The Art of Facilitation

The art of facilitation is used to help build consensus and confidence.   The value to any organization should be obvious.   How does this apply?   Consider:

Why Do Managers Use Facilitation? 

To work better, to work smarter, to work faster. 

To get the whole answer

.

To get more people involved.

To get new ideas, wild ideas, great ideas.

To foster understanding, support and follow-through

All these aspects of facilitation help build a more cohesive organization and team.  The power of facilitation done well can be best understood in the maxims:

“The measure of the power of a group decision is if the decision lives through its own implementation, and People support what they help create.”  

 From:http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/facilitation/4122.htm#14

Facilitative Leadership

The Art of Facilitative Leadership: Maximizing Others’ Contributions By Jeffrey Cufaude In The Systems Thinker (Dec 2004/Jan2005) published by Pegasus Communications.

Cufaude notes the “essence of Facilitative Leadership” in six major themes:

• They make connections and help others make meaning.

• Provide direction without controlling it.

• Help balance by managing content and process.

• Invite disclosure and feedback to help surface unacknowledged or invisible beliefs, thoughts and patterns.

• Focus on building the capacity of individuals and groups to accomplish more on their own, now and in the future.

• Operate from a position of restraint.

Cufaude also provides the content for “The Art of Facilitation: How to Enhance Results and Maximize Others' Contributions”, a training course offered through The Center For Association Leadership.

Facilitating Effective Meetings Tips

Effective Meeting Facilitation Tips:

1. Start On Time
2. Use an agenda
3. Introduce new attendees
4. Old business
5. New business
6. Take attendance
7. Use ground rules for member behavior
8. Understand various types of member behavior, for example:

Interrupter – never lets anyone finish

Knitter – role is to not pay attention

Side Talker – constantly discussing other topics with neighbor

Observer – silent one does not speak or become visibly engaged with meeting purpose.

9.  Parliamentary procedure
10. Focus on interests instead of postures to develop consensus.
11. Ask questions
12. Paraphrase
13. Summarize
14. Restate purpose
15. Poll for consensus
16. Parking lot – park issues on flip chart that cannot be resolved or that take too long.
17. Remain neutral as chair
18. Use note taker

More Resources:

Running Effective Meetings

Conducting Effective Meetings For Dummies

Conduct Effective Meetings – Knowledge Solutions

Planning and Facilitating Effective Meetings – US NOAA

Toastmaster’s Meeting Resources

Dialog Guide – US Dept of Ed