Specific techniques enhance the way in which members of a team work together, and supporting the way in which they share ideas and opinions, come to joint conclusions, and plan future steps. These are used at different moments, and not only in a workshop or face-to-face event. A selection of popular techniques are described in this section.
AFTER ACTION REVIEW
This is a simple exercise for team-based learning, generally used during a project or a short-term initiative to improve its results. An AAR helps a team learn from its experience; it does not require outside experts, and it can therefore be a very powerful tool for change. The AAR is useful for continuously strengthening the skills of a team, helping it achieve better results.
FISHBOWL
This is a method used to organize presentations and group discussions, offering the benefits of small group discussions - most notably, a spontaneous, conversational approach to discussing issues - within large group settings. This is done by arranging the room so that the speakers are seated in the centre of the room with other participants sitting around them: they form a circle while watching the conversation going on "in the fishbowl".
KNOWLEDGE CAFE
A Knowledge Café gathers people together to discuss a specific issue. The process is designed to produce new solutions, combining the experience and knowledge of those who attend. A total of 15 to 30 people are subdivided into smaller groups to discuss the key elements of a question or issue, then moving on to different tables for a given period of time. The Knowledge Café then moves onto a group conversation about the components that have been addressed and concludes with a general discussion.
PEER ASSIST
This is a tool which supports "learning before doing" processes. Using the same principles as a scientific peer review, it begins with the premise that, for any given activity, someone else has done something that is at least broadly similar. Peer Assist encourages participatory learning, by asking those with experience in certain activities to assist those wishing to benefit from their knowledge. Following a systematic process, this strengthens a mutual learning process.
RETROSPECT
This is a process for an in-depth, team-based reflection effort, helping capture and prioritize lessons from a project or from a specific initiative. The goal is to identify key factors and actions that contributed to success or failure, and make recommendations for more effective future actions. These are then turned into a knowledge resource that can be used by a team for a new project, or for other / similar initiatives.
STORYTELLING
Simple stories can illuminate complex patterns and illustrate deeper truths, helping people understand a particular situation. Storytelling is used in organizations as a communication tool that helps share knowledge "with inspiration": listeners appreciate the language used. At the same time, the process of telling your story – and seeing it touch other people – can be empowering.
WORLD CAFE
This is a method for holding meaningful conversations in large group meetings, focusing on a specific question or issue. It is especially useful when it is necessary to create a safe environment for sharing or for capturing knowledge in a relatively quick manner. A World Cafe can be used to tap into the collective knowledge of up to 30 participants within 90 minutes. World Café is also useful to tackle multiple related issues, and to create a conducive environment for sharing diverse viewpoints.