Ignite: Fueling
Organizational Excellence
Spring 2026 Resources
Select Ignite sessions from the spring of 2026 were recorded. Those recordings—and additional resources where applicable—are available below.
Designing Meetings that Matter
February 19 | 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Presented by Sarah Schlosser, organizational and leadership development program manager, Division of Extension
Content level: introductory
This interactive session helped participants design meetings that are purposeful, engaging, and outcome driven. Participants learned how to determine whether a meeting is truly necessary, identify the right participants, and clarify their purpose while crafting strategies that align with their desired results. Together, they explored group dynamics and introduce practical frameworks to guide their planning, including the TOP Model for structuring meetings, Tuckman’s stages for understanding group development, and the Diamond of Participatory Decision-Making for navigating discussion flow. By the end of the session, participants left with actionable strategies to engage participants, respect their time, and ensure their meetings deliver meaningful outcomes.
Session RecordingLeading with the Brain in Mind: Managing Emotional Energy in Meetings
March 11 | 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Presented by Kelvin Alfaro, internal consultant, Office of Strategic Consulting
Content level: introductory to intermediate
Even the most well-designed meetings can derail when emotions rise, power dynamics surface, or participants disengage. Great facilitation requires more than managing an agenda; it requires actively managing the emotional energy of the group. Drawing from the NeuroLeadership Institute’s SCARF model (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness) and the Organizational Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC) frameworks, this session explored how to create psychologically safe, adaptive spaces for better group collaboration and decision-making.
Session RecordingFacilitating Group Decision-Making
April 28 | 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Presented by Elizabeth Fadell, senior internal consultant, Office of Strategic Consulting
Content level: introductory
Effective decisions don’t just happen—they require structure, clarity, and inclusion. In this interactive session, participants explored practical models and techniques for guiding group decisions, including strategies for building group consensus. We shared a framework for defining roles, clarifying responsibilities, and engaging multiple perspectives. By learning how to create transparent and inclusive processes, participants were able to help their group make better decisions—ones that build trust and strengthen collaboration.
Session RecordingFrom Conflict to Connection: Turning Team Struggle into Strength
May 14 | 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Presented by Binnu Palta Hill, internal consultant, Office of Strategic Consulting
Content level: introductory to intermediate
Conflict often triggers discomfort and avoidance, but what if it could become a catalyst for trust and growth? In this session, participants learned to spot signs that tension is building and gained insight into their own conflict style. The session explored a practical framework for viewing conflict as a vital component of trust, and participants left with actionable tools for de-escalating conflict when tension arises.
Session Recording