Recently, John Godec was asked to be part of the IAP2 webinar training. It was his great honor to present facilitative mediation, emotions and outrage to a sold out group of members. Since it was a sold out group and a dynamic discussion, we thought that you, our dear reader, would appreciate having this training… read more →
Dear Valued Associate, I hope spring has come to your house in the northern hemisphere. We honor this season in the desert by the semi-annual changing of the ceiling fan direction (blowing up in winter, down in summer) and (of course) blade dusting. Dilly, dilly! I haven’t quite reached the age of needing Velcro sneakers and… read more →
Power Balance Requires a Facilitator Role The subject of Power is so vast that it’s hard to tackle from any angle. Power is the warp and weft in the tapestry of human history. Power grabs, power imbalances, abuses of power, struggles against power. The subject is just as ubiquitous today as it was during the… read more →
Dear Valued Associate, Human behavior and dealing with the emotional states of people are uncomfortable topics for most professionals. C-suite types, scientists, lawyers, planners, engineers, etc., typically don’t do emotion and they get queasy when we bring it up. Emotions are apparently to be discussed only in the privacy of their own home – and even then, reluctantly,… read more →
I really do try to steer clear of the pure politics of public policy issues but it’s impossible to ignore the Valentine’s Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the gutsy response of the #NeverAgain surviving students and now the blowback of people demonizing those courageous,articulate kids online and in traditional media. And I’ll admit… read more →
Digital communication has truly transformed public participation but it’s not an automatic or comprehensive solution to working with the public. It does not solve everything. Thus, it is important to choose your digital tools wisely in order to promote the collaborative process. What’s In Your Toolbox? When I look at my digital toolbox I think… read more →
Dear Valued Associate, Being glued to your television (or other device) watching the hot curling finals can be exhausting and I thought you might need a break – so here it is. Here’s hoping that you stick all of your Salchows and Lutzs this month. Stay curious, Godec Expert Facilitation OK, let’s just say really… read more →
OK, so this may not be the most politically correct headline for a blog today, but I will stand by it. For over 20 years, before cell phones made the effort moot, Ma Bell and later AT&T used this slogan to get people to call long distance. It turns out to be more than just… read more →
Dear Valued Associate, Well…2018 is off to a rousing start. I considered beginning this newsletter with a thought about the #METOO movement, or the release and repercussions of Fire and Fury, or maybe a climate change comparison of Sydney’s recent 47.3°C (117°F, the hottest in 79 years) to the northeastern U.S. and Canadian deep freeze “bomb… read more →
Meeting facilitation can be a complex art and science when the issues themselves are comparably complex. As we teach in our meeting facilitation training, learning to do meeting facilitation well requires paying attention to nuances, one of which is getting the right people in the room. The room, of course, can be either physical or… read more →