Here are some ideas and resources to help you integrate MeetingSphere group support technology into your professional practice and personal working style.
Although the processes and characteristics are similar from group to group, every meeting is unique. Some tool sequences work best with some organizations or certain situations. It is the facilitator’s responsibility to offer the best process and techniques that will lead the group to achieve its objectives and make effective decisions.
Defining Your Role
- A facilitator acts as a synthesizer who integrates all the dynamic meeting parts. In that role, the facilitator has an opportunity to not only positively affect the meeting but also to move the group to improve the way it solves problems and makes decisions. In this way, the facilitator can move the group to a new level of productivity and creativity. When this happens the facilitator creates a synergy far beyond the individual elements of people, goal, or techniques.
- Often, seeing and experiencing the group in this holistic way is simply a matter of asking the right questions. Posing poignant questions and listening not only to what is said but what is implied, can help you recognize and appreciate the group’s culture. With this awareness, choosing the most effective EMS techniques and tools becomes a thoughtful, yet simple task.
Questions for the Planning Process
Meeting outcome and goal (questions)
- What do we want to achieve in this meeting?
- What is the final product expected for this meeting?
- What are participants’ expectations for this meeting?
- How essential is this meeting to the organization?
- What is the past history of this meeting project?
Process and people (questions)
- What is the role of: facilitator? leader? participants?
- What information do participants need to prepare?
- What is the current process for this type of meeting?
- What is the tile limit for the meeting?
- What is the current level of consensus or conflict?
- What is the computer literacy of the group?
- Is there an existing agenda? Additional preparations?
- How will decisions be made?
Techniques and Tools (questions)
- Does the technique match the group’s goal?
- Which tools best support the process and people?
- What are ease-of-use issues for tools with this group?
- How will the tools/techniques help the group achieve
- its purpose?
- Does the technique map to the current group process?
- How will the technique manage information and data?