FACILITATION
Task forces, work groups, and cross-functional teams are a way of life in our complex, rapidly changing public and private environments. Groups of busy people come together, often volunteering their time, to contribute their special expertise to the resolution of difficult issues. Their time is valuable and the facilitator’s role is to assure that it is spent efficiently and effectively with a spirit of personal accomplishment.
In his book "The Skilled Facilitator", Roger Schwarz describes group facilitation as "a process in which a person who is acceptable to all members of the group, substantively neutral, and has no decision making authority intervenes to help improve the way it identifies and solves problems and makes decisions, in order to increase the group’s effectiveness."
To that end,
Roundtable Associates believes that the essential role of a facilitator is to enable a group to focus its skills and energy on the tasks it is charged to carry out. A common understanding of the desired outcome of a project or meeting, owned up-front, is an important element in establishing the scope, boundaries, goals, objectives and priorities of the group.With focus on agreed upon outcomes, the facilitator can design a process and work with the group to identify the issues, clarify the "language", explore the variety of points of view, identify and weigh the alternatives, develop solutions, reach agreement on recommendations and action, design measurements and evaluation mechanisms.
To Roundtable Associates, facilitation has a simple meaning -- doing whatever it takes to make it easy for groups to focus on and accomplish their tasks. This includes:
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Detailed design of meetings and conferences |
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Developing well-paced and focused agendas |
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Managing the flow of meetings |
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Designing group work plans |
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Building a common ground and understanding of issues among participants |
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Fostering effective, open communications and relationships |
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Using effective problem-solving techniques |
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Assuring productive use of time |
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Teaching through example |
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Focusing and refocusing the group or individual energy and/or direction |
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Highlighting areas of agreement |
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Mediating areas of dispute |
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Handling meeting logistics |
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Taking good notes |
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Producing timely and accurate reports |
| Cheerleading and making coffee |
We use a variety of facilitation tools derived from "quality" principles, learning organization, organizational development and other technologies of work. They are employed based on their appropriateness to the situation or intervention. Roundtable Associates is also skilled in the use of Electronic Meeting Support Systems (MeetingKit® and MeetingWorks Connect®) and the Internet. We utilize this electronic technology and others to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of all components of our facilitation work.
Why Do I
Need a Facilitator?
