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Facilitation
helps groups work together to define and reach their goals |
Philip Crump, Mediator Ask for information! |
About
Facilitation & Group Processes
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Are you a member of a
group that is currently— Facilitation is a process
in which a neutral party with no stake in the outcome helps a group of people
reach their goals together. It is distinguished from mediation in that it is
often a more open process, includes individuals or groups who have specific
perspectives or interests, and may involve reaching a specific goal or set of
decisions. Usually, facilitation does not elicit the same emotionality as
mediation. Facilitation is a tool to
enable groups to discuss and plan more effectively together. Facilitators
encourage principles of inclusion, shared understanding, full participation,
and shared responsibility. This occurs in the context of meetings, focus
groups or staff team-building sessions. As a facilitator, I help
groups articulate their common issues, set agendas for decision-making and
collaboratively develop appropriate responses. My experience includes
not only goal-directed facilitation for public or private groups, but also
helping Boards redirect their energies through Strategic Planning and
providing intervention to help workgroups get unstuck from unproductive
patterns of internal conflict. These latter processes combine the elicitive
and acknowledging parts of mediation with the group process of facilitation.
Each situation is different and requires a thoroughly conscious approach to
meet the needs of the participants. An approach called Appreciative Inquiry
focuses on what’s working—as opposed to what’s broken—in a group or
organization. The idea is that we can put our limited energy and resources
into moving toward our goal, not just away from what we don’t want. I utilize
this approach to assist groups build strength where there has been weakness,
to value and bring forward the positive experiences, skills and perspectives
of all the group’s members. In the New Mexico First facilitated Town Hall process, I
assist groups of New Mexicans to create plans for the future of our state,
our communities, our children and our economic and social health. The town
halls bring together New Mexicans from many areas of the state and many
backgrounds. The facilitator’s task is quickly to create high-functioning
discussion groups from a diversity of experience and perspective, then help
the groups brainstorm and select ideas to address the major issues for which
the town hall was created. I have been a member of
the Albuquerque Land-Use Facilitation Program
since its beginning in 1998. Developers, planners, citizens, neighbors and
other interested parties come together informally and address issues prior to
regulatory hearings. These meetings are often successful in resolving issues
in ways that are satisfactory to the people involved. “As
always, you and Angelica did a fantastic job! It is a pleasure to work with
the two of you; you keep the discussion focused and efficient. That said, you
also keep the meetings fun and I think that all the neighborhood
representatives leave happy and feeling that they were
heard.”
--Private planner, Albuquerque “Workplace Intervention”
is a term for a flexible process to help groups at work address issues that
prevent them from functioning at their best. In a combination of interviews,
mediation, facilitated meetings and leadership coaching (all tailored to the
specific needs of the client group), issues are sorted and dealt with in a
reasonable time, with measurable results. Philip
Crump, Mediator & Facilitator Please
contact me for free consultation |