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The creative process mystifies us. It draws on the subconscious, experience, connections, imagination. We believe it's a profoundly individual experience.

We've been living with information overload from our computers and smartphones for long enough that studies are beginning to draw conclusions that are a bit worrisome.

Up until a few years ago, those of us who are professional facilitators were considered to be a breed apart.

We own our experiences. It has to do with creating authentic interaction by taking responsibility for your own feelings and not blaming others. And making goals that represent your values. And being good stewards of your time.

We've all been in meetings where some people hold forth with gusto and others listen carefully, but say nothing. We suspect that the quiet ones have a lot to contribute, and we wish that the enthusiastic meeting orators would give them some space to speak up.

If solving problems or generating high quality ideas are among your primary meeting goals, which of the many meeting modes available in today’s technological world should you choose to achieve optimal success? Face to face?

Most workers today lead, manage, or collaborate with people they do not see on a regular basis. There are many good business reasons for the everincreasing geographic distribution of organizations: the desire to be close to customers and emerging markets, outsourcing/off-shoring, mergers and acquisitions, business continuity/disaster recovery, the need to access top talent from around the world, and more.

Can webconferences, videoconferences and other virtual meetings really take the place of face-to-face contact? With travel budgets slashed in the wake of recessionary belt-tightening, companies are increasingly turning to technology as a substitute for in-person contact.

Recent media reports have taken corporations to task for holding ‘lavish’ meetings after receiving government bailout money. Fearing negative publicity and facing declining profits, some of these firms, as well as, other companies not receiving government funds, are considering canceling or scaling back their events.

As technology advances and our global economy strains to stabalize, what can leaders do to enhance productivity and improve their organization’s bottom line?