:
1. Select the meeting location
2. Meeting preparation:
• Dialogue, deliberation, and decision making phases
• Set the meeting agenda
• Coordinate attendance
3. Meeting facilitation:
• Establish ground rules and group norms
• Design group processes to meet rational and experiential
objectives
• Meeting flow (beginning, middle, end)
4. Share the public involvement program or more about the initiative
and purpose of the meeting

8. Background/Context Setting
Facilitation Methods and Techniques:
• Name key considerations in meeting planning from the
perspective of a facilitator:
1) ___________________________________________________
2) ___________________________________________________
3) ___________________________________________________

9. Background/Context Setting
Content neutral and steward of the process
Facilitator Role:
• Process Designer
• Process Manager
• Content Guide (Ideally Content Neutral)
• Moderator of Group Dynamics
• Evaluator of Group and Process Effectiveness

10. Mix-Max Groups
Tools: Welcoming and Connecting Method
Mix up the Max (Large) Group:
1) Learn about your Audience:
-Demographic characteristics, experience with other
public meetings, etc.
2) Mix them up more into small groups:
-Small group discussions with something in common
already
Purpose:
1. Introduce all within larger group with subgroups
2. Connect those with similar interests
3. Connect deeper in smaller groups
Setup:
1. Identify subgroups of interest within your audience, ask to
reorganize by those OR ask questions to determine groups
2. Prepare a question or two for the smaller groups’ discussion

11. More Of / Less Of
Tools: Expanding and Narrowing Tool
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More Of…
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Less Of…
Vision:__________________Behaviors/Characteristics
Purpose:
1. Explore an issue through different lenses: expansion and reduction (narrowing)
Setup:
1. Identify the behavior or characteristics that are important to explore
2. Make a statement about those behaviors or characteristics into a question. Ask it.
(example: what aspects of the park would you like to see more of and less of?

12. Tools: Learning and Discovery Methods
15 Words on Separate Flip Charts
15 Words
CODING:
__ Underline key phrases
m Circle unclear
Check in question or concerns
IN THEIR OWN WORDS PROJECT
DEFINITION
PROJECT
VISION
Purpose:
1. Explore an issue from different perspectives to move towards consensus or simply clarify what
participants mean or understand about an issue, action, project definition, vision, etc.
Setup:
1. Each participant (or pair) is given a flip chart page and marker. Provide clear instruction: They must
write, in 15 words or less, the project definition or vision statement or other statement as it relates to
the issue or task.
2. Post all flipcharts for review by the group. Review instructions: Follow same coding and review system.
3. Ask participants to move to each flipchart, read, check for understanding using their markers and the
same coding and review system.
4. Step back and identify key phrases, questions, and more. Discuss.

13. ORID Discussion Method
Tools: Learning and Discovery Methods
O = Objective
Facts, Specifics)
R = Reflective
/ (Personal Meaning, Connection to Already Known)
I = Interpretive
(Consideration of Personal Context/Situation or
Application)
D = Decisional
(Next Steps, How to Apply)
Purpose:
1. Explore an issue through a series of questions that follows how people naturally learn.
Setup:
1. Formulate a few questions that follow the O R/I D structure, on the fly or with some advance prep.
2. Pose the questions—actively listen, document on a flipchart if you wish for reference or visual cue, or
ask for post-its on flipcharts in response to each question.
3. Ensure participation with small group discussion, round robin review, dyads, and other “intervention
skills.”

14. Purpose of Tools/Methods:
• Identify the purpose for the tools/methods and suitable
applications. Match the tool/method to the purpose.
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Tool/Method Purpose
1. Mix-Max Groups
2. More of/Less of
3. ORID Discussion Method
4. 15 Words
 Welcoming and Connecting
______________________________
 Expanding and Narrowing
______________________________
 Learning and Discovery
______________________________

15. Practice
OPTIONS:
• Practice facilitating one of the methods with your
colleagues based on a case study or real regional
project example
• Discuss usage of certain tools for upcoming
project(s)
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www.chase-solutions.org

16. Topical Overview
Agenda:
1) Background/Context Setting (10 min.)
2) Tools: (55 min.)
Welcoming and Connecting Method: Mix-Max Groups (10)
Expanding and Narrowing Tool: More of / Less of (2)
Learning and Discovery Methods: ORID Discussion Method (20),
15 Words (20)
3) Discussion of Tools’ Purposes (2 min.)
4) Practice (using case study or example) (23
min.)
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