Page 11 - The ART of Facilitation

Things to Consider When Facilitating
Relationship: Who you are in relationship to the group has far reaching impact – don’t underestimate the impact of your title and history. Are you the team leader facilitating or are you a team member facilitating? Are you seen as the boss? Manager? Coach? Colleague?
In theatre there’s a reason why the stage manager is in the same union as the actors – they are on the same “team” so to speak. It would seem the stage manager would be with management and many years ago they realized that was not a wise choice for the stage manager needed to be “with” the actors.
Who are you in relation to those you are facilitating? How may your relationship and history influence the group?
Insider/Outsider: Facilitation can be internal or external.
Internal facilitation can be directly as a leader or team member, or indirectly as in working for the same company but not part of the team being facilitated. External facilitation is facilitating for a client or group external to your organization.
Each carries with it benefits and burdens and is another key factor of which to be aware.
Culture: You must consider the company or organizational culture as well as the specific culture of the group with whom you are working. What are the elements of spoken and unspoken expectations, values and beliefs? If you are external you may be coming from another culture and bringing with you expecations of behavior and response
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