Behind the Scenes with half full
At half full, llc, we refer to ourselves as “not your average facilitators.” Describing this as our approach during potential client meetings. Using the concept as our North Star when designing and curating client experiences. Living out that mission during our engagements. Hashtagging it on our social media posts!
I have always loved the meaning of “facilitation” since we started the business. And as I have moved through the business journey over the last 19 years, it has become more and more apparent as to “why” it is something I will never let go.
When I first took the business over in 2009, my younger self struggled with clients calling me a consultant or trainer. I often felt like a fraud because after my limited time in the business world, who was I to say anything that was meaningful and that anyone could trust? What experience did I have in their specific industry? I had only been in two professional offices before half full, llc… did I even have enough experience in the workplace to advise?
And that’s when I was reminded … the content or focus area a client wanted to explore — strategic planning, employee trust, superior communication, employee engagement, etc. — was always part of the design, yes, but instead of being so distracted by the WHAT, I needed to keep focusing on what set us apart from the rest … the HOW. Using facilitation as our vehicle to curate custom and trusted experiences that can help teams and individuals move forward and reach their breakthrough moments through THEIR voices and ideas … that’s our jam.
Next January, we turn the page to our 20th year of business. Over the last few months, we’ve been incredibly busy, entering the next phase of our strategic growth imperative and expanding our services, capabilities, and commitment to social impact.
Did you hear? We recently announced our acquisition of Advancing Workplace Excellence (AWE) to our already expanding team. Learn more here!
So I though,t today would be a great time to bring you behind the scenes with half full, llc. To tell you exactly what we mean by “not your average facilitators,” describe how we do it, and share the impact it has on teams…
Okay, What is Facilitation?
Let’s define the word “facilitation” together. At half full, llc we think about facilitation as…
Curating custom, intentional, and creative experiences to guide teams and companies through a series of discussions and activities that inspire individuals to open up, be brave and vulnerable, and reach their breakthrough moments.
For us that means beginning by listening to truly understand. We sit down with potential clients and want to unpack deeply with them things like:
Their vision, mission, and values
Challenges and opportunities currently facing their teams
What they’ve done so far to try to address what’s in front of them
Their WHY for wanting a game-changing team experience
Throughout this process, we’re not focusing too deeply on the topic or content… yet. Instead, we’re envisioning how to design an experience that enables teams to open the door to the hard conversations, arrive at answers together, and leverage their strengths to reach breakthrough moments (more on that here). We keep in mind the goals we need to hit, but we also dream about the goals the potential client doesn’t yet know they want and need to reach.
We believe facilitation incorporates the best that training and consulting offers and creates a two-way experience whereby participants are the heroes, empowered to unearth their own answers, and invited to co-create their experience.
With the HOW — facilitation — as our guiding principle, we then can move on to the WHAT.
Helping Teams Move Forward
There’s no doubt there are a lot of WHATs on the minds of leaders everywhere. Some of the top priority team development areas that we hear from our clients repeatedly is the need to dive deep into topics such as: strengths-based leadership, leading through change, improving communication, infusing DEIB into the fabric of the organization, building team trust, and leading with mindfulness… and that barely touches the surface!
The reality is sweeping macro conditions and an ever-evolving Future of Work landscape require leaders to continually be thinking about effective leadership, approaches, and mindsets. At half full, llc we believe leadership development can look and feel different… especially because of the changing landscape. Rather than being solely focused on checking an L&D box, development programs can be centered around creating safe space for teams to get uncomfortable, leave their comfort zone, and prioritize the “we before me.”
Through our lens of facilitation, we take the WHAT— a company’s area of focus — and we design the HOW… weaving in team building, immersive learning experiences, and tailored approaches to help teams overcome obstacles so they can move forward. With facilitation as our guiding principle (instead of being beholden to content and curriculum), we’re able to be rooted in active listening, reading the room, and remaining adaptable and pivot-ready based on what our clients need in the moment.
So what does it FEEL like to experience “not your average facilitation?” Let’s pull the curtain back!
values-based facilitation in action
At half full, llc, our values guide all that we do — from our service offering design to our facilitation style to our client vetting processes to our hiring strategies, among countless other things. Our core values are the following:
It’s about we
We do not judge or assume
We listen to understand
We are grateful
We give back
That means that what our clients FEEL through facilitation is largely based on our values serving as our compass. Here are some specific examples of how our values might show up in a client engagement.
It’s About We translates to everyone feeling heard by us ensuring all the “Is” participate — whether via individual shares, team exercises, polling, etc.
Not judging or assuming is felt by us remaining neutral and objective during engagements — we don’t take sides!
Listening to understand shows up by us regularly asking open-ended questions to spark deeper dialogue and lead with empathy
We are grateful is experienced by our clients because quite simply we say “thank you” all the time! Thanking people for responses, openness, bravery, and commitment!
We give back by leaving the room better than it was when we entered
Before, during and after our engagements, we want those in the room to have felt that they were heard and seen, inspired to be courageous and vulnerable, and invigorated to take conscious action based on the breakthrough moments we experienced together. OH… and we ensure there is plenty of laughter, humor and creativity through and through!
This is the half full, llc facilitation way. Custom and tailored-built. The HOW before the WHAT. (We also hashtag “facilitating the how!”) A commitment to delivering a “wow” experience. And with values and a “people before professionals” mindset at the core of how we design and how we show up.
You can dive deeper into our approach by visiting our services pages here. Interested in “seeing” facilitation in action? Give us a follow on LinkedIn and Facebook where we regularly pull back the curtain so you can see what “not your average facilitation” looks like!