facilitation-patterns

What this skill does

# Facilitation Patterns

## Table of Contents
- [Workflow](#workflow)
- [Common Patterns](#common-patterns)
- [Guardrails](#guardrails)
- [Quick Reference](#quick-reference)

## Example

**Scenario**: Product team needs to prioritize features for Q2 (8 people, 90 minutes).

**Pattern**: Effort-Impact Workshop (diverge, assess, converge)

**Agenda**:
1. **Frame** (10 min): Present context, Q2 goals, constraints
2. **Diverge** (20 min): Silent brainstorm on sticky notes
3. **Cluster** (15 min): Group similar ideas, clarify duplicates
4. **Assess** (25 min): Plot on effort-impact 2x2 matrix (in pairs, then discuss)
5. **Converge** (15 min): Dot voting on quick wins
6. **Decide** (10 min): Top 5 by votes, facilitator makes final call with input
7. **Close** (5 min): Summarize decisions, next steps

## Workflow

Copy this checklist and track your progress:

```
Facilitation Planning Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Define session objectives
- [ ] Step 2: Select facilitation pattern
- [ ] Step 3: Design agenda
- [ ] Step 4: Prepare materials and logistics
- [ ] Step 5: Facilitate the session
- [ ] Step 6: Close and follow up
```

**Step 1: Define session objectives**

What outcome do you need? (Decision, ideas, alignment, learning, relationship-building). Who attends? How much time? See [resources/template.md](resources/template.md#session-design-template).

**Step 2: Select facilitation pattern**

Based on objective and group size, choose pattern (Brainstorm, Decision Workshop, Alignment Session, Retro, Design Sprint). See [Common Patterns](#common-patterns) and [resources/methodology.md](resources/methodology.md#1-pattern-selection-guide).

**Step 3: Design agenda**

Create time-boxed agenda with activities, transitions, breaks. Follow diverge-converge flow. See [resources/template.md](resources/template.md#agenda-design-template) and [resources/methodology.md](resources/methodology.md#2-agenda-design-principles).

**Step 4: Prepare materials and logistics**

Set up space (physical or virtual), prepare slides/boards, send pre-work if needed, test tech. See [resources/template.md](resources/template.md#logistics-checklist).

**Step 5: Facilitate the session**

Run agenda, manage time, ensure participation, handle dynamics, track outputs. See [resources/methodology.md](resources/methodology.md#3-facilitation-techniques) and [resources/methodology.md](resources/methodology.md#4-handling-difficult-dynamics).

**Step 6: Close and follow up**

Summarize outcomes, clarify next steps and owners, gather feedback, share notes. See [resources/template.md](resources/template.md#closing-and-followup-template).

Validate using [resources/evaluators/rubric_facilitation_patterns.json](resources/evaluators/rubric_facilitation_patterns.json). **Minimum standard**: Average score ≥ 3.5.

## Common Patterns

**Pattern 1: Divergent Brainstorm (Generate Ideas)**
- **Goal**: Maximum idea generation, creative exploration
- **Format**: Silent individual brainstorm → share → cluster → refine
- **Techniques**: Crazy 8s, SCAMPER, "Yes, and...", defer judgment
- **Time**: 30-60 min for 5-10 people
- **Output**: 30-100 ideas, clustered by theme
- **When**: Need creative options, early in project, no single right answer

**Pattern 2: Convergent Decision Workshop (Choose Direction)**
- **Goal**: Narrow options, make decision with group input
- **Format**: Present options → assess criteria → vote/rank → decide
- **Techniques**: 2×2 matrix (effort-impact), dot voting, affinity grouping, forced ranking
- **Time**: 60-90 min for decision, 2-3 hours for complex
- **Output**: Prioritized list or single decision with rationale
- **When**: Multiple options exist, need buy-in, criteria clear

