Dear Reader,

A show of hands: who wants to be a manipulator?

I can confidently say this is a label that none of us would want to own! But the origins of the word manipulation, despite its negative connotations, actually come from the Latin verb ‘manipulare’, which means ‘to handle’.

And as facilitators, we handle all sorts of things! The group, the environment, the dynamics. So, in this context, it would seem that we are manipulators after all. It only drifts into dangerous or negative territory when the handling turns into controlling, impeding any room for emergence and flexibility to arise.

This week, I joined my Leadership through Facilitation colleagues for a conversation that made me consider the meaning of manipulation in both facilitation, and life.

Manipulation is an inevitable, unavoidable part of our job. And as long as we don’t have a hidden agenda that aims to influence the outcome, it is integral to the process. When we have a clear purpose, we manipulate the agenda in a way that guides the group towards this shared purpose. We are the owners of the agenda, but the group are the owners of the results – and that is the clear division of labour.

Then, through our presence, we manipulate the group to trust us, and so naturally, we are influencing the power-dynamics in the room. If we are too dominant, or too insecure, participants will react to it. Therefore, manipulation through an intentional process is key. And finally, we can bring lightness to difficult conversations or decisions through play - another form of manipulation that helps to handle emotions and ease tension.

How do you intentionally use manipulation in your work?

And if you want to join us on the journey, sign up for our Leadership through Facilitation course - we have two last seats available and I’d love to welcome you aboard!

​Click here to reserve your seat.​

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🎙 Meanwhile, on the podcast…

A magician will dig into their toolbox of illusions, with a skilled sleight of hand to conjure up the impossible, to delight their audience. A surgeon might coax a dislocated arm back in place, or manoeuvre a joint under anaesthesia to restore or reduce pain in their patient.

Both are forms of manipulation. The magician’s intention is different to the surgeons, the surgeon’s process different to the magicians, and yet both are manipulating for the greater good.

So how do we define manipulation, and is it always a bad thing? This week’s conversation with Thomas Lahnthaler, Cate Czerwinski, Shamir Joseph and Florentine Versteeg was a juicy one as we dissect the vast topic of facipulation - the role of manipulation in facilitation – its parameters, limitations, opportunities and benefits. There is so much to learn in this episode about the practice of facilitation as a whole, I hope you will join us for the ride!

Find out about:

• Where manipulation and facilitation meet, overlap, and the ethical danger zones to be cautious of when facilitating
• Why manipulation in a facilitation context becomes a causal sequence of: purpose, presence, power, process, participants and play.
• Why practising self-awareness and presence is crucial to be able to navigate the needs of the group, the client, and yourself
• The power we possess as facilitators, and why obtaining consent at the beginning of a workshop is crucial to earning trust
• Why the predefined roles that participants adopt can stifle the process and prevent new perspectives from being explored.

🔖 Click here to download my 1-page summary of the show.​

👀 Click here to watch the unedited interview on Youtube​​

And from Wednesday​

🎧 Click here to listen to the interview​

Train the Skills

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🎙 Where to find me ....

​SessionLab's State of Facilitation Report 2024 just came out and I am proud to be one of the featured experts who was invited to provide some reflections and perspective on the chapter about "Facilitation Practice: What is it like to facilitate in 2023?" And what makes me particularly proud is that my newsletter was voted #3 of facilitation newletters and my podcast was voted #1 - Thank you!

​Click here to read.

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📚 Courses and growth opportunities ....

We have launched the NDB Marketplace for top-quality, live, and cohort-based facilitation courses. All courses result from collaborative efforts between NDB community members, pooling their knowledge and experiences to create a truly enriching learning experience.

We’ve crafted these courses to disseminate the wealth of expertise that has flourished within our community, opening doors for individuals or teams to tap into the potential of facilitation.

​Click here to find out what courses we offer in this first quarter of 2024.

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That's it from my side - I send you warm wishes and a mountain high of gratitude for allowing me space in your inbox. I hope you enjoy the content.

Myriam

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