Finding Shared Solutions
“We think too small, like the frog at the bottom of the well. He thinks the sky is only as big as the top of the well. If he surfaced, he would have an entirely different view.” (Mao Zedong)
The trick with facilitation is to know the right questions to ask. To have the people and the process and the focus and an intention to get out of the hole in the ground.
My facilitation is about participation of your community, your people. Innovation begins with inquiry. Leadership can come from everywhere. The solutions are sitting in front of you.
Using their knowledge and experience, insight and intuition in solving problems on contested or difficult issues. When it’s easy – you don’t need a facilitator. When it’s not contested and hot – you don’t need someone from outside to help hold a safe space for discussion, to allow a fresh and objective perspective.
But when you are stuck, when there is disagreement and feelings run high – that’s when a facilitated meeting or participatory process can give you some clear air and space for some decent dialogue.
In these solution finding processes – everyone is heard. Really heard. We look at what we want and why, what is blocking this and why, and how we can get a new thing happening.
In a facilitated process we find the tangible and intangible elements in what is happening, what works well – or not – to learn how we can get the best every time. How we can sift, shift and lift. This type of learning is critical to keep up with the pace of the world. Participation of every voice, allows all of the expertise available to contribute, to collaborate. It builds teams. It’s even enjoyable.
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Find a way through complexity and contentious problems
- A briefing to understand what will best serve your objectives
- A venue inspection
- A developed process to deliver direct and collateral results
- The runsheet for the workshop/event
- A key actions/outcomes summary
- Workshops, community meetings, planning events, project review
- Problem-solving when feelings run high and there’s a lot at stake
- Engagement of staff and community on hard issues, in tough places.