I'm a recovering academic who uses her insights from behavioural economics to develop methods that facilitate collaboration. In my weekly newsletter, I share the summary of my latest interview on the "workshops work" podcast along with an application of facilitation as a life and leadership skill.
Finding your style in the spectrum of Facilitation 🌈 | Episode 261 on Unseen Dynamics of Effective Facilitation
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Dear Reader, Last week, I hosted a short workshop with the marvellous Thomas Lahnthaler, and the interest in the subsequent LinkedIn post was amazing - never have I received almost 30,000 impressions and over 360 reactions on a post. I think that we hit a curiosity nerve! We offered a list of facilitation styles and preferences, each on a spectrum between two extreme statements such as: “No structure, no outcome” vs “structure kills creativity” or “The niche facilitator: One method set will do” vs “The agnostic facilitator: I build my own methods.” (See the image below). The beauty of this simple tool is that it allows everyone to reflect on their facilitation style - without the judgment of right or wrong – while uncovering many (hidden) assumptions about what it means to facilitate. Should facilitators be neutral? Should they keep the time? Should they be responsible for the safe space? Should they clarify instructions? The moment we question these assumptions, allowing room for flexibility and the many nuances of facilitation, we carve out the opportunities to create our own signatures! There are 3 main takeaways from this activity I’d like to share with you: (1) There is no right or wrong way to facilitate Facilitation is a spectrum! We all have various reasons for why we facilitate the way we do. When we focus on one method such as Design Thinking or Liberating Structures, we become experts in that field – this doesn’t mean that we are any better or worse than a facilitator who designs their own methods and activities. It is the way in which we show up and hold space for the group that will determine our success - whether we do this as a “German timekeeper” or in a more fluid way without pre-determined time boxes for each activity. (2) We often get caught in assumption traps This is because we either fail to clarify the meaning of specific concepts or words, or we become dogmatic about the ways that we do ‘Facilitation’ without questioning them. One assumption is that Facilitators must be neutral: we may relate neutrality to the content, or to the outcome – but this depends entirely on the context. If we come in as Trainer who facilitates, we don’t want to be content-neutral, and similarly, if we are hired as a Consultant who facilitates, we cannot be neutral towards the outcome! (3) Better awareness means better experiences The more we are aware of the facilitation spectrum and that we have agency on where we place ourselves, the better we will be at holding space for groups and designing experiences that will help them grow. And, the better we will be at communicating our value and way of working to clients. This clarity helps manage expectations and build trust, as stakeholders will understand how you intend to lead the process. In this context, Thomas and I speak a lot about our Facilitation Signatures which are more than just our ‘styles’. Your signature will become visible when you know where you stand on the spectrum and how this enables you to better serve groups. And if you are looking to find clarity within your spectrum or broaden it all together, why don't you join my upcoming course on Foundations of Facilitation? Click here to find out more. 🎙 Meanwhile, on the podcast… An artist’s work lives on well beyond its creation. It goes off into the world, untethered from its creator, awaiting fresh interpretations, reflections and emotions to be bestowed upon it. And I stand by the idea that facilitation is an art form! After all, it is in the post-workshop phase, that our work should also evolve, take root, and when its true impact is felt. And yet, it is always a delicate act to transfer ownership to participants! My guest this week, Tanja Murphy-Ilibasic joins me to navigate this intricate but important dance. She has helped hundreds of multi-national pharmaceuticals, NGOs and CSOs evolve their organizations through elevated performance – crafting learning experiences that live on well beyond the initial success of a workshop. Listen in to episode 261 now! Find out about:
🔖 Click here to download my 1-page summary of the show. 🎧 Click here to listen to the interview Or, watch the unedited interview on Youtube: 🎙️ Podcast PlaylistI started building podcast playlists on Spotify to help you to find the podcasts that will help you in your growth journey. This week, I want to share the list with episodes on How to Build and Grow a Facilitation Business 📚 Courses and growth opportunities It's since Joeri's NeverDoneBefore workshop on "How to Video" that I started recording shorts. Now, he has finally launched his own course so that more of us can learn How to Video!! And to celebrate, he shared a never seen before 78% discount with me and my newsletter list: YouTube style videomaking for solopreneurs, freelancers & creatives - for less than 20 EUR. Learn everything you need to create dynamic, visually stimulating content to engage your audience from the comfort of your home. Are you looking to work on your facilitation skills in a live, online environment, learning from some of the most innovative facilitators globally? Then, check out our Marketplace for Facilitation courses. All courses are live cohort-based (no recordings!) 🦄 Join the Community If you enjoyed the conversation and are missing this kind of reflection and exchange in your life, check out our global online facilitation community NeverDoneBefore - The Research & Development Department for Facilitators. It's a yearly membership programme and we open the doors to a max of 25 new members in April! That's all from my side. I wish you a wonderful week ahead; may it be filled with joy, success, and moments of laughter. Remember, my inbox is always open for your thoughts and feedback. Take care and see you next week! Myriam --------------------- Facilitation Courses - Live, online and cohort-based for various levels of experience. |
How can we facilitate collaboration?
Dr Myriam Hadnes
I'm a recovering academic who uses her insights from behavioural economics to develop methods that facilitate collaboration. In my weekly newsletter, I share the summary of my latest interview on the "workshops work" podcast along with an application of facilitation as a life and leadership skill.
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Dear Reader I'm excited to announce some news from the NDB Academy - discounted offers and free opportunities - that I wouldn't want you to miss! 1️⃣ Leadership through Facilitation Course - Second Cohort Discount! Calling all facilitative leaders in APAC and EMEA time zones! Our second cohort of the Leadership through Facilitation course is now open, and we’re offering an exclusive 15% discount until Friday this week. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your leadership skills...
Dear Reader, Yesterday, I hosted an in-person leadership workshop and the client and the participants had all warned me that they love to speak, have big personalities and egos, and that I will have to be strong and committed if I want to keep them on track. No pressure, then! But to be honest? It turned out to be one of the easiest workshops I have ever hosted, despite the fact that I was on strong painkillers that stopped working two hours before the end. (Yes, I am writing this newsletter...