"For this project, just use enough process to get the job done. And no touchy feely stuff."

These were the instructions given to the team of a dozen facilitators and recorders who helped bring about an extraordinary three-day event to "examine ways to carry on the (Yellowstone) founders’ vision by ensuring the long-term economic and environmental health of the region."

With 125 independent, busy people there was little time for "getting-to-know-you exercises" . However, we did need to build working teams, and quickly get to the next steps - the who, what, where, and when.

The participating architects, who normally work with ad hoc design groups, were accustomed to quickly putting together effective teams. This team worked without a facilitator.

Other teams relied on skilled facilitators to quickly develop an effective working group.

Good preliminary assessment, planning for an outcome, and facilitator training paid off with results - next steps and actions that were carried out.