Workshops and Large Group Facilitation
Large group facilitation and interactive conferences – consulting and facilitation
In large group settings, exchange knowledge and develop strategies, solutions and action plans together: large group methods are a fixed part of the repertoire in change management and organisational development. Our broad repertoire of methods turns your conferences too into places of interactive knowledge sharing and lively learning.
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Our Range of Services
initio is a specialist in large group methods such as
- custom-made large group formats specific to your initial situation and your objectives
- Open Space Conferences
- Workshops in the World Café format
- Future Search
- Future Search Conferences
- Real Time Strategic Change
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Dynamic Facilitation
- Fishbowl Method
We offer all the common large group formats – and we also develop new formats that fit your objective closely. You are welcome to arrange a free initial consultation!
How we work
Here you gain first impressions of our work in large group formats:
Preparation & facilitation: large-group events from experienced professionals
World Café, Open Space, Future Search, RTSC: here is an overview of the large group methods we use regularly and to good effect in our work. With descriptions of the methods and tips on applying them!
Read the article →Video: interactive large group conference as part of a cultural change project
Case study and video: here you learn three essential basic steps in designing large group conferences, how to generate insights and new ideas in large groups in a targeted way, and which methods let you shape the phases of "taking in information", "going deeper" and "transfer" interactively and efficiently even in large groups.
Read the article →Leadership workshops and conferences: what to bear in mind when preparing and planning
Mastering complex challenges in leadership workshops and leadership conferences: here is a guide to what you should watch for in preparation and delivery.
Read the article →Preparing Open Space, World Café and other large group events
Good preparation is one of the most important success factors for large group events. Which steps have to be gone through for a large group event to be successful and effective? What has to be watched most closely?
Read the article →Developing strategy in large groups – how it's done!
How can strategies be developed in a short time in large groups with many stakeholders and groups involved? Here is the definitive guide.
Read the article →A toolbox of methods for large group conferences – part 1
Large group conferences need a particularly refined dramaturgy. Which proven formats are there for the start of a large group conference? Here is an overview.
Read the article →The Open Space method: 5 decisive success factors you should know
Open Space conferences can turn into a disaster – if they are not planned and run professionally. Here are the 5 biggest pitfalls you should know about as an organiser.
Read the article →World Café – the 7 most important questions for successful preparation
When preparing large group events such as a World Café, what matters above all is good preparation. Which traps have to be avoided, what has to be done, what has to be watched? Here are valuable tips from practice.
Read the article →"Custom-made" large-group formats specific to your needs and objectives
We have more than 21 years of experience in working with large-group methodologies.
Based on this wealth of experience, we regularly develop large group processes that are very specifically tailored to the initial situation and objectives of our clients.
Try us out in a non-binding initial consultation!
Planning a workshop, a large group event or a conference?
- Interactive, activating formats
- 250 successful events
… and 21 years of experience in many industries!
free & without obligation
Our approach
Getting groups of up to several hundred participants interested in a topic, connecting them and inspiring them to act together is the core task behind most of the communication processes we design. We have experience of large group events with (to date) up to 850 people. Depending on the topic and the objective, we will design a large group architecture that fits your occasion too, one that gets you to your goals in the shortest possible time.
Alongside the planning of content we also take on, if needed, the
In planning the content we do not simply fall back on proven standard formats; we also design large group formats from the elements of proven methods, tailored specifically to your needs and objectives. With the experience of more than a hundred large group events we create thoughtful combinations of informative, interactive and action-guiding building blocks, in order to guarantee participants the best possible conditions for networking, acting together and transferring knowledge.
Coaching and consulting on large-group implementation
For planning groups, HR departments or others responsible for planning and running large group events we also offer coaching to match.
Ask us about our large group coaching.
Interactive and activating conferences
Our interactive large group methods have also proved their worth at specialist conferences, conventions and trade fairs. Wherever the aim is to connect the knowledge and experience of the participants and to develop insights and strategies from them, we recommend working in interactive workshop settings. With interactive building blocks and proven activating methods from large group facilitation we ensure
- intensive, interactive joint work by participants on questions that matter for the future and are strategically important
- Connecting the expertise and experience of participants and generating new knowledge
- Participants building networks with one another
- Developing an agreed action plan
Three ways to work with large groups.
You can take responsibility for the event yourself with our support, or hand it over to us entirely. Both are possible, and the usual arrangement lies somewhere in between.
Support your own planning group through preparation and delivery, without us facilitating the event.
- Coaching throughout planning and preparation
- Selecting and adapting the right large-group method
- Feedback on the agenda and guiding questions
Design and facilitate an event in which several large groups produce results they can put into practice.
- A design combining elements of established methods, tailored to your objective
- Facilitation with the team required
- A meaningful record of the results
Connect the conference to subsequent work so that results become someone's responsibility rather than just minutes of a meeting.
- Preparation, follow-up, facilitation and documentation, with a full service through to dismantling the event setup if required
- Results translated into areas for action with named owners and dates
- A follow-up session to check what has been implemented
You do not need to choose between the three options before speaking to us. Exploring your needs is part of our service, and we do not charge for it.
Your benefits
Professional facilitation and delivery
Experienced facilitators lead even large groups to their goal in a short time
Time saved
Complex questions can be addressed within a short time
Faster implementation
Taking on responsibility and the motivation to implement are supported in the best possible way
Accelerated processes of insight
Interactive methods connect the experience and knowledge of the participants to best effect
New knowledge arises
The knowledge of employees and participants is actively integrated into the process of insight
Faster learning processes
Shared learning is made easier by systematic knowledge sharing
The speed of implementation rises
because all the relevant groups involved (stakeholders) take part, participants are motivated to implement
Solutions with real depth
all the options become visible and the right solution is worked out with every necessary detail
Methods that fit the times
Learning together and gaining insight are supported to best effect
Less complexity
With the right methods, even difficult and highly complex questions are answered within a short time
Client testimonials
What our clients say
You prepared our workshop thoroughly and precisely. Both the method and the facilitation fitted our objectives very well. We were able to carry on working very successfully with the results. Many thanks.
A big thank you for facilitating the workshop. We came out of the day as a team, with a good sense of togetherness and a clearer picture of the way ahead. The workshop was well worth it.
The feedback on your facilitation in particular was very positive. Several people with a lot of workshop experience told me they had come with fairly low expectations and left extremely pleasantly surprised.
Everyone was very happy with your facilitation. The agreements we reached together are working wonders. The team workshop did us a great deal of good.
The feedback on the conference was genuinely positive across the board. We can carry on working very well with the results. Many thanks for your commitment.
I always love working with professionals — many thanks for facilitating so purposefully.
The interactive conference design was a real help in implementing our WIR strategy. The high level of staff involvement gave us important ideas for the work ahead. The preparation was precise and working with you on site was professional and very pleasant. Thank you.
Our leadership conference benefited greatly from your thorough methodological advice and professional facilitation. The results exceeded our expectations.
The Open Space format was a powerful and thoroughly successful start to our change process. The ministry was delighted too.
Thank you for the valuable insight into how you work in practice, and for the many tips and facilitation tricks that brought the methods to life.
Your attentive, well-grounded facilitation and the inspiration you brought helped us a great deal. The team was delighted too.
Your support in preparing and running our retreat was highly professional and helped us a great deal. We were very happy with the two intensive days.
Free initial consultation
Put us to the test.
We have more than 21 years of experience in working with large group methods. Do arrange a free initial consultation!