Simplicity out of complexity

1
Simplicity out of complexity

• Facilitation training

V
2
Purpose of today

• To look at facilitation tools and techniques
• To focus on facilitation of strategic processes
• To mix theory and practice

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Structure

• 9.30 Introductions and objectives
• 9.50 Facilitation ground rules
• 10.30 Exercise 1 brainstorming and mapping
• 11.00 Coffee
• 11.15 Before the workshop
• 12.00 Exercise 2 stakeholder analysis
• 12.30 During the workshop (i) managing the
  process
• 1.00 Lunch
• 1.30 During the workshop (ii) managing the group
• 2.00 Toxic Waste
• 2.45 Games, warm ups, energisers
• 3.00 Exercise 3 barriers and enablers
• 3.45 Coffee
• 4.00 During the workshop (iii) managing yourself
• 4.15 Review key lessons
• 4.30 Close

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Facilitation?

• the art of helping groups achieve high
  performance in their thinking...
• using a flexible range of techniques...
• which are designed to capture the broadest
  possible range of individual contributions...
• and to allow the group to treat all ideas and
  individuals with respect

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Effective facilitators

• ask awkward questions
• challenge conventional thinking
• spot - and highlight - inconsistency
• unpack the portmanteau
• dont accept tired thinking
• lift the group out of its comfort zone
• help the group to own the challenge
• exercise humility

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What does the client want?

• is the principal objective of the workshop to
  achieve
• strategy formulation?
• conflict resolution?
• group learning?
• rehearsal of management decisions?
• something else?
• is the principal output
• a business strategy?
• an action plan?
• a stakeholder strategy?
• innovative approaches?
• a decision?
• consensus?
• something else?

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Rules and roadmaps

• always use a roadmap
• adapt rules (guidelines) to where you are in
  the conversation
• we are not here to decide policy
• we are not here to make decisions
• every idea has a place
• practice active listening
• balance advocacy with enquiry
• yes, and not yes, but
• double negative free zone
• and to desired outcomes

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High
E N G A G E M E N T
E N E R G Y
High
Low
Low
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Keeping to the high ground

• keep everyone involved
• use their language
• vary pace, techniques, group and individual work
• be flexible
• make differences of opinion explicit
• check the energy
• stay confident
• dont close early
• use the right tools for where you are in the
  conversation