The Parking Lot - Participatory Activity for Facilitators

The Parking Lot

The Parking Lot - Participatory Activity for Facilitators
Group Size: 3+
Activity Duration: 20-60 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy, Intermediate
Materials Required: Post-it notes, pens, whiteboard or flipchart paper.

This is a workshop or meeting technique that allows participants to “park” ideas, suggestions or topics that are off-topic or not directly related to the agenda.

This entails creating a designated space, either on a whiteboard or flipchart, where group members can write down any ideas or questions that come up during the discussion, but that are not directly related to the topic at hand.

The Parking Lot technique allows group members to capture and address their ideas or questions without interrupting the flow of the discussion, and can help encourage participation from group members who may not feel comfortable speaking up in front of a large group.

Method:

To use the parking lot technique, you should first explain the concept to the group at the beginning of the session, and designate a specific space for the parking lot.

You can decorate this like a parking lot, drawing out “parking spaces” and images of cars and signage you may find in a parking lot to making this tool more visual and aesthetically pleasing.

As the discussion progresses, group members can write down their ideas or questions on sticky notes and add them to the parking lot. You and the group can periodically review the parking lot and address any ideas or questions that have been added, or save them for discussion at a later time.

It’s important that you revisit the items that have been ‘parked’ in the ‘parking lot’ so ensure that participants know their ideas are valid and valued in this discussion.

The parking lot technique can be a useful tool for facilitators who are looking to encourage participation and involvement from group members.

Outcome:

By providing a designated space for capturing and addressing ideas and questions, the facilitator can help group members feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, and can help the group engage in a more productive and inclusive discussion.