Being a Rebel

I entered a brave(r) space in Berlin last week and experimented with the question of 'How to Leverage the Power of a Rebel' by understanding the Rebel Framework during the IAF Europe & Middle East Conference 2023 from 16th to 18th October, 2023.

As part of my learning process, I try to write summaries of sessions for myself . This time I am writing to share it with you all.

#Diagnosis: Discussions with the conference organizers to understand the theme, the expected flow and timings, space dimensions (seating, harvesting tools, space, stationary provided, etc.), demographics, and the number of participants.

#Design: As the topic was inherently brave, a lot of processes were experimented with, and we finally settled on the following:

Divergence through:

• 1-2-4-All (energizer) - https://www.liberatingstructures.com/1-1-2-4-all/

• Troika Consulting (main activity) - https://www.liberatingstructures.com/8-troika-consulting/

• Modified version of 'I used to think but now I think' (through Reflection Cards) - https://www.sessionlab.com/methods/i-used-to-think-but-now-i-think
• Closing Circle

These processes were selected to establish a common understanding of the subject during the energizer and then proceed to leverage on the subject during the main activity. We also took into account factors like language differences, prioritizing conversations over activities, and selecting harvesting methods and tools. We allotted a buffer of 10 to 15 minutes to accommodate any emergent needs of the group. The session began with individual thoughts, went through group harvesting and culminated in individual takeaways.

#Delivery: I reached the venue only half an hour before the session and didn't have time to plan for the space prior to the meeting. Accordingly, had to make some last-minute changes, especially regarding the harvesting of thoughts from participants (a special ask from the organisers). We had to take immediate decisions to facilitate easier and freer-flowing conversations.

Preps: I conducted a dry run with different sets of participants to ensure that the outcomes were met. I also had discussions with two to three different facilitators to gain diverse perspectives on the concept.

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What Worked:

• A clear understanding with the organizers about the theme
• Detailed session design with flexibility for maneuvering
• Letting go of control during the session
• Allowing chaos to occur and deriving cosmos from it
• Belief in the group's wisdom and the learnings about facilitation
• Quick decision making for both space and process
• Forgetting my fear and anxiousness for doing workshop for the first time between International delegates

Learnings:

• Be prepared for last-minute decisions regarding space arrangements or process changes
• The client may request you to close the event 10 minutes before the scheduled end
• Be more mindful and curious for what's emerging during the sessions
• Don't forget to take the group photograph
• No matter how much you prepare, it's never 100 percent
• Be BRAVE and just jump in...

Thank you, Jutta Weimar , Barbara Zuber , Monika Hejduk , and Kurhula Mhlaba , for all the work you did to support facilitators.

Thanks to Arun Vishwanath - CPF, CPC, PCC for helping me crystallize my initial thoughts. Special thanks to Bharti Maru , who acted as a sounding board throughout the journey, and my dry run participants (Guinea pigs ;-)) Lawrence Philbrook, Dir ICA , Patricia Nunis , Nisha Safeer and a few others.

Thank you, International Association of Facilitators (IAF) , for always creating safe spaces for facilitators to grow and experiment with their styles.