Have you ever ever confirmed as much as lead a workshop and located that every one the whiteboard markers had been dried out? Or no one introduced pens? Or there wasn’t any paper readily available for sketching workout routines?
With the return of extra in-person work comes the return of extra in-person workshops, and that signifies that we facilitators should be ready with the fitting toolkit for dwell gatherings.
The very last thing any of us needs to do is lead with out the optimum supplies (or cope with the following panic of discovering your self with out them), so I’ve put collectively a listing of the objects that I maintain in my facilitation “go-bag” always, together with:
All the things I carry will get organized into clear, flat, zip-close luggage of various sizes in order that I can rapidly and simply see what’s inside them. They’ll prevent from digging by all of your stuff to seek out issues, and show you how to set up related objects collectively. I exploit them for every thing, which signifies that all of the instruments that comply with on this record are organized into their very own clear zipper luggage.
I at all times maintain a stack of printer paper with me to help drawing and sketching workout routines. This fashion I do know we’ll by no means be brief on drawing supplies, and that every one individuals could have a constant format to work from.
That is my go-to selection that I’ve individuals use nearly completely. Why? They’re simply the fitting dimension to help drawing and writing workout routines, permitting simply sufficient element to be included, however not an excessive amount of. I additionally like providing a single colour to the group as a result of it retains the room from feeling overwhelming once they’re all pasted up on the wall.
These Put up-Its are used completely by me, the facilitator, to assist spotlight themes, create labels, establish classes, quantity objects, make word of choices, and usually set up info that’s posted across the room. My favourite colours to make use of are pink and blue as a result of they’re distinct from each other, and really clearly totally different entrance he canary yellow Put up-Its the individuals use.
I maintain a bag with two sorts of pens and at all times hand out considered one of every to my individuals to help their writing and sketching workout routines. First, a fine-point Sharpie in black ink, which I like as a result of they’re just a little bolder and maintain individuals from together with too many particulars too early on. Second, a felt-tip Papermate Aptitude pen, which is a pleasant various to Sharpies, as they will generally be smelly and off-putting to people.
This bag consists of each whiteboard and flip-chart markers in a number of colours. Typically you’ll use each surfaces, generally you received’t. Greatest to be ready with the fitting markers for every. That mentioned, I’ve to admit that I normally simply default to my whiteboard markers for every thing in order that I don’t have to change backwards and forwards between devices after I’m shifting between boards. Both means, extra is extra right here. There’s nothing like a dried-out marker to destroy your day.
This bag consists of one or two timers (a number of are useful in the event you do breakout teams), and scissors, masking tape, scotch tape, and white out. The latter objects help making modifications to sketching workout routines, like chopping issues up, taping them collectively, and/or affixing drawings to partitions. I additionally maintain a second, smaller bag readily available with batteries and a tiny screwdriver in case I would like to vary out the battery on my timers, since you by no means know!
For those who’re operating any voting or heat-mapping workout routines, sticky dots are crucial to have in your toolkit. I like utilizing two totally different variations: the .75” fluorescent pink dot from Chromalabel, and the ¼” gentle blue or inexperienced dot from Chromalabel. I additionally maintain a Ziploc inside this bag with leftover sheets the place I accumulate outdated dots to reuse later.
I like having some clips readily available since you by no means know once you would possibly have to group a stack of papers or Put up-Its collectively. I at all times use a couple of jumbo-size clips on the underside of massive flip-charts to maintain the pages collectively (which is so much simpler for load-in and cargo out).
This stuff don’t get an excessive amount of use, however I prefer to have them simply in case, together with a flash drive, some dongles and a clicker. I’ve been in a workshop earlier than the place the tech failed and I wanted to maneuver a whole presentation from my pc to a different machine with the intention to current. Good factor I had a USB!
I additionally guarantee that my wants are lined throughout a workshop so I can really feel snug and energized for the lengthy haul. Inside my predominant bag I maintain a bundle of private objects, together with chapstick, a masks, eyedrops, hand lotion, toothpicks and a mini-sewing package. If my wardrobe malfunctions or I really feel meals caught in my tooth, I do know it received’t trigger delays to the workshop as a result of I’ve received the gear to remain cool.
I maintain all of these things stocked and able to go at any given time. If there’s something I’ve discovered in my years of facilitation, it’s that you would be able to’t management every thing, however you’ll be able to definitely be ready for nearly something.
