How do consultants and clients work together to support the broader mission of our field? This piece outlines five things we as consultants won’t do and sets a call for a new way to invite consultants, funders and clients into dialogue to support youth centered work.

As leaders in the education, nonprofit and youth development space, as parents, what can we do to ensure learning and learning spaces remain safe harbors of community, love and growth? Where kids can happily wear there rainbow sparkly sneakers? Here are my top three current ideas.

As a leader-facilitator of capacity building efforts, you are constantly coaching. You are supporting and learning from others just all the time. Be a guide by the side, not a sage on the stage. Here are some tips to embrace that role.

As leader-facilitators who work to change the world for the better, you are often focused on developing others' capacity. But what about your own? Here are six capacities, innate abilities you already have and can strengthen to better support your work in the world.

You may be new to facilitating groups or ready for a refresh. As a leader, as a facilitator, you want to create a space that allows for participants to bring their sense of possibility. This starts with your own preparation. Ideally, begin preparing for a workshop or meeting several weeks in advance. This gives you time to read through the workshop materials, practice, and prepare materials and supplies.  Here are some key tips to get you on track.

Connecting with others is one way to open yourself to possibility. Not sure where to begin when you meet new people at in-person conferences, meetings or networking events? Here are some starting points.

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! 💪🌍