Facilitation
What is facilitation?
Facilitation is the use of a third-party, namely, a facilitator, to help make a group process, such as a meeting or retreat, go more smoothly and be more productive. Facilitation is very similar to mediation, especially my approach to mediation which is mainly facilitative. The main difference is that facilitation does not usually involve an existing conflict to be resolved, but rather differing points of view that need to be reconciled so that the group can move forward together.
When is it appropriate to engage a facilitator?
It can be especially helpful to engage a facilitator in the following situations:
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The topic to be discussed is of great significance to the organization;
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The meeting/retreat will focus on a sensitive topic that may be difficult to discuss;
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It is expected that there will be divergent views among participants on the topic at hand;
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The participants have not worked together before or don’t know each that well;
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The participants will be from different organizations and/or organizational levels;
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There is some negative history between participants;
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There will be many individuals in attendance;
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The leader or senior person of the group wants to participate substantively in the discussion;
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Broad, thoughtful participation by those in attendance is sought; and/or
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It is important to develop and/or strengthen positive relationships between participants.
My approach
My starting point is to ascertain the participant's goals for the meeting and to learn about any relevant organizational background. In light of these goals, I then work with you to plan the meeting. This likely includes a discussion of the issues to be addressed, meeting attendance, structure of the meeting, meeting length, and location. As necessary, I also meet with others from your organization in advance of the meeting to get additional input and background. After this preparatory work has been completed, I facilitate the meeting(s). As facilitator, I typically refrain from engaging in substantive discussion during the session, but rather focus on making sure the flow of communication is appropriate and that your goals for the session are being met. Ideally, my role in the actual meeting quite subtle. Finally, after the meeting, I conduct any post-meeting wrap-up (e.g., typing up meeting minutes, soliciting feedback from participants on how the meeting went).