Don’t be an Allopathic Facilitator

Often we are called in to facilitate organizational interventions by organizations that are “sick,” meaning that their dysfunction has become so untenable that something simply must be done about it…”Our organization is broken and we need to fix it!” Pressured for a quick fix, we are often challenged to stand by approaches we know to [...]

Know the challenges of leading leaders

Have you ever facilitated a group of facilitators? In my experience, this can be a challenging thing to do. Some of my most frustrating experiences with groups have occurred when working within groups of my peers. In this week’s article, Facilitating Facilitators, I reflect on these experiences and made some observations that may help us [...]

What Are You Projecting?

This past week I had the opportunity to co-facilitate another Journey of Facilitation and Collaboration Workshop in the University of Wisconsin in Madison. As always, it was a pleasure to watch this new group of facilitators unfold as a high-functioning team. While many beautiful insights and opportunities emerged, there is one I want to speak [...]

Planning a Change

This week’s article, Planning a Change comes courtesy of Michael Cardus, founder of Create-Learning.com. When planning for a change you need to be both reflective and purposeful. Michael offers a great model for finding and filling the holes in both professional and personal change initiatives that if missing, could sabatage your efforts. Let us know [...]

Process Paralysis: Don’t Let Your Facilitation Strengths Get in Your Way

As facilitators, we are keenly aware of group process and expert at facilitating it. However, is it possible that there are times when our process-oriented strengths hold us back? In this week’s article, Process Paralysis, we explore how inordinate attention on process might be an impediment to group progress. I realize this article may be [...]

OIVEY, the Lost Secrets of Intervention

This week, I want to keep it light and playful, and as always, practical. Harry Webne-Behrman is a close friend and co-leader of the JOFC workshop in Madison and an expert on conflict resolution. Harry loves trying to teach me Yiddish phrases and loves it even more when I try to use them. Last week [...]

Lessons for a Dictator

Well Survivor did it to me again! Yes, I’m talking about the Survivor TV Series that appears on CBS every Thursday night. Each of the players this season had played the game at least once before and were dubbed either a hero or a villain based on their past performance on the show. The finale [...]

Facilitateaphobia

This week’s article will be of particular interest to new facilitators who often doubt themselves and fear stepping out to lead a group. And, it may also interest those experienced facilitators who may continue to feel these feelings as well! My colleague and fellow facilitator, Fred Niziol submitted an excellent perspective he entitles, Facilitateaphobia, about [...]

Changing Figures of Thought

I’ve often thought that if a picture is worth a thousand words, what is the value of a picture painted in your mind with only a few words? This week we explore the concept of metaphor as a powerful group process tool for facilitators. In Changing Figures of Thought we explore the six steps of [...]

How Do Highly Functional Groups Emerge?

It’s a privilege to witness a group of 24 people move from a disjointed collection of individuals to a high functioning team. Nearly each time we run the JOFC workshop, this is exactly what happens. I want to share with you some of the insights and lessons we’ve gleaned from facilitating groups through this experience [...]

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