Live from #IFCHolland- The Facilitator's Top Three

Welcome to the Modern Facilitators Manifesto. In 2018, Gareth and I will reflect on what meaningful facilitation looks like for our ever-evolving world. We have been practicing for some time, building and experimenting with facilitation styles that reflect creativity and co-creation in order to design experiences which are important for any progress, for any group. We will be sharing steps we’ve taken to design and guide meetings, conferences, and strategy (and more) that invite the world into learning how we might communicate with each other differently, so we can do things differently.

We use a dialogue format in this blog because as far as we can tell, it’s the best tool to allow for difference and find emerging themes that can help all of us grow.

Gareth: This blog is coming to you live from the International Fundraising Congress (IFC) which is world’s leading gathering of fundraisers and change makers (insert intro jams)!

Katy: Welcome to Noorwijkherhout! (The crowd goes wild)

Gareth: Thank you. Strange to be meeting up face-to-face in Holland. Normally our paths cross in Asia, but this time round we have swapped tuk tuks for tulips. 1,000 participants and range of session formats like big room events, masterclasses, plenaries, and workshops- that's a lot of facilitating. What are you looking forward to as a facilitator?

Katy: I am always excited about continuing to experiment with how we teach innovation processes like human-centered design in 90 minutes in a way that tries its best to build a bit of depth of skill. One of the sessions I’m delivering is ‘Using Human-centred Design To Amplify Fundraising Strategy’. You really can use HCD in every context and we can't always make room or create time for deep dives. Within a conference schedule it is important to embrace conflicting priorities. As well as the fact that a 90 minute session is just one of five others participants will be going to that day. It's fun to take that all in and make that time as meaningful as possible for those that have gravitated towards the session.

Gareth: Likewise. My session is entitled ‘Is your fundraising strategy prepared for a surprise?’ Essentially attendees bring a fundraising strategy they are working with and together test the viability of that if faced with (for example) unexpected changes in resources available or public perception. Participants will leave with fresh new ideas for their own strategy but they will also get to experience the Liberating Structure ‘Critical Uncertainties’. I love the idea of designing in real time using actual strategies. I’m also excited about creating a space where fundraisers share tactics and techniques and workshop roll out together instead of in competition.

Number two for me is attending some of the facilitation-oriented sessions. There is one on ‘How To Visualise Your Ideas To Better Explain, Share And Understand’ and another on ‘Facilitation: What It Is, What It Can Be Used For And How You Get Really Good At It!’ which both sound like amazing opportunities to geek out.

Katy: I’m excited about being involved in conversations about shifting power in a room full of people who mobilize resources to affect change. The session is called ‘Leadership Forum: Taking The Lead In Transforming Your Organisation’ and I am doing it with Burkhard Gnaring who has done some amazing research on the matter. I’m ready to direct the conversation towards how to break old power structures and how we might allow power to flow.

Gareth: Number three for me is a curiosity around the speakers at the IFC. I’m looking forward to connecting to those that do high-quality work, that aren’t afraid to break rules- but might not identify as ‘facilitators’. I wonder how many of the workshop session speakers see themselves and ‘trainers’ or those delivering plenary sessions that see themselves and ‘motivational speakers’ rather than progressive facilitators. Do fundraisers make for good facilitators in general? Does being a storyteller sit at the other end of the spectrum to letting stories and meaning emerge from a group?

Katy: Number three for me is to be a participant for once! Tomorrow we’re going to a masterclass called ‘Innovation Camp 2018’. It will be fantastic to see innovation through yet another person's lens and build understanding. I love taking on other lenses and new pedagogy. I am also stoked to drink beers with people driving social impact; that's what my heaven would look like- so I HAVE ARRIVED!

Katy and Gareth will be live from #IFCHolland this week. Feel free to follow and join the conversation using the hashtags #IFCHolland #DSILstory #DaretoDesignTogether