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DYNAMIC
FACILITATION FOR GROUP TRANSFORMATION
by Tree Bressen Note: The author is a consensus facilitator and facilitation trainer. She took Jim Rough's training in Dynamic Facilitation and wrote an article about the experience. The following is excerpted from that article. . . . Jim's approach to group facilitation is engaging, down to earth, and above all, FUN. If all meetings were as vibrant as these, you wouldn't have any trouble getting people to come. Instead of groans when it was time for the meeting to start, participants would be excited and optimistic. By the end of the week our Eugene group was so jazzed that we started planning "problem jams," times to get together back home and practice Dynamic Facilitation on whatever problems we were facing. Like other effective forms of facilitation, the underlying basis of Jim's approach is hearing people well. There is an emphasis on reflective listening that will be a familiar skill to those who have practiced Co-counseling or Compassionate Communication. As a facilitator you are creating a safe space where all points of view are welcomed. Rather than feeling threatened when a different point of view is expressed, or when conflict arises, the response to disagreement in this type of process is "Oh good!" The basis for that response is a belief in and knowledge of the amazing creativity of humyn beings. Creativity is the other centerpiece of Jim's approach to facilitation. Would you believe my small group of six people came up with over 150 uses for slug slime? The creativity in Dynamic Facilitation, also known as Choice-Creating, goes way beyond traditional brainstorming. This is enabled by being engaged as whole humyn beings, instead of just rational thought generators. When a group feels stuck, emotions such as anger, fear and sadness are usually part of it. Standard business agendas rarely address these underlying emotions. Instead, everyone tiptoes around, hoping they can get through the meeting without setting off the "problem person" or bringing up the old unresolved conflict between two long-time members. Dynamic Facilitation addresses this head-on, by focusing on whatever people have energy to talk about. In this process there are no pre-set agendas; rather, the facilitator follows the energy flow of the group. As one person's expressions set off someone else, the focus soon switches to whoever is now bubbling over with energy. The pace is generally quick and upbeat, with occasional moments of slow-down to make sure someone's heartfelt contribution is clearly heard and honored. If someone expresses anger or fear, that's fine, it takes real vulnerability to expose oneself to a group like that. The facilitator responds by asking follow-up questions to get to the heart of where the person is at. For example, a common question is, "If you were czar, what would you do about that?" This deals directly with the belief many of us have (but usually try to hide) that we are right and if only everyone else would do what we say they would all be better off. By inviting each person to "purge" their thoughts and feelings, a space is opened up for the natural creativity that all humyns have access to. In order to maintain safety for the rest of the participants, the facilitator directs the energy toward herself or himself, immediately stopping any interpersonal attacks practically before they start. The net effect is one of synergy instead of polarization. In addition to vocal reflection back to the participants, Jim's Dynamic Facilitation method makes much use of written reflections. As each person shares their ideas and feelings, the facilitator writes them on blank flip charts at the front of the room in four categories: Problems, Solutions, Data, and Concerns. All four charts are in use simultaneously, with the facilitator sorting each person's statements onto the appropriate charts. . . . Problems are typically action statements, such as: "What system can we have that will get all the necessary work done around here but that everyone will like?" "How can we accomplish world peace?" "How do we decide which summer residents can stay on this winter, when there are more applicants than rooms available?" "How can we create the most loving, supportive community possible?" Note that Problems can be as general or as specific as you like. The Problems that interest Jim most are the ones people think are impossible to solve. While common problem-solving strategies avoid jumping into solutions until everyone agrees that the problem is clearly defined, the Dynamic Facilitation approach says to go where the energy is. "Usually as soon as a problem statement is out there, people's minds naturally jump to solutions," says Jim. "Instead of trying to shut that down, go ahead and get those solutions out there. There won't be space for creativity until people express what they're already holding onto." So the Solutions chart typically lists dozens of potential solutions, and the Problems they are answering keep shifting. This process is anything but orderly and systematic. Instead, it's a lively mix of different kinds of expressions, reflecting the abundant diversity present in groups. . . . Instead of layering an agreement piece by piece, what this method targets is the "Aha!" experience of sudden insight, the collective sigh of excitement that runs through the room when someone says something that strikes a chord. It's this breakthrough experience that is the ultimate goal of Dynamic Facilitation, and it's as likely to come from a new Problem statement which re-frames the issue in a whole different way as it is from a suggested Solution. These breakthrough moments are noted by the facilitator, who collects them for summary at the end of the session, reflecting the new common ground back to the group. There's a rhythm to be discovered between the divergence of a long list of flip chart items and the convergence of a moment of agreement; a facilitator who is skilled in the Choice-Creating method will be able to help a group find a balance that yields transformation. The method is best applied to big problems requiring major breakthroughs, problems that call for the intense creativity it generates. A skilled facilitator will also pay attention to ensuring that the quieter, less assertive members of a group aren't left behind . . . . It's clear to me that there's an important piece here, something that really gets the energy of a group un-stuck and moving again. The training was not only instructive but also wonderfully liberating, and i laughed more in that one week than in the whole month before. . . . |