What are the most innovative approaches to collaborative facilitation?

I've discovered that employing a systemic approach to facilitation, incorporating graphic facilitation and/or gamification, proves to be effective when working with groups. As the facilitator, I've seen the significant impact of gamification and graphic facilitation in our collaborative efforts. Gamification, with challenges and rewards, boosts engagement and motivation, encouraging active participation and creative problem-solving. Graphic facilitation aids holistic thinking. Visual tools like illustrations, diagrams, and mind maps simplify complex ideas, enhancing our collective understanding and fostering a collaborative atmosphere for exploring and co-creating solutions.

I thrive in dynamic facilitation approaches. But most don't. Why? It involves structure without true structure. It also requires true improvisation skills. Many facilitators work well in rehearsed environments but fall apart on their feet. Assess your level of comfort with ambiguity before attempting this approach.

Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving and innovation; Virtual Facilitation (online whiteboards); Liberating Structures - Facilitators trained in LS can harness techniques to unlock creativity and collaboration within groups. Facilitators skilled in AGILE and SCRUM guide teams through iterative cycles of planning, executing, and reviewing work. The World Cafe is a facilitation technique that encourages meaningful conversations on complex topics for participants. Gamification n Serious Play

In summary, collaborative facilitation has evolved to encompass a wide array of innovative approaches. These techniques emphasize creative problem-solving, inclusive participation, and adaptability, enabling groups to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation. Facilitators who master these methods can create dynamic, engaging, and effective collaborative environments that foster creativity and positive change. As the world continues to evolve, staying at the forefront of collaborative facilitation techniques is essential for organizations and individuals seeking to thrive in an ever-changing landscape.

10 RULES FOR ONLINE & HYBRID INNOVATION WORKSHOPS Check out 10 practical rules for online workshops from the new book ‘ONLINE INNOVATION’: # 1 – Do a tech onboarding session before the workshop. #2 - Keep the boards simple. #3 - Send people real-life stuff, for engagement, inspiration and fun. #4 - Don't facilitate it alone. #5- Let people interact freely in small groups online. #6 - Use a "Star" model facilitation, when in plenary. # 7 - Engage participants also emotionally (as there are so many distractions). #8- Manage Time more strict online. #9 - Set clear instructions. #10 - Follow up to help people take action. Check out this practical new book on Amazon ???.

Design thinking is ultimately a cycle of empathy, innovation, and iteration that leads to creating solutions that resonate on a human level. Only when you step into the lives of your users, observing their day-to-day challenges to truly grasp their needs, can you sculpt a clearly defined problem. Once you get to that result, it’s time to let your creativity loose, brainstorming any amount of potential solutions, and then following them through with an action plan.

Design Sprint Design Sprint is a method for solving complex problems through designing, prototyping, and testing ideas rapidly within a week. Originated at Google Ventures, it begins with understanding a challenge, then sketching solutions, deciding on a solution, prototyping, and user testing. It gathers a cross-functional team to focus on a critical business question, ideate solutions, develop a prototype, and test it with real users on the fifth day. This process helps in validating ideas and gaining user insights before making significant investments, ensuring the solution is user-centric and viable.