| |
What is facilitation, and how can it help my group or organization?
According to the Encarta Dictionary, facilitation is the "process of making something easy or easier." At Beard Avenue we are making it easier for you to use creative and productive group dynamics to reach your objectives and implement the most effective actions possible.
Typically most organizations would seek out a facilitator if meetings…
- Are not reliably leading to solutions
- Are not leading to clear decisions
- Are not getting group "buy in" to decisions
- Lack energy and passion
- Are more heat than light
- Leave people frustrated
- Waste time with blame, past issues, or dominance by only a few people
- Meander or avoid the most important issues
- Plod along toward the “same old same old” conclusions and results
At Beard Avenue we help with all of these issues. But we also go beyond these issues, as described in the answer to the next question.
Do your Creative Facilitation Services give us additional results?
Yes. Besides ensuring that people stay productive and constructive during meetings, we draw on all the creative problem-solving techniques we use in our training and coaching sessions to help you:
- Get unstuck and stay unstuck
- Track down the problem that most needs to be solved (which may not be the one everyone first assumes)
- Build teams
- Boost energy and improve morale
- Shape a vision and practical goals
- Generate a wealth of creative ideas and new solutions
- Discover new opportunities for serving clients and customers
- Get ideas and solutions faster
- Benefit from even your group’s wildest ideas and impractical solutions
- Draw out the talents, expertise, and energy of everyone in the group
How does this work? Do you just come in and start running a meeting?
Each facilitation is unique, though each requires three phases.
- Preparation
Varies with the need. Below are 3 keys to preparation we often use with projects.
Brief interviews (often by phone) or meetings with key individuals to assess group dynamics and dig more deeply into what the real issues are.
Depending on the complexity of the situation we may sit in on one of your regular meetings to observe current dynamics, processes.
Group members may be asked to do fun and engaging creative activities in advance to ensure the most effective use of meeting time
- The Facilitation
As a Creative Facilitation firm, we often lead the group through creativity activities to help open up new ways of participating as well as new ways to generate fresh solutions, ideas, and opportunities.
And at a basic level, as with any experienced facilitators, we will keep everyone on track, constructive, and within time limits.
- Follow-up
We want to make sure this entire effort succeeds. That's why we include a summary report with a specific plan for the next steps for your group to take. We may also include a follow-up facilitation or observation meeting to make sure everyone is still working together as brilliantly as possible.
If we are looking for a new service, process, or product will we have a working concept at the end of the facilitation?
If your primary goal is to have new solutions, you will very likely have a new solution at the end of the session(s). Actually, most groups find themselves looking at many possible new solutions to assess rather than just one, giving them more choices and back-up possibilities.
In any case, you will be:
- Working more effectively
- Experiencing better dynamics
- Moving ahead in a significant way toward your specific goals as defined at the beginning of our work together
Can you tell me why Leonard Lang would be the best choice for us if we are seeking a creative form of facilitation?
Leonard Lang, Ph.D., is an experienced facilitator, trainer, coach, and author. In every one of these roles his mission is the same: To get people unstuck and moving forward creatively, effectively, and energetically toward their vision and goals.
He applies creativity techniques from training and coaching activities to help with his facilitations in ways that are unique—including original, easy-to- apply techniques he has devised that make group work more effective and fun.
As a facilitator, he has worked with all kinds of groups that were experiencing all kinds of group issues, such as:
- Groups seeking new direction, new ideas
- Groups struggling with conflicts between new and long time members
- Groups deciding their direction, identity, and purpose at start-up
- Groups going through communication or interpersonal challenges
Along with facilitating groups, he has taught others how to become more creative and effective facilitators — from physicians at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and United Hospital to professional facilitators from around the world at the yearly conference of the International Association of Facilitators
How can I receive more information about meeting my group’s facilitation or training needs?
|
|