**Pattern 3: Alignment Session (Build Shared Understanding)**
- **Goal**: Get everyone on same page (vision, strategy, plan)
- **Format**: Present → Q&A → small group discussion → report back → synthesize
- **Techniques**: Fishbowl, gallery walk, 1-2-4-All, consensus check
- **Time**: 90-120 min for alignment, half-day for strategy
- **Output**: Shared mental model, documented assumptions, commitments
- **When**: Starting project, misalignment detected, new team formation

**Pattern 4: Retrospective (Reflect and Improve)**
- **Goal**: Learn from experience, identify improvements
- **Format**: Set context → gather data → generate insights → decide actions → close
- **Techniques**: Start-Stop-Continue, Mad-Sad-Glad, Timeline, Sailboat, 4Ls (Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed for)
- **Time**: 45-90 min for sprint retro, 2-3 hours for project postmortem
- **Output**: 2-5 actionable improvements with owners
- **When**: End of sprint/project, recurring team practice, after incident

**Pattern 5: Design Sprint (Prototype and Test)**
- **Goal**: Rapidly prototype and validate concept
- **Format**: 5 days: Understand → Diverge → Decide → Prototype → Test
- **Techniques**: Sketching, storyboarding, Crazy 8s, Heat Map voting, user testing
- **Time**: 5 full days (can compress to 2-3 days)
- **Output**: Validated prototype, user feedback, go/no-go decision
- **When**: Big design decision, high uncertainty, time to test before committing

**Pattern 6: Asynchronous Collaboration (Remote/Distributed)**
- **Goal**: Collaborate across time zones, allow reflection time
- **Format**: Post prompt → async responses (24-48h) → sync synthesis session → document
- **Techniques**: Shared docs, threaded discussions, Loom videos, async voting (Polly, Simple Poll)
- **Time**: 2-5 days total (30-60 min sync session)
- **Output**: Documented decisions, rationale, action items
- **When**: Global team, deep thinking needed, no urgency for immediate decision

## Guardrails

1. **Objectives before format**: Start with "what outcome do we need?" not "let's do a brainstorm." If the objective is unclear, the session will drift.

2. **Time-box activities**: Parkinson's Law means work expands to fill time. Set strict timers, end activities even if incomplete. 25 minutes of focused work beats open-ended discussion.

3. **Separate divergence from convergence**: Defer judgment during brainstorming, because critiquing ideas early kills creativity. Generate first, evaluate second.

4. **Ensure psychological safety**: Set ground rules (no interrupting, critique ideas not people). Address power dynamics (boss speaks last, use anonymous input). Without safety, the result is groupthink or silence.

5. **Manage participation actively**: Use individual writing, round robin, and small groups to draw out quieter participants. Use time limits and parking lots to manage those who dominate.

6. **Decide how decisions are made**: Consensus, consent, majority vote, or delegation. Announce the method upfront to avoid "I thought we decided, but nothing happened."

7. **Track outputs visibly**: Shared board, live doc, or sticky notes so everyone sees the same thing. Assign a scribe. Invisible outputs are easily lost.

8. **Close with clarity**: State what was decided, who does what by when, what is still open, and how the group will communicate.

**Common pitfalls:**

- ❌ **No agenda**: Meetings drift, go long, participants unclear on purpose. Always have agenda (even 3 bullets).
- ❌ **Wrong people**: Decision-makers absent, too many observers, missing key stakeholders. Right people > right process.
- ❌ **Too much content**: 10 topics in 60 min = shallow on all. Better: 2-3 topics, go deep, make progress.
- ❌ **Facilitator dominates**: Facilitator should guide process, not content. Reduce own talking, ask questions, stay neutral.
- ❌ **No breaks**: 2+ hours without break → diminishing returns. Break every 60-90 min (5-10 min).
- ❌ **Ignoring energy**: Pushing through low energy → poor output. Use energizers, adjust pace, or stop early.

## Quick Reference

**Key resources:**
- **[resources/template.md](resources/template.md)**: Session design template, agenda builder, logistics checklist, closing template
- **[resources/methodology.md](resources/methodology.md)**: Pattern sele