Are you a professional working in science,
healthcare, public health or related fields?
Have you experienced any of these challenges?
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Poorly-led and unfocused meetings that bore and frustrate you
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Top-down decisions that are challenged or sabotaged by people who feel left out
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Fear of conflict or lack of trust that keep people from sharing their best ideas
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Stalled progress or lost resources because people can't work together
We help professionals in science, healthcare, public health
and related fields to create efficient, effective and engaging meetings, workshops and events
Schedule a complimentary "Engaging Meetings Consultation" today!
"Stop letting poor meetings delay progress
Help everyone focus and contribute
Start getting better results"
-- Barb Bickford
Owner and principal
Bickford Collaboration
We serve leaders who want to make a difference
Stay focused on progress while we lead the process of your meetings, retreats, workshops and planning sessions
We'll help everyone contribute and shape the outcome
Contact us to share what you would like to have happen
Photo credit: Sustainable Stillwater
TECHNICAL MEETINGS
We design and lead engaging meetings that enable everyone to contribute their expertise and ideas and solve issues collaboratively. We've led events at the local, state and national level.
Contact us about what you have in mind.
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: Kristian Angelo on Unsplash
Photo credit: Wendy Gorski
WORKSHOPS
We design and lead custom workshops to fit your goals and your budget, both in person and online. We'll introduce tools and practices for working collaboratively and supporting better working relationships.
Consider the topics below for your conferences, continuing education workshops and staff meetings. Contact us to describe what you would like to have happen.
Plan Quickly (Intro to Ecocycle Planning)
In this workshop, you and your group will quickly view, organize, and prioritize what you're doing now and identify obstacles and opportunities for progress.
Increase Engagement in Your Meetings
Experience three versatile easy-to-learn activities that will increase participation in your meetings, while you tackle issues about engagement that are unique to your group.
Improve Communication
Listen and be listened to at a deeper level by using the basics of Clean Language in your group's context, such as healthcare or education.
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! Learn about and experience several types of rest and make your own individual plan for getting just a little more rest.
Create Focused and Productive Meetings
Save time and keep meetings on track with a little forethought and a clear agenda. Pre-empt common ways that meetings go off-track. Raise the bar on your team's meeting practices!
We also serve individuals who want to be better leaders
Learning meeting leadership skills helps you not only get more done in less time in the meetings you lead, but will also help you be seen and respected, which can advance your career
Our practical interactive workshops help you collaborate and lead with skill and confidence
Check out the Events on the Improve Your Meetings website
-- Upcoming Events (scheduled workshops and courses)
-- Custom Events (events we offer on request)
And be sure to sign up for our emails that include tips for improving your meetings and news about workshops and courses that will help you grow your leadership
Photo credit: Wendy Gorski
QUICK RESOURCES
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)
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 (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
Photo credits: Steve Brachman
and Angie Hong
I improved my meetings -- You can too!
I help leaders who struggle to lead truly collaborative meetings
or are frustrated with the results of their meetings
Through my consulting,
I guide groups toward strategic clarity and creative solutions
Through my teaching,
I help people collaborate and lead with confidence
Together, we can make your meetings more efficient,
effective, engaging and even fun!
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 a lot of unnecessary stress. This impacted not only
our results but also our personal health.
What the lack of effective collaboration
is doing to your mission and to you
just isn't right!