Facilitation Tip: Raise Your Hands!

One of the combinations I use most in workshops is this:
👉 Take a moment for individual reflection.
👉 Share your thoughts with someone else.

That means I spend a lot of time forming pairs.

For years, I simply asked people to “find someone nearby.” It works. People turn to the person next to them and start talking. Perfectly fine, but also a bit predictable. And over the course of a workshop, people often end up talking to the same few participants.

At some point, I started using a different approach. It works especially well with larger groups (10+ ppl).

I invite everyone to raise a hand. Their raised hand signals, “I’m looking for a conversation partner.” Then they point at someone else in the room who also has a hand raised. If that person points back, they’ve found each other. They walk over, introduce themselves if needed, and start the conversation.

I also encourage participants to pair up with someone who’s standing farther away (so you get a short walk), and to find someone they haven’t spoken with yet.

• It’s fun and slightly chaotic.
• It brings energy into the room.
• It creates more unexpected conversations.

And… it’s incredibly simple! 😃

If you’re facilitating a session with 10+ participants, give it a try. You might be surprised how much difference such a small change can make.