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Parking Lot

schedule
Time Frame

5-30 min

groups
Group size

10-40

emoji_people
Facilitation lvl

beginner

window
Comfort zone

safe

This is a classic business tool used to keep meetings and workshops focused on track. During discussions, questions will often emerge that are important but not fully relevant to the focus at the moment. These questions or issues are “parked” on a flipchart, to be addressed and answered later. This practice helps ensure that important questions do not get lost and that the group can stay focused on the most relevant things.

Materials

Coloured Pens/Markers
Flipchart Paper
Masking/Scotch tape

Step 1

At the start of a meeting or workshop explain to the group that we are going to use a “parking lot” to help us to work more effectively.

Write a large “P” at the top of the flipchart paper and tape it to a prominent wall. Explain that whenever a point is raised or questions are asked that don’t directly relate to the subject or session, you will write it on a post-it note, and stick that onto the flipchart paper.

Invite group members to add to the parking lot at any time.

Step 2

Use it throughout the meeting/workshop.

Step 3

As the meeting/workshop comes to a close, ensure that there is time to address the points and questions on the parking lot, with the whole group.

If there are any questions left unanswered make sure that you or a group member follows them up.

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