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Writer's pictureJD Solomon

Why Using Props Helps You Facilitate with FINESSE


Use props to create better facilitation and communication.
Use props to create better facilitation and communication.

I use props to efficiently and effectively engage participants, increase understanding, and support better results. Some of my more practical props related to facilitating reliability exercises include water meters, gate valves, and pumps. When doing general presentations, I pull out my “bag of tricks” and use everything from hats to beads, coins, golf clubs, and baseball bats.


A Recent Headline Discussion on Environmental Matters

I recently showed up at a statewide environmental meeting with a baseball bat.

“Oh, no!” my host said as he greeted me. We’ve never had a speaker bring a baseball bat.”

Obviously, I got many looks and a lot of pre-meeting discussion. I never told anyone what the bat was about.


I introduced the bat in my opening discussion, letting the suspense build. Finally, I connected about two-thirds of the way into my talk. The question in everyone’s mind was answered. They would remember the association of the main point with the bat.


Helps People Understand

It’s the exception to build suspense with the prop, as I did at the recent environmental talk. Most of the time, I make the point of the prop right out of the gate.


Props help people understand complex information by allowing them to see something (anything) that is tangible.


Creates Conversation

People become more engaged when you have a prop. Sometimes, it’s about the prop. Sometimes, it’s a side conversation, like they knew someone who worked making them or somewhere else they had seen the prop used. In the case of the environmental talk, the bat drew me closer to a key person who shared my love for baseball.


Makes You Memorable

Props make what you say memorable. They make you memorable, too.


Use a Prop!

Use props to engage participants, increase understanding, and support better results efficiently and effectively.





 

Founded by JD Solomon, Communicating with FINESSE is the community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Learn more about our publications, webinars, and workshops. Join the community for free.


 

For more on CATERing as a mental model for effective facilitation, check out JD’s book, Facilitating with FINESSE: A Guide to Successful Business Solutions.

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