I implemented the "yes, and..." experiment into one of our brainstorming meetings and it was a very positive experience all around.

My team members did not realized how many "yes, but..." were eliminated and everyone had to pay close attention to the person speaking so that they could continue with the next idea that started with "yes, and...

The team had more collaborative ideas that pinged of each other and the mood was elevated and sense of teamwork was evident. It really felt different than the usual meeting.

“I highly recommend Cheryl Gould as a learning facilitator. Attending her training sessions over a number of weeks left me re-charged and excited about engaging with my colleagues to make great things happen. When I first found out our organization was going to be involved in facilitated learning, I thought, “I don’t have time for this. I have too much work to do.” After attending a number of her workshops, I told her, “I didn’t not have time for this.” Cheryl was critical to increasing my professional effectiveness. She is an inspired facilitator who, in any given moment, can draw upon the perfect learning model to bring new understanding to teams. She isn’t afraid to dig down deep to get to the root causes of organizational behaviors.  She then helps people uncover new insights and develop new tools for overcoming stumbling blocks. I relish any opportunity to work with her again in the future.”

 Your active facilitation method certainly allowed the ideas to emerge from the people in the room at the workshop. 
Thank you for modeling good behavior for how to "get out of the way" and let ideas emerge. 

Best library workshop I've ever attended.  Interesting, dynamic, and applicable in so many ways to what we do.  Also challenging!  We don't have enough workshops that challenge us to think differently.  Fantastic.   Hope she comes back.

What I found most valuable was the pace, practice and teambulding.  Cheryl was outstanding (but that's why we wanted her).  Tied everything very well to our project.  I even wish the training had been longer!

You did a great job in holding the openspace at the Applied Improvisation Network conference. Your clear explanation and professionally casual nature set just the right tone for it - and it was so smooth.  Just what people wanted.

The debrief at the end was so delicious - people filled with joy, inspiration, and motivation. We could not ask for anything better.

I thought Cheryl Gould did an excellent job.  She had an upbeat, well-paced presentation incorporating lecture with a good listening style.  She got people talking.  Her exercises and handouts were very useful.  The context of "Customer Service" in the Self Check World was a very good broadening element.  Ruth and I will be using this workshop as a further way to expand our work around self service, etc. technologies and transition to the "new library model".

On behalf of the Solano County Library trainers, I wanted to thank you, again, for a superb workshop.  Rarely have I seen so much enthusiasm during a program. Truly heartening is how many individuals have stopped by this week to tell me again how much they liked the training—plus they are talking to their colleagues about the new techniques they were able to try.  People are re-thinking their presentations and their training elements; I am thrilled to have been a part of such an energizing experience.

 

As always, it was a pleasure to work with you.  I look forward to our next opportunity.