In this blog post, I will share with you my top 5 facilitation book recommendations that will inspire you to improve your facilitation practice and learn new techniques and tools. Here they are:
- Participatory guide to decision making by Sam Kaner. This book is a classic in the field of facilitation. It offers a comprehensive and practical framework for facilitating group decision-making. It covers topics such as how to design a participatory process, how to deal with difficult dynamics, how to manage conflict, and how to foster creativity and innovation. The book is full of examples, tips, and exercises that you can use in your own facilitation work. If you want to learn how to facilitate groups that make high-quality and sustainable decisions, this book is for you.
- Gamestorming by Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, and James Macanufo. This book is a collection of 80 games and activities that you can use to facilitate brainstorming, problem-solving, innovation, and collaboration. The games are based on principles from design thinking, agile, and improvisation, and they are designed to engage participants, stimulate creativity, and generate insights. The book also explains how to choose the suitable game for your situation, how to prepare and run a game session, and how to debrief and follow up. If you want to add some fun and energy to your facilitation, this book is for you.
- Visual thinking by Willemien Brand. This book is a guide to using visual tools and techniques to facilitate communication, collaboration, and learning. It teaches you how to use simple drawing skills to create visual maps, diagrams, sketches, and icons that can help you and your participants express ideas, organise information, and remember key points. The book also shows you how to use visual facilitation methods such as graphic recording, graphic facilitation, and graphic coaching. If you want to enhance your facilitation with the power of visuals, this book is for you.
- Liberating Structures by Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless. This book is a handbook of 33 simple and flexible structures that you can use to facilitate any kind of group interaction. The structures are based on the idea that by changing the way people interact, you can unleash their creativity, engagement, and intelligence. The book provides step-by-step instructions, examples, and variations for each structure, as well as tips on how to combine and adapt them. If you want to facilitate groups that are more inclusive, participatory, and productive, this book is for you.
- Work Together Anywhere handbook by Lisette Sutherland and Kirsten Janene-Nelson. This book is a resource for facilitating remote and hybrid teams. It covers topics such as how to build trust, how to communicate effectively, how to collaborate online, and how to create a healthy and happy remote culture. The book also provides practical tools and best practices for facilitating online meetings, workshops, and events. If you want to facilitate teams that work well together across distance and time zones, this book is for you.
These are my top 5 facilitation book recommendations that I hope will inspire you to improve your facilitation skills and practice. Facilitation is not only a useful skill but also a rewarding and fulfilling experience. By facilitating groups, you can help them achieve their goals, learn from each other, and have fun along the way. I encourage you to check out these books and apply what you learn in your own facilitation work.
Happy facilitating! 😊
