All Posts
A broader look, more than just dollars.
A nation divided by the stories we believe
A problem defined is half-solved
About my Tips, Videos, and Handouts
Agendas with end times are efficient
Agreements stand until changed
Align purpose, technique, attitude
Alignment between words and deeds builds trust
America is great because of slavery
Are you listening? Four levels of proof
Best solutions begin with self
Best we could with what we had
Books on Group Decision Making – Recommended List
Carrots are better than sticks
Changing the process is rarely the solution
Characteristics of Good Meeting Facilitators
Characteristics of High Functioning Groups
Cheap fiction or great literature?
Choices are never perfect, choose anyway
Community Advisory Panels Build Community Bridges
Competition is over-rated. Collaboration please.
Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution
Credit the Group from the Field
Democracy Reforms Being Debated in Washington
Difference between launch and land
Direction more important than pace
Disability friendly meeting technology
Don’t just do something, sit there!
Don’t leave me hanging! – Advice for e-communication
Every Problem Has At Least Two Solutions
Everyone’s job is no one’s job
Face-to-face is still the best
Feedback / Performance Evaluation
Femaleadership – Benefits of Women in Leadership
Flat for planning, stacked for doing
Good Group Tips in the Jury Room
Great gifts are not always new
Ground Rules for Conflict Resolution
Group Decision Method – When to Apply Which Method
Group Decision Methods – from Dictatorship to Consensus
Group Process Guidelines (Ground Rules) by Larry Dansinger
History brought to life through stories
How Our Communities Responded to COVID
How to build community – Food!
How to Change the Culture of Congress
How to decide what you don’t decide
How to facilitate meetings – Four Essential Functions
How to find peace – Let go of the outcome
How to Form a Committee – 5 Essentials
How to get a group to cut down a list
How to handle the person who talks too much – Validate and hear from others
How to handle when someone walks out
How to have an effective meeting – the basics
How to have movement in your meeting
How to help your meeting – Responsibility for Attitude
How to NOT be invisible in meetings
How to prevent conflict – Build Shared Understanding
How to show the big picture – Use a Handout
How to talk across our political divide
How to Talk to an Adversary, with Respect
How to Use Microphones for Group Interaction
If it fits in my head, it’s probably too small
If you could have a superpower
If you don’t have a stake, get out of the way
If your glass is half empty, get a smaller glass
Informality is cool! Or is it?
Interest-Based Bargaining: A Creative Approach to Collective Bargaining
Interests rather than positions
Intergenerational Communications – How to talk about it
Is it okay to shut someone down?
Is your idea worthy of group time?
It’s the planning, not the plan
Jokes and Sarcasm Reveal Character and Culture
Keep your strategic plan off the shelf
Key ingredients for collaboration (it’s way more than IT)
Knock on the doors of your fellow Americans.
Lawn signs and bumper stickers
Leaders consider multiple interests
Leadership is inspiring, not requiring
Learn about somebody different
Long term collaboration needs special effort
Make deposits before withdrawals
Make the most of your pre-meeting
Many presentations quick? How to do that!
Measuring What’s Important to Maine: A 25-year Look Back
Meeting Facilitation Techniques
Meeting Planning Steps for Facilitators
Meeting Room First Impressions Matter
Meeting Room Set Up Demonstration Video
Meeting Room Set Up Time-Lapse Video
Meeting Room Setup for Max Effectiveness
Most Conflict is Because of Misunderstanding
My first thought is probably not my best
No complaining without contribution
No one’s writing anything down!
Objectives, agenda, ground rules
Okay to change plans and rules
On land that is a homeland for the Wabanaki
Our Peaceful Means to Settle Disputes
Peace and profit come from good group decisions
People are complicated and colorful
Principles to Help Groups in Conflict
Providing structure provides fairness
Putting people in boxes is not okay
Resentments have roots in expectations
Robert’s Rules of Order – Key Principles Explained
Seven Secrets for Successful Meetings
Shared expectations minimize conflicts
Should facilitators make suggestions?
Six Simple Ground Rules for a Civil Conversation
Someone Neutral in Charge of the Process
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats
Strong Decisions Vs. Weak Decisions
Take breaks to make more of your meeting
Talks and Training are the Fall Focus
That’s the way it looks from here
The Why and What of Positive Group Dynamics
Three Ways to Keep Your Plan Alive
Tips for Running Effective Meetings
Two Conditions for Conflict Resolution
Understanding and Trust: Both Required
Understanding is always partial
Vote everyday with your voice and your money
What Does Consensus Really Mean?
What is a Good Group Decision?
What is a Land Acknowledgement?
What we think we know is dangerous
When someone throws a brick at you
When to unpack conflict as a group
When you speak from personal experience
