Michael Wilkinson is founder and managing director for Leadership Strategies?The Facilitation Company, which specializes in facilitation training and in providing facilitators to lead executive retreats and task forces. He was named Facilitator of the Year by the Southeast Association of Facilitators in 2003 and is author of four books.

Introduction to the Second Edition xvii

What's New in the Second Edition? xviii

Case Study: The Secrets in Action-How Two Practitioners Have Put the Secrets to Work xx

Introduction: a Powerful Secret xxiii

Case Study: Learning the Powerful Secret xxiii

Secret #1-The Fundamental Secret of Facilitation xxiv

Case Study: The Sanitation Workers xxiv

Learning to Apply the Fundamental Secret xxvi

The Principles of SMART Facilitation xxviii

More Ways to Apply the Secret xxxix

What This Book Will Do for You xxxix

Where to Start xl

I. What Is the Role of a Facilitator? 1

Questions Answered in This Chapter 1

Case Study: The Facilitator's Role in Civic Leadership Groups 1

Sample Scenarios: Group Solutions Needed 3

When Is Facilitation Appropriate? 4

Secret #2-The Secret of When to Use Facilitation 5

Definition: What Is a Facilitated Session? 5

What Are the Responsibilities of a Facilitator? 6

The Soul of a Facilitator 7

When Is Facilitation Not Appropriate? 8

Facilitation: Where Is the Industry Today? 10

What's Next for Facilitation? 11

Applying the Secrets to Gain Buy-In to a Strategic Plan 13

Facilitator's Checklist for Understanding Facilitation and the Roles of a Facilitator 14

