Getting out of the way
May 1, 2008I was facilitating a meeting earlier this week, and during some reflection time near the closing one of the participants kindly said … “Oh, and I’d like to thank the facilitator who has largely managed to stay out of the way.” “Yes, fantastic!” I thought, “I’ve done my job!”
Now this might seem a little counter-intuitive, after all I was being paid to facilitate the group, what was I thinking by staying out of the way? I was doing this: creating space and letting them get on with it.
the ultimate facilitator will do nothing and remain totally invisible — Harrison Owen
May 6th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Daryl, I totally agree. As a part time facilitator (I am used in house because I am cheap but must do an OK job because I get repeats) I find myself consciously having to stay out of the way even though I can also contribute as a technical expert. But it is about making sure they can get on and achieve the desired intention of the workshop - being less visible