FacTraits

Namaskar !!

I have been fortunate in my journey as a facilitator to work with, observe & learn from some of the best facilitators around the globe. I think they are the best because they don’t just know or ‘do’ facilitation but they practice ‘being’ one.

While conversing with them or seeing them in action, I have heard them use certain words phrases that tells me about their being. Sharing 3 of those phrases:

PS – The term ‘facilitator’ here refers to ‘content neutral process facilitator’ as per the IAF.

Instead of I WANT YOU TO … a Facilitator uses

MAY I INVITE

I often heard & many times used (and I still do at times) in a training session is .. I WANT YOU TOO. As a facilitator one needs to be non-demanding & certainly non dominating. The phrase that I have seen the facilitators use is ‘May I Invite’….some also use the phrase ‘If I may request’. This truly exemplifies the ‘ask don’t tell’ practice of a facilitator. The benefit of using this phrase as I have seen it is the group doesn’t see it as an order & do it because they feel it is necessary. The buy-in to do the activity /exercise, being involved in the conversations is higher. The group members feel inclusive & safe to share their insights, ideas, moods & feelings. When you ‘invite’, you are giving the participants a stature of importance, giving them the feel of being a creator is what I experienced when I was part of the group & was ‘invited’ to be part of a process.

Instead of IN MY OPINION … a Facilitator uses

WHAT DOES THE GROUP FEEL ABOUT IT…

With cartload of experience behind, it is easy to share your experiences, opinions, views about anything especially in workshop. As trainers, we ought to do that too as we are deemed to be the expert & our opinion matters. Our experience sharing would enrich the group’s learning too. The way a trainer would look at things would give the group a different perspective, a new dipstick to measure. As a process facilitator though, my opinion doesn’t matter. What matters is how I harness the groups reaction, their insights & ideas… & do that in a neutral way. My own views, perspectives, thoughts should not in any way hinder the harvesting of group wisdom. The phrase ‘WHAT DOES THE GROUP FEEL ABOUT IT…’ invites the group to ponder. Wisdom emerges openly. Again here too it is an ask. Besides the above mentioned phrase, I have also heard the facilitators use open ended questions very often.

Instead of SUPERB ANSWER a Facilitator says

THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING

Any validation, individual appreciation or recognition by a facilitator can defeat inclusion, can create an environment of favoritism unknowingly which would in turn hinder the outcomes. I have heard facilitators receive the responses from the group with the same attitude, a benign smile & bowed head with the phrase ‘Thank you for the response’ on their lips. This I have experienced, creates a feeling of an unbiased, neutral environment conducive for group wisdom harvesting.

While they might repeat the above phrase or something similar too, no where do they sound mechanical or disinterested, coz the phrases come from their being in the now, genuine interest in what is emerging from the group while being unattached to the outcome.

The above phrases are not just words. What touched me is deep empathy, superb understanding of human relations, the feeling I experience that they are there .. strong & powerful yet totally humble, present everywhere yet totally invisible. It led me to believe that facilitation is way beyond processes, tools & techniques..

Ganesh Dalvi

IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

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