Exercise Your Skills 15

II. The Secrets to Questioning: Design Your Questions to Get Better Answers 17

Questions Answered in This Chapter 17

Case Study: Starting Questions 17

The Starting Question 18

Secret #3-The Secret of the Starting Question 20

Case Study: The Starting Question to Engage the VP's Number Two 26

The Reacting Questions 27

Secret #4-The Secret to Guiding a Group 28

Floating an Idea 29

Secret #5-The Secret to Influencing Idea Ownership 30

Applying the Questioning Techniques 32

A Final Note on Questioning 34

Facilitator's Checklist for Questioning 34

Exercise Your Skills 35

III. The Secrets to Preparing: Know Your 5 Ps 37

Questions Answered in This Chapter 37

Case Study: The Principals' Conference 37

The 5 Ps of Preparation 38

Secret #6-The Secret to Preparation: The 5 Ps 38

It's All About Purpose 39

Secret #7-The Secret Power of Purpose 40

Defining the Product 41

Secret #8-The Secret to Defining the Session Product: The 3 Hs 42

Selecting Participants 42

Identifying the Probable Issues 45

Preparing the Process 46

The Meeting Notice 46

Case Study: Preparing for Vision Councils 47

Special Topic: Managing a Sponsor 48

Secret #9-The Secret to Managing a Sponsor's Presence 51

Applying the 5 Ps 53

Facilitator's Checklist for Preparing 54

Exercise Your Skills 55

IV. The Secrets to Starting: Inform, Excite, Empower, Involve 57

Questions Answered in This Chapter 57

Case Study: Kicking off Vision 2020 57

Opening the Session 58

Secret #10-The Secret to a Strong Opening 59

Secret #11-The Secret to Exciting in the Opening 62

Gaining Buy-In to the Agenda 63

Secret #12-The Secret to Gaining Agenda Buy-In 63

Using Ground Rules 65

Secret #13-The Secret to Using Ground Rules 65

Case Study: Avoiding the Executive Feeding Frenzy 68

Using Parking Boards 70

Secret #14-The Secret to Parking Boards 70

Effective Introductions 71

Secret #15-The Secret to Effective Introductions 72

Opening Nonfacilitated Meetings 73

When Should You Arrive for the Meeting? 73

Getting Started on Time 74

Secret #16-The Secret to Starting on Time 74

Applying the Secrets to Starting 75

Facilitator's Checklist for Getting the Session Started 76

Exercise Your Skills 77

V. The Secrets to Focusing: Establish the Course, Avoid Detours 79

Questions Answered in This Chapter 79

Case Study: Facilitating the Senator and the Chief of Staff 79

Secret #17-The Secret to Using Checkpoints 79

Focusing the Group: Using Checkpoints 79

The Extended Checkpoint 83

Warming Up a Group 84

Secret #18-The Secret to Warming Up a Group 84

Delivering Accurate, Clear, and Concise Directions (PeDeQs) 85

Secret #19-The Secret to Giving Clear Directions 85

Keeping a Group on Track 88

Secret #20-The Secret to Keeping a Group on Track 88

Managing Breakout Groups 90

Secret #21-The Secret to Effective Breakout Groups 90

Secret #22-The Secret to Rotating Flip Charts 95

Applying the Secrets to Focusing 97

Facilitator's Checklist for Focusing a Group 97

Exercise Your Skills 99

VI. The Secrets to Recording: the Power of the Pen-use It, Don't Abuse It, Make It Theirs 101

Questions Answered in This Chapter 101

Case Study: Public Safety Collaborative 101

How Facilitators Abuse the Pen 102

Using, Not Abusing the Pen 104

Secret #23-The Secret to Using, Not Abusing, the Power of the Pen 104

Case Study: The Power of the Pen, ELMO, and Parking Boards 107

Knowing What to Record 107

Secret #24-The Secret to Knowing What to Record 108

Managing the Recording Process 110

Secret #25-The Secret to Keeping the Recording Concise 112

Using Strategies to Avoid Lulls While Writing 113

Secret #26-The Secret to Avoiding Lulls While Writing 114

Additional Techniques for Recording 116

The Seven Deadly Sins of Facilitation 118

Applying the Secrets to Recording 119

Facilitator's Checklist for Recording 119

Exercise Your Skills 120

VII. The Secrets to Information Gathering: Know Your Tools and How to Use Them 123

Questions Answered in This Chapter 123

Case Study: The Retailing Conference 123

Understanding the Major Information Gathering and Processing Functions 125

Understanding Processing Groups 126

Understanding Processing Order 127

Gathering and Processing Information 127

Secret #27-The Secret to Gathering Information 127

Gathering Facts 128

Secret #28-The Secret to Getting the Details 129

Categorizing 130

Secret #29-The Secret to Categorizing 130

Inquiring 133

Secret #30-The Secret to Q&A Sessions 133

Generating Ideas 136

Secret #31-The Secret to Generating Ideas 136

Prioritizing 138

Secret #32-The Secret to Prioritizing 139

Reporting 143

Secret #33-The Secret to Reporting Back 144

Getting Feedback 145

Secret #34-The Secret to Getting Quality Feedback 145

Additional Information Gathering and Processing Strategies 147

Applying the Secrets to Information Gathering 150

Case Study: Facilitation in the Classroom 151

Facilitator's Checklist for Information Gathering 152

Exercise Your Skills 153

VIII. the Secrets to Closing: Review, Define, Evaluate, End, Debrief 155

Questions Answered in This Chapter 155

Case Study: Polling for Agreement at the Close 155

Secret #35-The Secret to a Strong Close 157

Reviewing Activities Completed and Personal Objectives 157

Confirming Commitment to Decisions Made 158

Secret #36-The Secret to Confirming Commitment to Decisions 158

Clearing the Issues List 163

Secret #37-The Secret to Clearing the Issues List 163

Assigning Actions 164

Secret #38-The Secret to Assigning Actions 164

Defining What Can Be Communicated About the Session 165

Evaluating the Session 167

Ending the Session 169

Debriefing 169

What If the Session Is Running Behind? 170

What If the Session Is Going to Run Over? 171

Delivering a Partial Close 171

Facilitator's Checklist for Closing 172

Exercise Your Skills 173

IX. The Secrets to Managing Dysfunction: Conscious Prevention, Early Detection, Clean Resolution 175

Questions Answered in This Chapter 175

Case Study: The Chairman and the COO 175

Dysfunctional Behavior-What Is It? 177

Secret #39-The Secret to Understanding Dysfunction 178

Techniques for Conscious Prevention 180

Secret #40-The Secret to Preventing Dysfunction 180

Techniques for Early Detection 183

Secret #41-The Secret to Detecting Dysfunction 183

Techniques for Clean Resolution 185

Secret #42-The Secret to Resolving Dysfunction 185

Recommended Responses to Various Dysfunctions 188

When the Unexpected Happens 196

Secret #43-The Secret to Responding When the Unexpected Happens 197

Responding to Mistakes and Attacks 198

Case Study: Making a Mistake as the Facilitator 198

Secret #44-The Secret to Responding to Mistakes and Attacks 199

Rewarding Functional Behavior 201

Lesson Learned 201

Applying the Secrets to Managing Dysfunction 203

Facilitator's Checklist for Managing Dysfunction 205

Exercise Your Skills 207

X. The Secrets to Consensus Building: Create and Maintain a Consensus-focused Process 209

Questions Answered in This Chapter 209

Case Study: Consensus on Values 209

Defining Consensus 210

Secret #45-The Secret to Understanding Consensus 211

Deciding How to Decide 212

Secret #46-The Secret of Five-Finger Consensus 214

Understanding Why People Disagree 215

Secret #47-The Secret to Understanding Disagreement 215

Secret #48-The Secret to Resolving a Level 3 Disagreement 221

Filling Your Toolbox of Consensus Building Techniques 223

Secret #49-The Secret to Resolving a Level 1 Disagreement 224