What to do when you’re in the poo – the subtle art of not winging it as facilitator

Being labelled or known as a ‘facilitator’ can be a source of grief…

Now, this may sound really weird coming from someone who’s been using facilitation as the basis of their business for 25+ years, but stick with me on this…

In a previous life employed within a large organisation, I was known as the guy who ‘facilitates’.

And whilst I was passionate about using facilitation to support change, being the facilitator guy had its burdens.

Like during the middle of a team meeting, when things started getting a bit tense and my supervisor turns to me and says, “Andrew, would you mind facilitating this discussion?”

At this point, my evil twin, Andre, was about to emerge and suggest he facilitate his own challenging conversation, but even I thought that could be career-limiting.

I’m not a fan of ‘winging it’ in most things. So this was uncomfortable, with a capital UN!

What would you do in this situation?

For me, it was (i) take a deep breath, (ii) smile (strange how that gets people onside) and (iii) think of a structure I could use.

My ‘friend in a time of need’ structure comes from renowned Canadian facilitation guru, Dorothy Strachan. I’ve been to one of her sessions at an International Association of Facilitators (IAF) conference and she provided the gift of a structure that I’m still using several years on.

That gift?

What-So What-Now What

What-So What-Now What is a simple and powerful structure to facilitate conversations and workshop sessions:

• What – what are the facts, knowns, or data we have about the issue?
• So What – what does this mean to this group, community or organisation?
• Now What – what doable strategies or actions can we put in place to get traction?

Get more strategies and tools

This week, you’ll get the chance to grab more valuable ‘go to’ tools and strategies guaranteed to get you ‘out of the poo’.

Come along to the IAF Oceania interactive online panel session designed to help you to work through increasingly complex operating environments.

You’ll come away with your compass ready and greater confidence through:

• An improved awareness of how complexity is being experienced in a range of contexts
• A shared understanding of how it may impact your clients and yourself
• Tips, ideas or strategies to apply to gain clarity where there’s increasing complexity

Put procrastination on the backburner and register today!

🗓️ 14 May | 5–6:30pm AEST
💬 Breakouts, panel, and Q&A
🎟️ Register now https://zoom.us/meeting/register/bZ2e2dArSUeKYvvvAtr7tA