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Tired of boring, frustrating and unproductive meetings?

Stop letting poor meetings delay your progress

Start getting better results

We help leaders to plan meetings, workshops and events that are more efficient, effective and engaging
and to lead their own meetings 
with skill and confidence

2020 - Barb and Mike - Block Portrait St

We serve organizational leaders who want to make an impact

A group picture of lively people after one of Barb's events

Stay focused on progress while we lead the process 

We'll invite everyone to participate and shape the outcome of your meetings, retreats, workshops and planning sessions

Contact us to share what you would like to have happen

Photo credit: Sustainable Stillwater

A board room table with windows looking out into trees

BOARD or STAFF RETREATS

Does your group need a jump start or some time away from urgent business to connect with one another? Or, conversely, do you need time together to focus on doing one thing, like creating a plan?

 

An online or in-person retreat could help your group move forward with more clarity, connection and purpose. See our Services page for more details. Then contact us. We'd love to hear about what you want to do! 

Photo credit: Kristian Angelo on Unsplash

Barb Bickford holding a chime

Photo credit: Wendy Gorski

A group of people standing and discussing something

Photo credit: Wendy Gorski

WORKSHOPS you can schedule for groups

Note: Upcoming workshops for individuals are here

We design and lead custom workshops to fit your goals and your budget.

 

The following customizable workshops introduce groups to powerful tools and practices for working collaboratively. These work equally well for conferences and for staff meetings, in person or online. Contact us to describe what you would like to have happen

Grow and Let Go 
In this workshop, your group will experience a planning tool based on the cycle of life (the Ecocyle). It can help you view, organize, and prioritize what you're doing now and identify obstacles and opportunities for progress. Where do you feel stuck?

 

RestUP workshop
Being well-rested isn't just about getting a good night's sleep! In this 90 minute workshop, your group will learn about the seven types of rest, experience several of them and make their own individual plan for getting just a little more rest.

Simple and Effective Ways to Increase Engagement

In 60 to 90 minutes, your group will experience three versatile easy-to-learn activities that will increase participation in your meetings. You choose the topic!

Better Communication through Deeper Listening

Want to improve communication in your organization? Listen and be listened to at a deeper level by using the basics of Clean lLanguage, We tailor your group's experience to its context, such as healthcare or education.

Schedule a workshop for your group today!  
Looking for our upcoming workshops for yourself? View scheduled workshops and courses, below

We serve individuals who want to improve the meetings they lead

Barb Bickford wearing a headset and facilitating a training online

Learning meeting leadership skills helps you to be seen and respected and to advance your career
 

Our practical interactive workshops help you collaborate
and lead with confidence so you can make a difference

QUICK RESOURCES

The word "Tips" and a woman leaning over people asking questions about an activity

Do you find it hard to get people to participate in your online meetings? There are simple things you can do that will turn viewers into active contributors. Access our ten tips to foster online engagement (no email required)

The word "Activities" and a woman pointing to a wall with stickies on it.

Photo credits: Steve Brachman
and Angie Hong

If planning turns you off, but you need to plan something quickly, you can capture the big picture, choose next steps and more with Ecocycle PlanningAccess our Ecocycle handout (we ask for your email so we can send a few emails about the Ecocycle)

 
* Ecocycle Planning is a Liberating Structure created by Keith McCandless and Henri Lipmanowicx and is used under a Creative Commons license

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS and COURSES -- for individuals

A coffee table with a plant, bowl and colorful cards on it

Transitions and New Beginnings Retreats

Change happens. We change jobs, careers and move.  We experience illness, empty nests, deaths of loved ones. Join us as we explore ways to move through transitions toward new beginnings, with conversation, movement, intuitive art (no talent needed) and more.  The next scheduled retreat will be April 4-6, 2025 at St. Anthony's Spirituality Center in Marathon, Wisconsin.  Shorter versions of this retreat may be scheduled soon. Learn more about Transitions retreats here

Better Conversations.jpg

Better Conversations for More Effective Healthcare 

-- online, Mondays and Wednesdays, June 4-20, 2024

Poor communication damages health outcomes, patient satisfaction, cost-effectiveness and provider wellbeing. It leads to misunderstandings, mistakes and stress, getting in the way of being a happy, focused and effective practitioner, team or organization. 

 

This course addresses the communication challenges of healthcare head on, and provides simple and practical tools that can help. We've teamed up with Judy Rees and Steve McCann to teach these valuable skills.

R
egular Price $500 (price assists are available). Register by June 3. Learn more and register.

UpcomingWorkshops

I improved my meetings -- You can too!

Woman smailing broadly and wearing a headset in a Zoom window

Learn about Barb Bickford

Learn about approaches we use 

 

I help leaders who struggle to lead meetings or are frustrated

with the results of their meetings.

 

Through my consulting, I guide groups toward strategic clarity and creative solutions. Through my teaching, I help people collaborate and lead with confidence.

 

Together, we can make your meetings more efficient,

effective, engaging and even fun! 

Bickford Collaboration's logo: a circle of people around two green leaves

As a former staff scientist in the public sector, I saw how

poorly-led meetings led to lackluster results, 

 top-down decisions could be challenged, delayed or sabotaged by people who felt left out, and
fear of conflict kept people from sharing their best ideas.
This created a lot of
unnecessary stress and, frankly,
our results and our health suffered too

What the lack of effective collaboration

is doing to your mission and to you 
just isn't right!

contact

Want to improve your meetings?
Schedule your complimentary conversation

What is (are) the best way(s) for us to reach you?

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