Have you ever ever confirmed as much as lead a workshop and located that each one the whiteboard markers have 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 implies that we facilitators have to be ready with the correct toolkit for dwell gatherings.
The very last thing any of us needs to do is lead with out the optimum supplies (or take care of the following panic of discovering your self with out them), so I’ve put collectively an inventory of the objects that I preserve in my facilitation “go-bag” always, together with:
The whole lot I carry will get organized into clear, flat, zip-close luggage of various sizes in order that I can shortly 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 arrange related objects collectively. I take advantage of them for all the pieces, which implies that all of the instruments that observe on this checklist are organized into their very own clear zipper luggage.
I all the time preserve a stack of printer paper with me to assist drawing and sketching workout routines. This manner I do know we’ll by no means be quick on drawing supplies, and that each one members can have a constant format to work from.
That is my go-to selection that I’ve members use nearly solely. Why? They’re simply the correct dimension to assist drawing and writing workout routines, permitting simply sufficient element to be included, however not an excessive amount of. I additionally like providing a single coloration to the group as a result of it retains the room from feeling overwhelming once they’re all pasted up on the wall.
These Submit-Its are used solely by me, the facilitator, to assist spotlight themes, create labels, establish classes, quantity objects, make observe of choices, and customarily arrange 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 Submit-Its the members use.
I preserve a bag with two sorts of pens and all the time hand out one among every to my members to assist their writing and sketching workout routines. First, a fine-point Sharpie in black ink, which I really like as a result of they’re a bit bolder and preserve 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’ll typically be pungent 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, typically you gained’t. Greatest to be ready with the correct markers for every. That stated, I’ve to admit that I normally simply default to my whiteboard markers for all the pieces in order that I don’t have to modify forwards and backwards between devices after I’m shifting between boards. Both means, extra is extra right here. There’s nothing like a dried-out marker to damage your day.
This bag consists of one or two timers (a number of are useful should you do breakout teams), and scissors, masking tape, scotch tape, and white out. The latter objects assist making modifications to sketching workout routines, like slicing issues up, taping them collectively, and/or affixing drawings to partitions. I additionally preserve a second, smaller bag readily available with batteries and a tiny screwdriver in case I want to vary out the battery on my timers, since you by no means know!
If you happen to’re operating any voting or heat-mapping workout routines, sticky dots are essential to have in your toolkit. I really 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 preserve a Ziploc inside this bag with leftover sheets the place I accumulate outdated dots to reuse later.
I really like having some clips readily available since you by no means know while you would possibly have to group a stack of papers or Submit-Its collectively. I all the time use just a few jumbo-size clips on the underside of massive flip-charts to maintain the pages collectively (which is lots 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 complete presentation from my laptop to a different gadget 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 comfy and energized for the lengthy haul. Inside my essential bag I preserve 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 gained’t trigger delays to the workshop as a result of I’ve obtained the gear to remain cool.
I preserve 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 you could’t management all the pieces, however you may actually be ready for nearly something.
