What do you do if your leadership abilities are not shining through in a facilitation role?

When reflecting on your performance start with reflecting on the personalities in the room. What is it about them that bring out the best and worst in you? Perhaps they remind you of someone you have had difficulty with before. How does this shape your behaviour now? Leadership is bringing others together so that they create something greater than the sum of their individual efforts. Like the conductor of an orchestra, your role in facilitation is knowing when to encourage quieter voices and give louder voices the space they need to feel heard without dominating. You can't understand your own performance without understanding theirs.

In my experience, what really works is a post audit or reflection asking how meaningful it was for the participants rather than focusing on yourself, since may be the angle that you’re seeing thru isn’t appropriate and focuses too much on your own. Awareness of your subject knowledge, ability to deliver & convey the message and engaging the audience is what really brings your leadership as a facilitator so focusing on these three areas elevates your confidence and conviction. Seek feedback whenever possible and reflect ?? on what could you improve, Make it a continuous process!

Being aware of our own triggers and insecurities helps to read the room. Improvise your tone, words and even your body language based on situations and your own reality. Take a step back and reflect. Be kind to yourself and give yourself that space to adept and grow.

Dr. Tony Prensa emphasizes the importance of deep reflection as an intrinsic part of honing leadership skills within a facilitation context. He believes that true leadership effectiveness is closely tied to an ability to self-assess and evolve continually. "In my experience, leaders must embrace the discomfort of critically examining their own facilitation methods," Dr. Prensa states. He suggests leaders should actively seek and consider participant feedback, scrutinize their methods for initiating and guiding discussions, and assess their clarity and inclusiveness in communication.

Dr. Prensa advocates for a model where self-awareness serves not just as a foundational leadership trait, but as a dynamic, ongoing process that enhances facilitation capabilities

Dr. Tony Prensa emphasizes the indispensable role of ongoing education in mastering facilitation. He advocates for a robust, lifelong commitment to learning, which not only refines facilitation techniques but also elevates leadership capacities. By engaging in a diverse array of educational formats—from immersive workshops to cutting-edge online courses—professionals can absorb invaluable insights from leading experts. Dr. Prensa also recommends the observational study of veteran facilitators, noting that real-world examples serve as a powerful catalyst for personal growth and skill enhancement. This continuous learning journey is crucial for staying relevant and effective in dynamic professional environments.

I would add that working on your mindset as a leader is a continuous process. Embrace a growth mindset and commit to continuous improvement as a facilitator and leader. Reflect on each facilitation session to identify lessons learned and areas for further development, and incorporate feedback and insights into future sessions.

To excel in leadership as a facilitator, it's essential to engage proactively with all participants. Dr. Tony Prensa emphasizes the importance of making everyone feel heard and valued through open-ended questions and attentive listening. By encouraging diverse perspectives and paying attention to non-verbal cues, you create an inclusive environment that empowers meaningful contributions from all participants. This proactive approach not only builds trust but also reflects positively on your leadership skills, fostering a collaborative and enriching discussion experience.

A key enabler of Leadership in Facilitation is Attunement; A skill often underused and at times misunderstood in the facilitation world. Attunement can enables facilitators to understand their participant’s pursuit and challenges. Leadership in facilitation involves engaging with participants to enable them : - Adapt - Apply and - Retain their learning. Attunement is one of the foundation steps for achieving these outcomes.

I find it helpful to make an example of a story that many can relate to ; I simplify the story and draw some examples to relate with others, that way it opens up the engagement as they align themselves through the story.

Often times we "think" our leadership is not showing like it "should" but who defines that?! Key to healthy leadership abilities is our ability to internally reflect, and always practice positive self talk. ?? Growing, learning, reflecting, and adapting is part of it. The time for your leadership to shine through will come when it needs to - so stay ready!

I think we get away from leadership when we take our selves too seriously. We should facilitate like a good neighbor. People always remember how you make them feel. Foster trust….Treat the room like a neighborhood project your working on with your neighbors and watch how the room becomes energetic and your outcomes become outstanding