How do you get large and diverse groups to work together?

1 Know your purpose and goals

Before you start planning your large group facilitation, you need to have a clear purpose and goals for the session. What are you trying to achieve? What are the desired outcomes? How will you measure success? Having a clear purpose and goals will help you design the appropriate process, methods, and tools for your facilitation. It will also help you communicate your expectations and objectives to the participants and stakeholders.

2 Choose the right format and size

Depending on your purpose and goals, you may need to choose different formats and sizes for your large group facilitation. For example, you may want to use a plenary session for sharing information, a breakout session for generating ideas, or a world café for exploring topics. You may also want to consider the optimal size of your group, depending on the level of interaction and diversity you want to achieve. Generally, smaller groups are more conducive to dialogue and participation, while larger groups are more suitable for information and feedback.

3 Prepare the participants and the space

To get large and diverse groups to work together, you need to prepare both the participants and the space. For the participants, you need to provide them with relevant information, such as the purpose, goals, agenda, and ground rules of the session. You also need to invite them to share their expectations, concerns, and contributions in advance. For the space, you need to ensure that it is accessible, comfortable, and conducive to collaboration. You may also want to use visual aids, such as posters, charts, or sticky notes, to create a welcoming and engaging atmosphere.

4 Use diverse and inclusive methods and tools

One of the key aspects of facilitating large and diverse groups is to use diverse and inclusive methods and tools that cater to different learning styles, preferences, and needs. You may want to use a mix of methods and tools that involve different modes of communication, such as verbal, visual, or kinesthetic. You may also want to use methods and tools that encourage diversity and inclusion, such as icebreakers, appreciative inquiry, or open space technology. These methods and tools can help you create a sense of belonging, trust, and respect among the participants.

5 Facilitate with flexibility and adaptability

Another key aspect of facilitating large and diverse groups is to facilitate with flexibility and adaptability. You need to be able to adjust your process, methods, and tools according to the dynamics, feedback, and needs of the group. You also need to be able to handle unexpected situations, such as technical issues, conflicts, or disruptions. You can facilitate with flexibility and adaptability by checking in with the participants regularly, asking for their input and opinions, and being open to changes and suggestions.

6 Harvest and synthesize the results

The final step of facilitating large and diverse groups is to harvest and synthesize the results of the session. You need to collect and document the key insights, ideas, and actions that emerged from the group. You also need to synthesize and summarize the results in a clear and concise way. You can harvest and synthesize the results by using various methods and tools, such as surveys, polls, or graphic recording. You can also share the results with the participants and stakeholders, and follow up with them on the next steps and actions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?