Facilitation
Teams & Cooperation
For us, facilitating means accompanying a group on the way to a shared outcome. As facilitators, we design the process so that all participants can engage in the conversation in an appropriate way. In this way, several people can contribute their knowledge, expertise and ideas. Moderating also means having a sense of how much structure (common thread) and how much room for “creative friction” is needed to enable innovation and get to the point at the same time.
Facilitation is effective in a meeting, retreat or conference if there is room for maneuver for the group when working on the topics and a high level of agreement on the result is to be achieved.
The common thread
As facilitators, we shape the process of the discussions. We essentially hold the common thread, allowing participants to fully focus on the content. This requires a stance of neutrality and impartiality (“an external perspective”) as well as the use of tailored conversation management methods. These methods both respect the process and aim to ensure clearly documented outcomes and sustainable decisions.
Such open meetings are often dynamic and lively. New topics, ambiguities or even tensions can arise unexpectedly along the way. Good facilitation helps to identify these and integrate them into the process in such a way that they can be resolved.
Where facilitation is frequently used
Some typical occasions in which facilitation can be very helpful:
- Annual and strategy meetings
- Management meetings
- Team meetings
- To clarify tensions or conflicts
- For processing or implementing complex changes
- Large group events & multi-stakeholder processes (e.g. as part of organizational development)
- Specialist congresses, etc.
Both face-to-face events and virtual or hybrid formats are possible.
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