Public interaction requires a certain sets of skills. The more we want from the interaction, the more skill the form of interaction will require from us. This 2007 article by Jan Inglis for the International Journal of Public Participation (IJP2) surveys selected public involvement typologies and proposes that skills-identification warrants more attention than it is usually given. Identifying the skills best suited to the purpose and goals of a participatory process is important because, when skills match the requirements of the task, outcomes are more likely ... (continue)

NCDD's Engagement Streams Framework helps people decide which dialogue and deliberation method(s) are most appropriate for their circumstance. The framework is a series of two charts that categorize the D&D field into four streams based on intention or purpose (Exploration, Conflict Transformation, Decision Making, and Collaborative Action), and show which of the most well-known methods have proven themselves effective in which streams. The second chart goes into more detail about 23 dialogue and deliberation methods, and includes information such as group size, meeting type and how participants are selected. (continue)

IFVP is a community of creative leaders from around the world who share a common passion for bringing information and ideas to life visually. For over a quarter of a century, business people, artists, communities, governments, educators, and individuals have been leveraging the power of our Visual Practitioner community of graphic recorders and graphic facilitators. The website is a valuable source of information and tools on graphic facilitation, and includes a searchable database of graphic facilitators (visual practitioners). (continue)

CSF is a partnership of consultants experienced in training, facilitation and organizational development, who collaborate to expand the use of participatory approaches and methods by individuals, organizations and communities. CSF is affiliated with The Institute of Cultural Affairs, a leader over the past four decades in promoting lasting positive change in communities, nonprofit organizations and businesses. They utilize a distinct and proven approach developed by the ICA called the Technology of Participation (ToP), and offer a number of trainings on facilitative leadership and group facilitation methods. (continue)

This guide is designed to help you train study circle facilitators. Study circles--small-group, democratic, highly participatory discussions--provide settings for deliberation, for working through social and political issues, for coming up with action strategies, for connecting to policy making, and for building community. (continue)

The Kettering Foundation long ago identified a disconnect between the public and politics. People in communities all over the country felt estranged from their elected representatives, from their public institutions, and most importantly, from each other. A significant portion of this disconnect focused on how issues in communities got named and framed. Kettering surmised, correctly, that if a public issue was named in such a way that the public could not identify with it, then the public would have a difficult time supporting it. However, if the public could identify a public problem together (naming) and then discuss choices on how to solve the particular problem (framing), then the likelihood of greater community action increased ten-fold. (continue)

The International Institute for Facilitation and Consensus is a professional team of facilitators, trainers and consultants who specialize in participatory processes. We work with change-oriented groups in both the public and private sector, as well as with national and international networks. Headquartered in Mexico, IIFAC relies on a group of skilled colleagues around the world to provide customized services designed to meet our clients' training and facilitation needs. IIFAC's monthly electronic publication, Bonfire, is designed to inform and inspire facilitators. (continue)

The role of group facilitator is often pivotal to good results for groups making the transition to consensus. The Manual is a great introduction to the concept of approaching the role of facilitator as someone who welcomes both rational and emotional input. The staff of the Center for Conflict Resolution put their experience in working with groups into A Manual for Group Facilitators. This is an informal outline detailing useful and effective techniques to help groups work well. More than a simple 'how to,' the manual contains a discussion of the values, dynamics, and common sense behind group process that have been verified by our own experience. (continue)

Every day in communities across America hundreds of committees, boards, church groups, and social clubs hold meetings where they spend their time engaged in shouting matches and acrimonious debate. Whether they are aware of it or not, the procedures that most such groups rely on to reach decisions were first laid out as Robert's Rules more than 150 years ago by an officer in the U.S. Army's Corps of Engineers. Its arcane rituals of parliamentary procedure and majority rule usually produce a victorious majority and a very dissatisfied minority that expects to raise its concerns, again, at the next possible meeting. Breaking Robert's Rules clearly spells out how any group can work together effectively. (continue)

This 9-page chart introduces nearly 50 "techniques to share information."  The techniques range from websites and newspaper inserts to future search conferences and citizen juries. Includes brief descriptions, as well as bullet points summarizing things to think through, things that can go right, and things that can go wrong. (continue)