It’s surprisingly hard to find a comprehensive list of books about participative workshop methods and facilitation online, so I put together this page for my own benefit as well as yours! Reading books is one of my favorite hobbies. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, there’s always time for reading. I have, therefore, read a lot of books about participative workshop methods.
In this article, I’ll inspire you to read 10 of the best books about Participative Workshop Methods, so that you can give your workshops a deeper meaning and enable your work to have a greater impact.
All of the books in this list will also help improve your facilitation skills.
Contents
- Our Favourite Facilitation Books 👇
- Beyond Sticky Notes: Co-design for Real: Mindsets, methods and movements
- Let’s Do Hunch: Creativity Workbook for Individual Participants and Groups (Creative Thinking Series)
- Designing & Leading Life-Changing Workshops: Creating the Conditions for Transformation in Your Groups, Trainings, and Retreats
- Better Small Talk: Talk to Anyone, Avoid Awkwardness, Generate Deep Conversations, and Make Real Friends (How to be More Likable and Charismatic)
- How to talk to anyone about anything: Learn How To Communicate with Confidence and Talk To People With Ease
- Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner
Our Favourite Facilitation Books 👇
Beyond Sticky Notes: Co-design for Real: Mindsets, methods and movements
“No nonsense, useful and actionable advice for your journey towards participatory service design”
Why this book is awesome for facilitators:
“Beyond Sticky Notes” by Kelly Ann McKercher is truly focused on putting the person at the heart of service design and delivery. If you believe that public engagement and participation needs to be meaningful and beyond ticking boxes then you’ll certainly gain a lot from this.
McKercher has fully understood the outcome of transformation and the process of how to meaningfully involve citizens in public service design.
Let’s Do Hunch: Creativity Workbook for Individual Participants and Groups (Creative Thinking Series)
“Unleash your creative mind and discover your untapped potential with this innovative and smart workbook”
Why this book is awesome for facilitators:
“Let’s Do Hunch” is a staple for every facilitator, coach and trainer. It’s packed full of useful activities that you can do on your own or as facilitated activities with small groups.
You will learn a lot about yourself after going through this workbook; it doubles up as a self-development book to help you improve your creative mindset and grow as a professional too!
Designing & Leading Life-Changing Workshops: Creating the Conditions for Transformation in Your Groups, Trainings, and Retreats
“A beautifully written and masterful guidebook that eloquently shows how to embody the skills we so wish to impart“
Why this book is awesome for facilitators:
This is a true manual/guidebook for anyone whose role includes leading or teaching others. It’s an absolute must read.
When reading this book, you will take a lot to heart. It will change your mindset and your approach to delivering workshops.
Better Small Talk: Talk to Anyone, Avoid Awkwardness, Generate Deep Conversations, and Make Real Friends (How to be More Likable and Charismatic)
“A beautifully written and masterful guidebook that eloquently shows how to embody the skills we so wish to impart“
Why this book is awesome for facilitators:
Patrick King is a Social Interaction Specialist and Conversation Coach – he knows his stuff. This book goes far beyond theory – it’s full of practical advice and activities you can do.
This book is extremely useful for introverts who are required to step out of their shell for their career. It helps to be prepared for conversation, the activities outlined in this book will help you develop a bank of conversation starters, responses and witty remarks at the forefront of your mind.
If you want to be an engaging person who shines in a room full of others – you need this book.
How to talk to anyone about anything: Learn How To Communicate with Confidence and Talk To People With Ease
“A guide to dealing with difficult conversations”
Why this book is awesome for facilitators:
As a facilitator, part of our role is deal with difficult conversations about sensitive issues. “How to talk to anyone about anything” helps us handle this aspect of our careers.
This will help you develop your interpersonal skills, storytelling skills, communication abilities and help you become more observant when communicating with others.
Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner
“Alternatives to ‘Stand and Deliver’ style of classroom and group management”
Why this book is awesome for facilitators:
This book is aimed at teachers, but there’s a lot we can learn from this, especially if your job role includes training as well as facilitation.
This can help you develop skills to present ideas in an engaging, challenging and relevant way. Whether you’re involved with academic circles or in professional ones, any material designed for teaching leadership and management will inevitably involve facilitator skills.
