The Guru of Great Facilitation!

I found it! After decades in adult learning, an aside last week led me to the source of my facilitation techniques!?Stumbling around internet, online libraries, and falling down some rabbit holes (Michelle Pfeiffer? Fiverr?), I finally found Dr J William Pfeiffer,?author of more ?than 90 books on strategy, facilitation and human resource development. Born in 1937, he made an early contribution to adult learning, predating positive psychology and organisational development. ?In 1969, with John ?E?Jones, he published a comprehensive volume called “A Handbook of Structured Experiences for Human Resource Training" (catchy title) and "The Annual Handbook for Group Facilitators" and I have just purchased volume 1 – almost 54 years after it hit the shelves!

In the foreword he states that “users should feel free to duplicate the questionnaires, guides, charts and worksheets that are essential part of the structured experience.” He understood that the key to a successful facilitation was preparation and planning. He knew the work required to look effortless and to be effective, when using experiential techniques. Lecturing just pushes out the information, and PowerPoint hadn't yet been invented, (and it has limited uses in effective learning). Pfeiffer didn’t trademark his techniques, or build a corporate empire, which is probably why his approaches are now pervasive, and why I was a Pfeiffer Follower, without even knowing his name. ?

I am soooooo looking forward to diving into the source material, recognising my facilitation techniques within his volumes, and relaunching his great ideas into a new generation.?

People don't change much - the new authors who claim innovation in this area are often based on the deep thought and experience of those before us - from ancient China and Greece, from first nations, from Californian professors or from Aussie academics in the early1900s who "rediscovered" the importance of people. If we understand the earlier ideas, we can contextualise, update, and make them just a bit better. And, together, we can help a few more people be their best, do their best, and nudge the world in the right direction.

I am intrigued by one of Pfieffer's later books - Shaping Strategic Planning: Frogs, Dragons, Bees, and Turkey Tails.

I am going to track that one down too :-)