How do you balance providing guidance and allowing initiative?

1 Set clear expectations

Before you start a team project or activity, make sure you communicate the purpose, objectives, roles, and boundaries of the task. This will help your team understand what they need to do, why they need to do it, and how they can work together. You can also ask your team to share their expectations and concerns, and address any potential issues or conflicts. Setting clear expectations will help you avoid micromanaging and give your team some autonomy and flexibility.

2 Ask open-ended questions

Providing guidance and allowing initiative can be done by asking open-ended questions that require more elaboration and reasoning than just a yes or no. For instance, you can inquire into your team's thoughts on possible solutions to a problem, their feelings about feedback, the benefits and challenges of an approach, and how communication and collaboration can be improved. Asking open-ended questions will help your team become more creative, engaged, and take ownership of the task. It will also give you the opportunity to listen to their perspectives, needs, and suggestions while providing constructive feedback and support.

3 Delegate and empower

Another way to balance providing guidance and allowing initiative is to delegate and empower your team members to take on responsibilities and make decisions. Delegating and empowering means giving your team the authority, resources, and trust to complete their tasks without excessive supervision or interference. This will help your team develop their skills, confidence, and motivation, and also free up your time and energy to focus on other aspects of facilitation. However, delegating and empowering does not mean abandoning or neglecting your team. You still need to monitor their progress, offer assistance, and celebrate their achievements.

4 Encourage diversity and inclusion

As a team facilitator, you can foster diversity and inclusion by creating a safe and supportive space for your team to express their views and feelings. Acknowledging and appreciating the contributions and strengths of each team member is essential for promoting a culture of learning and curiosity, where your team can explore new ideas and perspectives. Additionally, it's important to address any biases, stereotypes, or conflicts that may arise in your team. By encouraging diversity and inclusion, you will be able to balance providing guidance and allowing initiative while also fostering a sense of belonging, trust, and collaboration among your team members.

5 Adapt and adjust

Finally, as a team facilitator, you need to be flexible and responsive to the changing needs and situations of your team. You need to adapt and adjust your level and style of guidance and initiative according to the context, the task, and the team. For example, you may need to provide more guidance and direction when your team is facing a new or complex challenge, or when they are struggling or confused. On the other hand, you may need to provide less guidance and more initiative when your team is experienced or confident, or when they are performing well or having fun. You can also ask your team for feedback and suggestions on how you can improve your facilitation and support their learning and growth.

Balancing providing guidance and allowing initiative is not a one-size-fits-all formula, but a dynamic and ongoing process that requires skill, awareness, and communication. By following these tips, you can help your team achieve their goals, while also enhancing their creativity, engagement, and empowerment.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?