Developing Workshop Ground Rules

Don’t do this.🚫 A friend recently asked me for advice on how to run an offsite retreat. I've noticed many groups dive right in to the substance, kicking off the day with sessions and activities. 🚫 I used to do that, too, because time is limited and we want to make the most of it. But I’ve found that starting with a “participants agreement” makes the day run so much more smoothly. A “participants agreement” (or whatever you like to call it) draws into sharp focus HOW the group will behave with each other. Most people focus on the WHY (the purpose) and the WHAT (the agenda), but a higher-level experience comes when there’s intentionality around the HOW. Here’s what our agreements usually include: 💬 Active Participation: Be fully present and engaged. ⏰ Mindful Timekeeping: Start on time, end on time. 🤝 Respect for Different Perspectives: Consider all opinions, experiences, and ideas. 🗣️ No Interruptions: One person speaks at a time. 💡Get creative: Try problem-solving, not just problem-explaining. ✅ Accountability: Hold yourself and others accountable for following the participants' agreement and delivering on the day's decisions. We record these on a flip chart and display them so everyone can refer back throughout the day. Bonus points if you co-create this before the event. It sets the tone right from the start! Double points if you can weave your group's values into it. The Lesson: Don’t start playing the game without agreeing on the ground rules. Question: How do you set expectations at the beginning of your gatherings? Share your tips in the comments! 👇 #TipTuesday

Collaborative doesn’t mean chaotic. In Radical Candor, I talk about the GSD Wheel - a cycle that helps teams listen, clarify, debate, decide, persuade, and execute together. But none of that works without one crucial element: ground rules. One of the most powerful things a leader can do is set clear expectations for how decisions get made and how disagreement gets handled along the way. I’ve worked with teams where every decision felt like a battle. I’ve also worked with teams where decision-making felt energizing and inclusive. The difference? Clarity. A few ground rules I’ve seen work well: — We make space for dissent before we decide. — We separate debate from execution. — We don’t let urgency override inclusivity. They may sound simple, but these expectations can transform how your team collaborates under pressure. What’s one ground rule that’s helped your team make better decisions? :) --- Follow Kim Scott and Radical Candor® for more tips on leadership, collaboration, and building a culture where everyone can thrive.

Disclaimer Alert:  This is my first post in English and I´ve done a lot on it so please come and give it some love. Thank you Mónica Rodriguez Salvo for guiding me with so much patience, empathy and inspiration🫀.  The lighthouse is already giving its first signs 🌊 Twelve Ground Rules for Effective Facilitation 🌟 As a facilitator, I believe in starting each session with a few ground rules to create a safe and collaborative environment. These rules, which I usually share at the outset, provide a framework that everyone can follow and respect. Here are the ones I use and how I share them with my teams! Hope they can spark some inspiration for you too! In this session... 1. 🎤 Every Voice Matters Each one of us  has something valuable to contribute. It's important to listen to all voices, so people need to be encouraged to participate in a safe environment - that's the reason you're here! 2. 🚶♂️🚶♀️ Participate and Give Space If you tend to talk a lot, try to leave space for other people to contribute. And if you are one of those who keep quiet, speak up!  When we feel we are part of this, we all become more committed to our shared agreements. 3. 🎙️ Only one mic Only one person speaks at a time. This avoids interruptions and ensures that each voice is heard and valued. 4. 🧠 Here You Can Be You This is a safe place to be authentic. Share your ideas and opinions without fear of judgment. Psychological safety is key to a good dialogue, and here we'll take care of your uniqueness. 5. 🚗 Use the ‘Parking Lot’. If topics come up that are not relevant at the moment, we ‘park’ them to come back to them later. That way we keep the focus and don't get distracted. We'll revisit them later. 6. 🕒 Respect Time Honour everyone's time. Keep your interventions short and concise  so we can cover everything we have planned and give space for everything we plan. 7. 📱 No Distractions Keep distractions, electronic or otherwise, at a minimum. This helps everyone to be in presence and focused. 8. 🤝 Active Listening Genuinely  listen, without thinking about what you are going to say next. This helps us understand each other better and collaborate effectively. 9. 🌐 Keep an open Mind Come with an open mind to new ideas and perspectives. This way we enrich learning and benefit from a diversity of opinions. 10. ✅ Engagement and Accountability Let's commit to what we agree to do. Shared responsibility builds team spirit and ensures that things get done. 11. 🛑 ELMO (Enough, Let's Move On) If we've talked enough about an issue, let's use ELMO to say it's time to move on. Don't get stuck. 12. 🌈 Emotional Sharing Give space to express emotions. Recognising  and managing our emotions strengthens the connection and authenticity of the group. Having ground rules in our facilitations not only structures the process, but also creates a safe and collaborative environment allowing everyone to contribute and grow together. #facilitation #rules #english

In over 20 years of coaching, I’ve facilitated countless meetings, all guided by core principles. One key practice is establishing ground rules to ensure focus, productivity, and safety. Five essential rules are: 1) the Vegas rule, ensuring confidentiality; 2) addressing issues, not people; 3) using "yes, and" to build on ideas; 4) ensuring equal airtime for all voices; and 5) entering difficult conversations. These rules create a safe environment, encouraging open communication and tackling issues that lead to meaningful progress.