Professionals working in science,
healthcare, public health or related fields
Have you experienced any of these?
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Lack of engagement in your meetings
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Poorly-led and unfocused discussions
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Unequal sharing (i.e., dominators and observers)
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Misunderstandings between scientists and decisionmakers
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Stalled decisions that result in lost opportunities
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Information-overload and isolation in large events
Make your meetings, workshops and events
more efficient, effective and engaging
Stop letting poor meetings delay progress
Help everyone focus and contribute
Start getting better results
Are you a leader who wants to make a difference?
Relax and stay focused on progress while we help everyone contribute
during your next staff meeting, retreat, planning session, workshop or conference
TECHNICAL MEETINGS
Invite everyone to contribute and explore issues and solve problems collaboratively, whether your meeting is small or large, lasts 1 hour or several days, and is local or national in scope.
Learn about how our unique experience in science, public policy and facilitation helps other organizations balance different perspectives in client projects. Contact us about what you have in mind.
CONFERENCES
Conference organizers, presenters and participants all have a role to play in making large meetings more engaging.
Learn how by reading our guest editorial in the professional journal Groundwater.
Photo credit: Kristian Angelo on Unsplash
BOARD or STAFF RETREATS
Does your group need a jump start or some time away from urgent business to connect with one another? Or, conversely, do you need time together to focus on doing one thing, like creating a plan?
An online or in-person retreat could help your group move forward with more clarity, connection and purpose. See our Services page for more details. Then contact us. We'd love to hear about what you want to do!
Photo credit: Wendy Gorski
WORKSHOPS
Up-level your conferences, continuing education workshops and staff meetings. We'll introduce tools and practices for working collaboratively and supporting better working relationships, both in person and online.
Our custom workshops fit your goals and your budget, Contact us to describe what you'd like to have happen or choose one of the following topics:
Plan Quickly (Intro to Ecocycle Planning) Quickly view, organize, and prioritize what you're doing now. Identify obstacles and opportunities for progress.
Increase Engagement in Your Meetings Tackle engagement issues in your group. Experience 3 versatile easy-to-learn activities that increase participation.
Improve Communication Listen and be listened to at a deeper level by using the basics of Clean Language in your group's context
Get Just a Little More Rest Tired people don't work well together. But being well-rested isn't just about getting a good night's sleep! Experience several types of rest and make your own plan for getting just a little more rest.
Create Focused and Productive Meetings Planning a clear agenda can save time in meetings. Address common ways meetings go off-track.
Do you want to be a more confident leader?
Get more done in less time
Collaborate with skill and confidence
Be seen and respected
Advance your career
LEARNING
Check out our events on the Improve Your Meetings website
-- Upcoming Events (scheduled workshops and courses)
-- Custom Events (events we offer on request)
QUICK RESOURCES
TEN TIPS Do you find it hard to get people to participate in your online meetings? There are simple things you can do that will turn viewers into active contributors. Access our ten tips to foster online engagement (no email required)
Photo credits: Steve Brachman
and Angie Hong
QUICK PLANNING If planning turns you off, but you need to plan something quickly, you can capture the big picture, choose next steps and more with Ecocycle Planning. Access the instructions
(note: we ask for your email so we can send a few emails about the Ecocycle)
* Ecocycle Planning is a Liberating Structure created by Keith McCandless and Henri Lipmanowicx and is used under a Creative Commons license
I improved my meetings -- You can too!
Barb Bickford, owner and principal of Bickford Collaboration
I"m a geologist turned consultant who guides
groups toward clarity and creative solutions and
individuals who want to contribute and
collaborate with confidence.
If you want your meetings to be more efficient,
effective, engaging and even fun, call me!
As a former staff scientist in the public sector, I saw how
poorly-led meetings, top-down decisions.
fear of conflict and lack of trust created unnecessary stress
This impacted not only our results
but also our personal health
What the lack of effective collaboration
is doing to your results and to you
just isn't right!