Facilitating discussions that elevate possibility is harder than it looks, but easier than it seems. Make sure you have these basics down—remember that *you* are mirroring and modeling with your participants the ways you want them to work with their participants.

Facilitating discussions that bring forward what’s possible starts with you. You, as a leader, as a facilitator, invite participants to share their wisdom and experience. Based on our decades of facilitation, here are some easy ways to do that.

As a leader-facilitator, welcoming spaces start with you. You need to enter the space with a sense of possibility so you can recognize it within co-participants. Even in virtual meeting environments, you can create a space of warmth and welcome. Use these practices as a check list to ensure a welcoming, community-focused, positive space.

As a leader-facilitator who inspires possibility within community, organizations and individuals, you can intentionally offer opportunities for trust building even in virtual meetings. Here are some starting points:

Oh do we talk a lot about “strengths-based” approaches in our field! But as you know, the ‘walk’ often doesn’t match the ‘talk’. How frequently do we offer constructive criticism or improvement feedback rather than supporting others by helping them recognize possibility within themselves? In your work as a leader-facilitator who is rediscovering possibility within your team or community, use these five strategies to get grounded in strengths.

Are you interested in making a real difference through capacity building? Check out these key factors that can elevate your efforts from traditional to transformational capacity building! 💪🌍

Great speakers make their work seem effortless. *SEEM* being the operative word here…Great speakers actually prepare quite a bit in advance of their talk so they can be almost on auto-pilot during their talk. Preparation is important. AND as a leader-facilitator, how you fill the space during the talk is also important. When you’re speaking with a group, take the time to prepare and practice with these tips.

Developing a network with other organizations can be extremely beneficial, from focusing on specific issues and sharing solutions to creating alliances for long-term mutual gain. When a group of organizations are all focused on the same mission, it makes sense to convene as a network. Here are six benefits of connecting with other orgs—even those who seem to be “competitors” in your area.

As a leader-facilitator, offering ongoing spaces where people can learn from each other and with each other is a critical piece of your role. So how do you do it? Here are five simple steps.

As a leader-facilitator that inspires possibility, part of your role is to enter with a sense of possibility so you can recognize what’s possible with others and help them see it and believe it for themselves. What that means is that you need to let go of what you have traditionally done as a leader, and instead shift your role to be more of a see-er, listener, healer, supporter. How do you create open space so you can shift your role? Here are some tips.

Part of your role as a facilitative leader, a leader of possibility is to co-create and uphold the safety of gatherings. If we want to invite vulnerability, we have to hold space for emotional safety

Use these phrases when you notice harmful behavior in meetings, discussions, workshops and facilitated sessions.

As a leader-facilitator who seeks to create spaces of belonging and inspire possibility, it doesn’t serve your purpose to use fancy words. Your mission is to invite people in to the conversation, not repel them. Try to avoid these jargon-y words.