Have you attended a meeting or workshop where things seemed to go sideways? Have you facilitated a session where participants and discussions seemed to go off on a tangent and get out of control?
As facilitators, one of our key roles is to guide the workshop to ensure participants walk away from the session honing in on the learning objectives. Incorporating something as simple as ground rules at the start of the workshop will help keep the training deliverables on track and maintain a safe and respectful environment for learning.
Ground Rules: How To
Here are some best practices on the how to’s of preparing and implementing ground rules into your next training session.
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Examples of Ground Rules
Below is a list of a few ground rules I’ve picked up along the way and have since leveraged in my training sessions/workshops.
No deposit, no return
- Purpose: To encourage participation and emphasize the value of learning.
Question first
- Purpose: To avoid quick judgements and instead encourage participants to inquire and ask questions to seek an understanding of what’s being said.
ELMO – (Enough Let’s Move On)
- Purpose: To avoid discussions that go off topic and to guide the conversation onto the next agenda item.
Aretha Franklin – (R.E.S.P.E.C.T)
- Purpose: To emphasize the importance of demonstrating respect towards one another throughout the session to build an environment conducive to learning and teamwork.
Airplane Mode
- Purpose: To encourage participants to be present throughout the training and to shut out all distractions and remain focused on the learning objectives.
Disney
- Purpose: To encourage participants to have FUN!
Vegas rules
- Purpose: To highlight the importance of confidentiality of dialogue and happenings within the training session, allowing for a safe and open environment.
Step up and step back
- Purpose: To allow for all participants to partake in discussions without some dominating discussions, discouraging others from contributing.
Bahamas moments
- Purpose: To encourage participants to get back into the lesson/activity by asking for clarification or for the facilitator to repeat instructions/key messaging.
What are some of your ground rules? Let’s hear them!
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Throughout Sofia's career she has engaged in various functions of HR, always with a mindset of translating business strategy into systematic HR initiatives. Her HR experience has involved overseeing day-to-day operations, developing HR strategies, leading organizational changes and partnering with leadership to drive and deliver on HR principles and business strategies.
Her specialization in HR includes training and capability development, performance management, employee engagement, change management and organizational development.
Sofia has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Simon Fraser University,a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Human Resources Management from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and holds her Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.
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