The Right Technique at the Right Time with the Right Group

A good magician putting on a show has the audience in awe as they perform their magic. Viewers delight in how it makes them feel and wonder at the mystery of how it all came to be.

In reality, magic is the result of a well-planned and executed set of steps and techniques. In a learning session, those moments when everyone feels a surprising connection through learning and personal sharing are the result of facilitators having done their job well. Those ‘magical’ moments take hard work and careful attention.  

Recently, Jeanette Romkema, GLP Senior Partner and I facilitated the in-person Meetings Re-imagined course with my organization’s senior leadership team. There was a felt need for change in our meeting culture and for more focused meetings with better outcomes.

One theme we discovered during the Learning Needs and Resources Assessment (LNRA) seemed particularly important. Many individuals named the impact of full schedules with too little time to prepare well for meetings. This challenge was impacting their sense of self and job satisfaction. They held a strong desire to do the best job they could, but felt pulled in too many directions.

We decided to address this issue on Day 2 after the group had built enough safety and trust using the technique, My Two Cents.

My Two Cents Technique

• The group sits around a table
• Each person receives 2 pennies*
• They listen to a short story
• They are asked to silently reflect
• When they are ready, they place one of their pennies on the table to signify that they would like to share a response
• Participants share one at a time, with an expectation that each person will share one penny before anyone shares their second
• After each person has shared one thought, participants may choose to use a second penny to add another thought
• Once both of their pennies are used, they may not share again
• The facilitator’s role is to set the stage with instructions for participants at the beginning, ensure everyone follows the process, and otherwise sit silently and listen with the group

This technique felt like a good fit to address a deeply important and personal topic, where all voices needed to be heard. We also considered whether this approach to a sensitive topic would work with this particular group – after all, leaders were in the room. However, I knew that our core values of justice and connection, as well as the practicing of these in real ways, meant that deep heartfelt dialogue on a hard topic would be well received.

I wrote a short story, incorporating real sentiments and actual words shared by several LNRA respondents. The story was a powerful representation of the everyday experience of someone with a deep commitment to their work who struggles with feeling inadequate due to ineffective meetings.

The story rang true.

The first penny was placed on the table with a clink. Tears began to flow as that participant expressed hurt at trying to juggle too much and not feeling like they were able to do their job as well as they would like. Others listening intently also began to tear up. The next penny clinked against the table and words of support for the first person were conveyed, along with expressions of similar struggle.

Penny after penny, each member of the group shared their feelings of connecting to the story. More tears were shed, and gratitude was expressed to the group for being such dedicated and supportive colleagues. A commitment to giving grace to each other, and more importantly to self, was made by all.

We experienced magic in the room that morning that none of us will soon forget. Yet the magic would not have been possible without careful thought and planning to create the right space with the right technique at the right time for the right group.

*NOTE: Other objects can be used in place of pennies i.e., stones, beads, etc. but pennies work well in the U.S. with the saying, “my two cents”.