Firstly, I must declare I don’t really like fishing. I can’t sit still that long. But I have watched enough fishers to know two things: 1) how important technique is to a successful outcome and 2) it takes more skill than it looks.
What I have done, is a lot of group facilitation. And, there are similarities that make a good facilitator resemble the holder of a fishing rod.
Skillful facilitation is important. A good facilitator can build teams, bridge chasms, generate ideas, and achieve outcomes that individuals or groups alone might not be able to achieve.
Facilitation is about guiding the learning process … from the sidelines. Fogarty and Pete (From Staff Room to Classroom: A Guide for Planning and Coaching Professional Development), suggest that there are 3 essential elements to skilled facilitation: the ability to invite participants to engage, to involve them intensively, and to then foster their interpretation of the proceedings. Invite, involve and interpret – sounds easy, right?
There are subtle techniques to facilitation, many of which aren’t evident to participants. Much like a good fisher isn’t just sitting in the boat, a good facilitator isn’t simply walking through an agenda. Here are a few tips:
Firstly, know the audience and use the appropriate tools. Are they deep and complex? Is there potential for rough waters and conflict? Facilitation techniques should reflect the group, the culture, the topic and the context.
Constantly assess progress. If something’s not working, do a refresh. Don’t be afraid to stop, re-group, and change direction if the group isn’t responding. Change the lure; move the boat.
Know when to let the conversation ramble, and when to reel it back in. This is probably the most important rule of facilitation. Most participants hate to follow strictly prescribed rules of engagement. They get frustrated by a leader who cuts them off, terminates conversations based on inflexible timelines, and cuts off a great conversation because it “isn’t on the agenda”. Conversely, they may also let an agenda get away. A good facilitator will know when to intervene, how to steer a discussion, when to let the discussion go, and when to reel it in. This is a valuable skill that supports participant engagement and can result in the creation of new ideas, stimulating and exciting conversations, and team building.
Your tackle box is filled with all the equipment you might need for any situation you might face. Your choice of tools and technique will depend on the group, the setting, the mood, and the knowledge that’s in the room.
Be patient, and steer gently.
May you enjoy a summer of great fishing.
By Melodie Zarzeczny
NFP Governance & Project Management
Visit osborne-group.com for other ideas and opinions from our Principals on a range of topics. Their views are their own and do not necessarily represent The Osborne Group’s perspective. The Osborne Group provides interim executive management, consulting and project support across all sectors and over a broad scope of service areas.
