Thoughts – 2008
21st Century Skill - Highlight 6
Collective Facilitation Skills - Listen to the Thought Pod
“Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.” Anonymous
Designing and facilitating effective meetings is one of your best opportunities to communicate credibly.
A meeting is a daily opportunity to practice credible facilitation and model respect. It is said that meetings are how we communicate in organizational life. The authors of Why Work Sucks will argue that this is not true. I'm beginning to agree with them when I consider how few people will claim that a decent percentage of the meetings they attend are effective. In other words, meetings may be how we communicate, but that does not automatically mean we are communicating well.
A meeting that disrespects attendees will do more harm than good. An agenda in and of itself does not provide respect. An agenda constructed in the light of a particular outcome is respectful of both the time and intelligence of the individual.
Learning the skills of a neutral facilitator is a must for 21st Century Leaders. These skills help lay the foundation for true alignment and collaboration.
The unsung hero of any productive gathering is the skilled facilitator. It is the skills of the facilitator that place her/him in the center of it all and out of the spotlight. It is the applied skill set that engages the confidence required to neutralize an individual into a facilitator role.
Many who have worked with me have heard me say, "It's not about you, it's all about them." This is a principle shared by those who are good at messaging, connecting, and facilitating.