How can you structure a facilitated session for maximum productivity and engagement?

The team looks to its manager for direction. Strong managers will be very clear about the purpose of any facilitated sessions. I've seen situations where managers delegate out the identification of the purpose. This can work if your team members are strong, but I never recommend complete abdication of leadership responsibilities - even when delegating tasks.

In the begining while definig the purpose and scope it important for oneself to understand the Purpose: Clearly define the purpose of the engagement. Having a clear purpose provides direction and focus. You can start by formulating the problem at first and give some leading points in any direction. And something that many seem to forget is to Know Your Team: Understand the composition of your team. Who are the team members? What are their roles, skills, strengths, and weaknesses? Consider their individual preferences and communication styles. Consider them in your planning based on the work they have done already - even before they worked with you. When you plan the agenda keep these points in mind.

That's right, stagnant and monotonous theme of sessions only makes the worst outcomes, it is significant to select a right way to convey the message. on my practice I see the generation first gen x , millennials or gen z. audience selection comes first. I then select the format accordingly since they interact differently, have different attention spans, and value different things. You have to understand their values on a grass root level if your a Team manager, from there you can connect with them.

To get the best from everyone, the team needs to warm up first , start by focusing on asking common open questions, then integrate the challenging conflicting points that needed. Encourage courageous conversations, set the rules that leaders talk last and talk less so as we can hear the real conversations from the rest of the team.

Leading a session isn’t just about following steps, it’s about creating an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. Start with a clear objective and an engaging agenda. Set respectful ground rules to ensure everyone feels valued. Encourage open dialogue and active participation, because every idea counts. Summarize key points and follow up to keep the momentum going. Remember, it’s the collective intelligence of the team that drives success.