How do we constructively deal with those most difficult times when things get hairy in groups? Dee and Pam, owners of Great Meetings! Inc., have worked together for over 15 years bringing their facilitation skills and training programs to hundreds of individuals and organizations. Together they have written Great Meetings! Great Results, which has carried their message about the importance of facilitation to thousands. Topics discussed in this one-hour interview with Dee and Pam include:
- Why is conflict so difficult in groups? Aren’t we looking for different points of view when we are facilitating?
- How do you distinguish between a healthy conflict and a non-productive, group damaging situation?
- In your experience, what are the types of conflicts that you see in groups?
- Why are some disagreements more heated than others?
- When two participants start arguing angrily and attacking each other, how can you wade into that situation to both diffuse their anger and redirect their energy to a more positive conversation?
- What about meetings where the participants are set in two deeply divided camps? What can you do to move things forward?
- What specific tools can a facilitator use to help a group work with differences?
- How do you manage a sudden dramatic outburst from one participant that startles the entire group?
- What are some of the inner attitudes and perspectives you embrace as a facilitator to make dealing with conflict easier?
I have facilitated many groups for strategic planning and process improvement over the past twenty years and found this to be very informative. Pam and Dee reinforced techniques I use, but also taught me some better ones. Thanks for an enjoyable learning experience!
–Kathleen Paris, Consultant, Distinguished, Emeritus, Office of Quality Improvement University of Wisconsin-Madison–
Bonuses!
1. Steps for negotiating conflict in a group.
2. Meeting Assessment checklist: Questions to ask during the client interview.
What’s Included
- MP3 recording of interview
- Written notes summarizing the highlights
- Bonuses listed above
About Dee Kelsey. Dee has been facilitating groups since her teenage years. She turned her early interests into more formal work both as a trainer and personnel representative at Hewlett Packard and as a mediator and trainer of mediators for the city of Palo Alto, California. In addition to her work with Great Meetings! Inc, she has been principal of Dee Kelsey and Associates since 1985. She has worked nationally to provide organizational development, facilitation, process consultation, mediation, and training services to hundreds of clients ranging from small work groups to large corporations.
About Pam Plumb. Pam discovered during her years as a City Councilor and Mayor of Portland that effective meeting planning and facilitation made a big difference in meeting outcomes In 1991, she created Pamela Plumb & Associates which serves a wide range of non-profit organizations, businesses and government organizations with process design, facilitation, training and organizational development. She is known internationally for her process work and training in municipal governance.
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