Work out the two best options, and then ask the participants which option they would like to go with. It's their session, not yours. You can also include carrying on with the original agenda as one of the options, even though you know you may not finish it.

In my experience, running out of time is a great problem as it often means participants are hyper engaged. 1 way which I found most effective is to streamline and prioritise the remaining planned contents to only those that contributes directly to the most important objective not already covered. That said, in planning of sessions, I highly recommend to prepare content scoping to account for +/- 30% time budget. This helps us to cope with variable engagement levels.

As a facilitator, you have process expertise. The participants have a stake and the ultimate say in What they want to talk about. - Create a couple of options in your mind about a way to go through one last agenda item, or two items but with shorter time frames. - Present the option to the group and ask them to agree on which way to go

Two suggestions… if you’re an external facilitator supporting a group who has an identified set of results then check in with the group to see what objectives or results might be most important for them to achieve and prioritize accordingly. If this is a group for which you own the results identify the highest priority one and utilize the remaining time to land on action commitments to achieve the results/objectives that remain.

When time is running out in a facilitation session, prioritizing activities is key to ensuring meaningful progress. First, focus on the objectives that align most closely with the session's core goals. Identify activities that have the highest impact or are critical for decision-making. If possible, defer less urgent items to follow-up meetings or assign them as action points. Keep the group focused by streamlining discussions and encouraging concise input. Summarize key takeaways to ensure clarity on what has been achieved and what remains outstanding. This approach ensures you make the most of limited time while maintaining forward momentum.