Nothing Up My Sleeve

Leverage your interests and hobbies to help you grow as a facilitator…

The crowd was getting out of hand; voices were being raised, people talking over one another, and tensions rising.?This was not what I’d expected when I agreed to present. I’d just finished my Six Sigma: Explained without Math at a conference and was having an open discussion with about 40 attendees. Somehow, it’d devolved into a combative discussion about Lean versus Six Sigma.

As it went on, I had a flashback to a sweltering summer day many years ago…

For three July days, I was a street magician while in college.?Magic had long been a hobby of mine, but I’d never been a serious performer. But a friend hired me for Milwaukee’s first Bastille Day festival. I was convinced it would be a train wreck but turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences I’d ever had.

In hindsight, I did so many things wrong; my show was too long, my gear wasn’t organized, and I didn’t know how to draw a crowd. But I also did a lot of things right. My routines were engaging and entertaining, my tricks were easily reset, and it didn’t take me long to figure out how to gather folks to start a show. Most importantly I gained valuable experience in public speaking, pacing, and audience management.

There’s a routine in which I have a volunteer pick a card, and later, I give them a pad and pen and ask them to draw their card.?During one show, a volunteer drew a card that was not the card she’d selected. Her actions ruined the trick.

When I asked her why she drew that particular card and not the one she chose. She told me the card she drew was her lucky card…it was “her card.” Later that night, as the performers gathered after hours, I lamented about the incident.?A colleague, more experienced and wiser, had a different take.

“Anytime a volunteer doesn’t do what you want, you’ve made a mistake.” He explained to me. I argued I was right, she was wrong.?After much discussion, I realized he was right.

As a performer you must give specific instructions (I should have told her “Draw the card you’d selected”) or make things so simple, they can’t mess up. Their actions are a result of a performer’s guidance.

The colleague told me more. There’s much more to audience management.?Such as being aware of your audience: reading them. For example, you don’t pick somebody that’s had a bit too much to drink, or somebody wearing a Hawaiian shirt. Most people wearing Hawaiian shirts want attention, and that’s not the kind of person you want as a volunteer.?Besides volunteers, the audience as a whole must be acknowledged. There’s an old street performer saying: “Make them stop. Make them Stay. Make them Pay.” Meaning to be successful, you have to first get a crowd. You must engage and entertain them. And in the end, you’ll be rewarded with a “Fat Hat” (Buskers often use hats off their head to collect tips after the show. A “Fat Hat” is one full of money.)

Now replace performer with facilitator.

With any improvement event, the first step is getting the right team together. You have to gather the crowd (not always an easy task). Then you have to engage them and get them into the work.?In the end, the reward will be improved processes, reduced waste, and better teams. ?

This all came back to me as I listened to the folks carrying on in the conference room…

Arising from my seat I stood before the group. Projecting my voice, I got their attention (make them stop). I then went over to a flip chart and began capturing the comments and concerns being voiced. By providing structure to the conversation, I regained control while still allowing everyone’s voices to be heard (make them stay). Within 20 minutes we were back on meaningful discussion and even captured some great ideas, helping all that were in the room (make them pay). The skills I learned on the street served me well.

Any hobby or interest can help you facilitate. A colleague does embroidery. Her attention to detail is an asset to any improvement event. A former black belt who worked for me fixed up old cars. I’ve never known a better problem solver. Another colleague trained horses. Her patience and keen insight into behavior is amazingly valuable during events.?

Besides providing a great break to help balance your life, hobbies can also help you build skills that can help with your work. It’s like magic.