Working with teams

How to get maximum benefit from your strategic planning session

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0800

How to get maximum benefit from your strategic planning session

Recently, my colleagues James and Isabella sat me down for a 'deep dive' on my approach to facilitation of a Strategic Planning session.

It will help you in:

Designing your Planning Session
Getting participants primed
Developing a strong vision statement
Providing fast follow-up

This is based on my 30 years’ experience in working with organisations, teams and communities to deliver facilitation, stakeholder engagement and team development services.

This includes over 1400 workshops for a wide range of clients, using participatory approaches to actively involve all people in contributing to effective outcomes.

Here’s my go to guide to help you get maximum benefit from your strategic planning session.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

How to Help Online Groups to Deliver Outcomes

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 18:00:00 +0800

In this episode we'll discuss some design frameworks to apply, along with some online tools to try. Both will help you to deliver outcomes for groups that you're doing facilitation work with in the online space.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

How to Help Online Groups to do their Thinking

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:00:00 +0800

In this episode we'll look at what you can do before and during a workshop to give people in online groups a space to think

We'll cover this from a couple of perspectives, from helping online groups with their pre-workshop preparation, as well as what we can do within the workshops that we are facilitating.

You can also read blog post based around this episode.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

How to Tap into the Diversity of an Online Group

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 15:00:00 +0800

If you have the role of facilitator, it's important to tap into the diversity of the group that you're working with.

This episode provides you with ideas on how to recognise, understand and give voice to the different types of people in the group along with the range of perspectives and experiences they bring.

A key focus for you as a facilitator is to help participants to consider each other’s views and not necessarily change them in the time they have together.

Read the full article here https://www.andrewhuffer.com.au/facilitation/increase-online-engagement

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

The Three Point Check In Model for Designing Online Workshops

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0800

In this episode you'll hear about a framework I've found particularly useful in helping to facilitate in the online space. It comes from the work of Sam Kaner from San Francisco. I’ve done some training with Sam, and he’s got some really valuable and easy to apply processes.

Sam’s model describes the role of a facilitator talks about our role is to help groups in three ways:

The Three Point Check In Model

Tap into the diversity of the group
Help the group to do their thinking
Deliver outcomes for the group

Lean in, listen and remember to look for just one thing to adapt and apply!

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Is there still value in planning for farm businesses?

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +0800

I've just been interviewed by ABC Radio about a new federal government initiative to assist farmers with business planning. We discuss if there's still value in business planning for farmers and what it may cover. Listen for my take on the importance of implementation and participation in the process. For more planning resources go to https://www.andrewhuffer.com.au

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Three Fast Tips to Improve your Online Stakeholder Engagement Workshops

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 11:00:00 +0800

Three practical tips that you can apply to any online engagement process. All based on practical, recent experience of stakeholder engagement specialist, Andrew Huffer. https://www.andrewhuffer.com.au

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

How to Structure your Zoom Meeting

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 18:00:00 +0800

Zoom meetings can be tough gigs at the best of times.
In this episode I give you a simple structure to design and run your meetings.
It's a five step process that will have you running your Zoom meetings with confidence every time!

For more resources or to request a topic for your next episode, go to https://www.andrewhuffer.com.au

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

How to guarantee early engagement in your Zoom meetings

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 17:00:00 +0800

Another day - another Zoom meeting! I know your Zoom meeting won't be dull - but...
We both know that you are competing hard with a lot of distractions in participants worlds.
Here are my tips from running Zoom meetings and workshops over the last few months.
This episode focuses on:

Pre-meeting - how to get participants focused and connected
Pre-start - making sure everyone has their tech sorted and are focused
At-start - getting people engaged from the get-go

Be sure to request topics for future episodes via https://www.andrewhuffer.com.au

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Five quick tips for keeping teams engaged online

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:00:00 +0800

How to keep your team members focused and working effectively in the online space. http://www.andrewhuffer.com.au

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Get Coaching with a Solutions Focus

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 08:00:00 +0800

Andrew Huffer is joined by facilitator and coach, Andrew Rixon. They discuss the principles of the Solutions Focus in coaching and how they've also applied it in their facilitation work. You'll also get to hear about the work of international Solutions Focus experts, Paul Z Jackson and Janine Waldman - and how you can learn directly from them!

