Last week my friend Paula Berardinelli came to my home to drive me to a doctor’s appointment. I asked if we could put my walker in her car. She agreed and reached down to fold the walker into a tight package. I was amazed! “I had no idea how to do that!” Paula laughed...
Silence to Think and Re-energize
Many people are afraid of sitting in silence with a group in a Zoom room. Don’t be afraid. Silence can be extremely helpful and needed if timed well.
Here are reasons to design for silence:
Let’s Make Better Use of the Chat Box
The Chat box is highly underrated. All meeting spaces have this feature, but it is not often used. And even more rarely, explored. Here are some great reasons to use the Chat box: To invite in all voices Rarely does everyone have a voice in a session (in-person or...
Using PowerPoint as a Learning Tool
As of late, PowerPoint has gotten a bad rap ... at least we think so. In many cases, this is for good reason. However, we are too easily lured in by slick technology with tons of bells and whistles. PowerPoint can be used in all sorts of different ways to enhance...
Trust Your Design
In mid-March, the Tax Equity team at the International Budget Partnership was faced with a dilemma – continue planning a two-day convening of researchers, staff, and civil society scheduled for May or take it completely online. Like many organizations in the face of...
Expecting the Unexpected
When my kids were very young, I would take them with me to run errands. They’d say, “Momma, what’s our plan today?” with excitement in their voices. They wondered what our adventure to town would include! I would list things such as stopping at the post office, the...
Help Me, I’m an Extrovert
Ever since Susan Cain’s Ted talk and book, Quiet: Being an Introvert in a World that Just Can’t Stop Talking, I have become more attentive to introverts in my meetings, learning events, and other gatherings.
Supporting the Offline Participant in an Online Setting
This recent demand that we all become online participants and facilitators has many rewards and challenges. There is a different intention to our interaction and our time together. Our learning environment has become more isolated and independent, regardless of a...
Proper Planning Delivers Success
In the past few weeks, organizations around the world have faced the challenge of converting their in-person meetings to virtual ones. Our organization, the International Budget Partnership (IBP) is no exception. Every month, IBP holds an all-staff meeting via Zoom, a...
Adapting Social and Behavior Change Materials in the Time of COVID-19
Thank you to Mary DeCoster and our friends at Food for the Hungry for sharing this valuable tip sheet from their work. We are featuring an excerpt on our blog, you can access the entire tip sheet here. In fast moving emergencies, such as the current pandemic,...
Digital Learning and Powerful Questions
We all face the situation of COVID-19 just now and for many of us, it means that our only chance to see friends and family is through online interaction. We miss face-to-face contact and await the time when it is again an option for us. But one result of this time...
Management Tips During a Crisis and Economic Change
The world as we knew it has changed drastically. When crises emerge it’s up to management to act quickly to change your company’s course, to be innovative, and to support your staff, teams and colleagues. Consider the following tips from our small business as you...




