Society programs us for quick fixes. There’s the right answer or the right leader somewhere out there just beyond our grasp that will solve the social or economic problem of the day. Our “healthcare” system is a perfect reflection of this mentality now that there’s a pill available to mask the innumerable symptoms that arise [...]
Be a Facilitative Leader
August 22, 2011 By 3 Comments
Many readers have commented to me over the years how facilitation is simply one of many roles they play on their job from time to time. They exercise this role officially when asked to facilitate a meeting, workshop, or retreat. At other times, they may simply be facilitative in the way they show up in the [...]
Facilitation as a Leadership Style
August 15, 2011 By 2 Comments
Facilitation as a style of leadership is rapidly gaining ground. In an environment of rapid change, no single person can see all that is going on and that needs to be done. Command and control styles of leadership under these conditions break down. People on the front lines have the information they need to respond [...]
Is Charismatic Leadership Good for Groups?
August 9, 2011 By 4 Comments
This week’s article, Is Charismatic Leadership Good for Groups?, was inspired by a dialogue with my friend, Lynn Goldhammer, a Lieutenant Commander and Quality Performance Consultant in the Coast Guard. Our discussion got me questioning the value of strong, forceful, and charismatic leadership in the world of facilitation and training. It occurs to me as [...]
12 Acts of Courage to Change Meetings for Good
August 1, 2011 By 2 Comments
Last week I received a fresh shipment of my book, This Meeting Sux. 12 Acts of Courage to Change Meetings for Good. This book answers a call I received several years ago to come to the aid of meeting participants trapped in meetings that aren’t working. In this week’s article, 12 Acts of Courage to [...]
Facilitating Interim Small Groups
July 25, 2011 By 2 Comments
How often have you been invited to be part of a group assembled at a conference, planning session or workshop to explore some small group issue? Often these groups are asked to do their work without an assigned facilitator. How often have you watched groups like this struggle when no one steps in or knows [...]
Fine Points of Sushi Preparation and Consumption
July 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
This week we talk about facilitating challenging “egos” in an article submitted by my friend and colleague, Dr. Eileen Dowse. In Fine Points of Sushi Preparation and Consumption, she reviews the various manifestations of ego, a story of a typical problem ego encounter, and tips for working with big egos in healthy ways. Click here [...]
Success in Needs Assessment Interviews
July 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
How often has a company approached you with absolute certainty about the nature of their problem and what needs to be done to fix it? There is often quite a difference between what people in organizations think they need and what they really need. They’re often too much a part of the dynamic to objectively [...]
Help Participants Participate
July 6, 2011 By 2 Comments
As facilitators and trainers used to participating in groups from the front of the room, we sometimes assume that our participants know what it means to fully participate. This may not be the true. Participants’ good intentions to remain fully involved and engaged may dim as a long workshop or training progresses. One of the [...]
Operating from Center as a Facilitator
June 28, 2011 By 1 Comment
This week’s article, Operating from Center as a Facilitator was submitted by Thomas Crum, one of my favorite teachers and authors on centering and the use of conflict as a constructive catalyst for living an authentic and artful life. Everything we do in life, particularly the challenging discipline of facilitation, is improved when we operate [...]
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