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

The Story Behind the Story

Mon, 13 May 2019 18:00:00 +0800

Andrew Huffer has the absolute pleasure of interviewing story legend, Andrew Rixon.

You'll hear about the 'story' behind the story conference (including what's it's like to stay with a guy who has a waterfall in his living room in New York!).

Andrew reveals the conference themes, some of the people attending and key reasons why you should be amongst them!

Also unveiled will be some special deals to attend the Story Conference in Melbourne in November.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Four Simple Strategic Planning Models to use with your Teams

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0800

Four options for you to consider in facilitating your next strategic planning workshop with your team.

In this episode of Working with Teams, Andrew Huffer is joined by long-time colleague Bevan Bessen to you give you practical planning processes to add to your toolkit.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

How to Balance the Role of Subject Matter Expert and Facilitator with your Team

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0800

Balancing the role of providing technical input with facilitating a workshop is a difficult and tricky task.

In this episode of Working with Teams my colleagues Margo O'Byrne and Will Bessen provide you with practical tips on how to do this and the importance of authenticity and transparency in doing so.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

When to Avoid Using a Facilitative Approach in your Work

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0800

Collaboration and inclusive decision making has been our mantra for a long time.

There are still times when you absolutely should avoid a facilitative approach to decision making.

In this episode of Working with Teams, Andrew Huffer and Bevan Bessen outline why.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Get Clear on the Role of Consultation and Facilitation

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0800

What do you have to get right?

What do participants need to know about a consultation process before they even choose to commit to it?

In this episode of Working with Teams, Will Bessen and Andrew Huffer give you a five step framework to guide you through.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

How to Work With Groups to Gain Consensus

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0800

Managing disagreement between groups is never easy.

In this episode of Working with Teams, Bevan Bessen and Andrew Huffer share the importance of identifying shared interests and common values to help groups to inch closer together.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Five Quick Tips That Will Make You More Confident in Managing Conflict in Groups

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0800

Practical tips to help you prepare for and manage conflict in meetings and workshops.

Ideal for facilitators and managers.+

In this episode of Working with Teams, Andrew Huffer and Margo O'Byrne provide you with simple steps and ideas to apply, making you ready for anything that comes your way.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Mapping out a facilitated workshop structure with your client

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 17:00:00 +0800

How to work with your client (internal or external) to gain clarity on what they're really wanting from the process.

In this episode of Working with Teams, Andrew Huffer, Margo O'Byrne and Will Bessen share their tips and structures to use.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Getting all the voices heard in a workshop - encouraging contribution

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 17:00:00 +0800

How to avoid having the usual suspects dominating your workshop.

In this episode of Working with Teams, Andrew Huffer is joined by Margo O'Byrne and Bevan Bessen to provide their tips on getting 'all the voices in the room' heard and addressing cultural issues in workshop.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Using story telling and role play in workshops

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 12:00:00 +0800

Stories have huge potential to connect with the people in your workshop - if used carefully!

In this episode of Working with Teams, Andrew Huffer is joined by Margo O'Byrne and Will Bessen to give you a grab bag of ideas to use and the one thing to avoid when using stories and role playing in workshops.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session

Quick tips for co-facilitating workshops

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0800

Co-facilitation can be tricky.

In this episode of Working with Teams we discuss what you need to be clear on before and during a workshop, along with the major pitfalls to avoid.

Today, Andrew Huffer is joined by guests Bevan Bessen and Margo O'Byrne, who have facilitated literally thousands of workshops.

Lean in and listen for one thing to apply.

Go to www.andrewhuffer.com.au to get assistance with the design or facilitation of your next planning session