Six Strategies to Facilitate Large Groups with Ease
#1: Start as Soon as Possible
One of the best ways to work with large groups is to start engaging people as early as you can – even before everyone arrives.
The truth is, you’ll likely never know if the entire group is present anyway. So if you’ve got enough people to generate some energy, just begin!
This is where the concept of the unofficial start comes in.
It’s any strategy that gets people involved early. It doesn’t have to be related to the content of your programme – it just has to engage them.
People hate waiting, especially when their time is valuable. So give them something to do right from the get-go.
#2: Use Partners
This is hands-down my go-to strategy for managing large groups.
Whether you’re indoors, outdoors, in a classroom or auditorium, inviting each person to pair up with someone else instantly channels that big group energy into smaller, manageable interactions.
And don’t stress if you’ve got an odd number of participants. Some activities work fine in groups of three. Or better yet – join in yourself!
Not only does this even out the numbers, but it shows your group that if you’re willing to participate, they can too.
#3: Make Sure You Can Be Heard
This might sound obvious, but it’s critical.
Whether you’re using AV equipment or projecting your voice naturally, you must ensure everyone, especially those at the back of the group, can hear you. If people can’t hear you, they’ll check out mentally and disengage from your session.
I often use subtle cues to get their attention: tell a short story, make a casual comment, or simply say something that prompts curiosity.
Once the room starts to quieten and eyes are on you, you’ve got them.
Then you can dive into the purpose of your gathering.
#4: Demonstrate with a Volunteer
While it’s tempting to grab a co-facilitator to help demonstrate an activity, there’s real power in choosing a volunteer from the group instead.
I promise – someone will always, always, always, step up. You don’t even have to explain the activity beforehand.
Just ask for a volunteer, and when someone takes that small risk, you instantly create engagement. If you make them look good during the demo, others will be more willing to volunteer next time.
It’s a great way to boost energy and build trust, even in large groups.
#5: Always Have More
Working with a large group?
Then plan for more.
More props, more time to transition between activities, more co-facilitators if possible, more amplification… and definitely more no-prop games.
Why no-props?
Because they’re fail-proof. You’ll never run out, break something, or misplace anything.
When in doubt, lean on activities that don’t rely on equipment or materials – this way, you’ll always be prepared.
#6: Create Random Pairs or Teams
Remember strategy #2 (partners?)
Here’s the upgrade: make those pairs random.
When people choose their own partners, they tend to stick with their friends. That’s fine, but it doesn’t build new connections.
If you can help them find someone new, especially someone they don’t know well, you’ll generate not just energy, but meaningful interaction.
And interaction leads to trust. And trust is the foundation of any group connection.
Need help randomising pairings?
Check out the Getting Into Pairs and Getting Into Teams sections of our database. You’ll find dozens of creative and simple ways to mix things up, without relying on uneven team captains or awkward group assignments.
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