Resources for Facilitators and Trainers and those Interested in Personal Change

Precious Facilitators - a perspective on damaging facilitation
The Peaceful Warrior - an approach to facilitation and living!
Better People? - a consideration of honesty
Security in Insecurity - being comfortable with discomfort
Destructive Criticism - a perspective on writing, but applies more widely
Binary Beastliness - the dangers of either-or thinking
Speaking out of the Other - a perspective on communication
Perspectives on change - summary of an online conversation
A Critique of Brainstorming - a different view of ideas generation

Back to Resources

PERSPECTIVE
ICE BREAKERS OR ICE MAKERS?

The concept of an icebreaker makes the dangerous assumption that there is "ice" in a room.

An ice breaking activity of warm and patronising slushiness then attempts to "break the ice" and "warm everybody up.".

In my experience, people often arrive at workshops healthily cautious. but often tired and brow-beaten by their organisation's clumsy and insensitive attempts to manage and control them. as human beings they bring a warmth and openness into the room.

As corporate "citizens" or employees, they bring a beaten down, weary feel.

Workshop Tools

Thinking Hats - Edward de Bono’s famous approach to team problem solving

Random Word - a lateral thinking technique for problem exploration. Also here.

Three tools - from Pedlar and Boydell

Osborne’s idea spurring checklist

A template for action planning

Backwards Review - a novel approach to helping people reflect on actions

Problem Theatre Review - another review technique

The Not Problem - a challenging way of mapping a problem

Some great icebreakers and energiser
activities to energise workshops

Involutionary Brainstorming

Groundrules

Mind Mapping

Mind Tools - a whole range of online tools and techniques for facilitators