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