I regularly get calls and e-mails from people seeking advice on becoming professional facilitators. For the next few weeks, I'll share some thoughts on, and resources for, considering facilitation as a practice area.
First, we'll work through a few misconceptions. Today, I'd like to tackle the one I consider most dangerous--those motivated by their desire to be in front of an audience.
Facilitation is very different from presenting, training, motivational speaking, and most other situations which can put you in front of an organizationally-based group of people. In each of those other situations (I believe it shouldn't really be the case in training, but, in practice, it often is), there is an aspect of "performing"--the chance to be front and center and attempt to "wow" the crowd. There's nothing wrong with this--in fact, it's often essential in the other group-based roles I've mentioned.
Please understand that facilitation is the exception. Facilitation should NEVER be about the facilitator. It is 100% about the group and its outcome. What does this mean, in practice? For starters, you will often be the instrument of raising uncomfortable issues and questions and confronting the group on its behavior and responses. You will NOT be the one to "rescue" the group by taking it out of an anxious situation--far more often, you will be the one to send them into it! It also means that you frequently have to function out of your stylistic comfort zone. As you read a group and understand its primary processing and communication style, you will move to match that style in order to enhance their experience, even if the style is not the most comfortable one for you.
Recently, a client complimented me on the strategic planning session I'd just led for the organization's senior team. Stating that it was a great improvement over their previous strategic planning retreat, he stated: "The facilitator we had last time sang opera to us--it was all about him!"
I can't state it too emphatically. Each of us has a strong need to be loved and affirmed. For the facilitator, constant vigilance is needed to ensure that we're not using the group to meet these needs. Self-awareness, self-vigilance, and a strong accountability system are needed.
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