Eliminate Facilitation Clutter.
If it doesn't drive the learning, leave it out.
“What is this?” she asked, eyes flashing, holding the colorful block close to my face. I froze mid-setup. Was this excitement or confrontation?
“Uhh… that’s a Talk Tile.”
“What’s it for?” she pressed, voice sharper now. Yep, I was being grilled.
“It’s a facilitation tool. We’ll use it—and the others on the tables—for a couple of activities today. Actually, you can grab one now with a word that helps you explain why you came. That’s how we’ll get started.”
Her shoulders softened. “Good,” she said. “I thought it was just… stuff.”
She explained that she’d been to plenty of public events where tables were littered with plastic trinkets and purposeless handouts. She was ready to confront whoever had brought more meaningless junk—and I had looked like a culprit.
You might try eliminating facilitation clutter.
Too often, we’re handed bags of pamphlets, piles of handouts, and shiny objects that serve no clear purpose. These distractions clutter the space—literally and mentally—and pull attention away from what matters most: the people in the room.
Unless a material directly supports connection, reflection, or shared purpose–and you’re going to actively use it to drive the learning–leave it out.
Keep things simple. Help people focus. Don’t add noise to an already noisy world.
So…
What facilitation tools help you most as a convener?
What material(s) get in the way?
I can’t wait to hear your story.
Reply to this email, or leave a comment below.
More soon.
Cheers,
Travis
The Joy of Convening explores how we can facilitate learning and connection across boundaries — with purpose, playfulness, and care.
Follow along for tools, stories, and conversations that help us convene with more joy and impact.