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Philip Crump, Mediator |
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 |
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