The 10 best books for successful moderation

Imagine this: You are standing in front of a group, all eyes on you. The workshop begins and suddenly you realize that you need to hold your participants’ attention for the entire duration. It’s about more than just presenting content – it’s about leading the room, stimulating discussion and facilitating creative solutions.

But don’t panic!

There are great books that will introduce you to the art of moderation and give you the techniques you need. Here are the ten best moderation books to help you make every event a success.

The 10 must-read books for moderators:

Visualizing, presenting, moderating – Josef W. Seifert

This book is an all-rounder among moderation works. Seifert offers a variety of methods to help you make presentations clear and moderate teams efficiently. A classic that perfectly combines visual thinking and moderation.

The big workshop book – Lib & Willi

A comprehensive manual for planning and conducting workshops. It provides you with tools for facilitating various workshop formats – from creative brainstorming to conflict-laden discussions.

Moderation tools – Amelie Funke

In her book, Amelie Funke presents a large selection of moderation tools that you can use in a wide variety of settings. Whether it’s a team meeting or large group moderation – you’ll always find the right tool here.

Interruptions – Harald Groß

If your participants’ minds wander, this book offers creative ideas to raise their energy levels again. Harald Groß presents many exercises that will loosen up your workshops and make them more lively. We have also held workshops by Harlad at the Trainers’ Congress and can only warmly recommend it

Seminar games – Gerd Schilling

Learning can also be fun! Gerd Schilling presents a variety of games that help to impart knowledge and activate the group at the same time. Ideal for making dry content more interactive.

Moderation: The Complete Guide – Michael Wilkinson

This comprehensive guide is aimed at anyone who wants to learn facilitation at a professional level. Wilkinson covers all aspects, from the preparation to the follow-up of a meeting.

Facilitation Made Easy – Esther Cameron

Facilitation doesn’t have to be complicated. Cameron offers simple but effective techniques to navigate through any discussion or workshop. A helpful book for beginners and experienced facilitators alike.

Gamestorming – Dave Gray

For creative minds who want to turn their workshops into true idea laboratories. Gamestorming offers games and techniques to promote the innovation process in groups and make it more dynamic.

Moderating for Results – Roger Schwarz

Schwarz focuses on results-oriented moderation. You will learn how to organize meetings efficiently and ensure that they not only inspire but also deliver concrete results.

Do a workshop – Katja Paar

In her book, Katja Paar provides practical tips and instructions for designing successful workshops. Whether for strategy development, team building or innovation processes – this book offers a wealth of methods that you can use flexibly.

Tip:
Experiment with a new method from one of these books in your next workshop. Even a small change in your facilitation can make a big difference and positively influence the course of the entire workshop. Do you have a technique you’ve always wanted to try?

If you want to know how to open a workshop creatively, we recommend this article!

These moderation book recommendations will give you everything you need to get started in the world of moderation. From creative pick-me-ups to results-oriented facilitation techniques, every book on this list has the potential to take you to the next level.

Of course, the most important book in this collection should not be missing: Thriving Workshops and Trainings with Guaranteed Success, which is considered an absolute must-read for every facilitator. And the best thing about it?

You can easily download it by signing up for their newsletter. This book provides the perfect basic reading to take your moderation skills to the next level. So, what are you waiting for? One click and you’re all set!