facilitative skills for adaptive leaders

Facilitative Skills for Adaptive Leaders

Agenda• Introduction• Characteristics of Effective Facilitation• Components of Effective Facilitation

– Active Listening– Listening Blocks– Asking Good Questions

• Managing Tension

© 2010 NATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

OBJECTIVESAfter completing this training segment, participantswill be able to:

describe the leader’s responsibility for utilizing facilitative skills within responsibilities of adaptive leadership

determine the importance of utilizing facilitative skills.

identify strategies for facilitating communication. determine strategies for managing tension and

regulating distress

Characteristics of Effective Facilitation in Adaptive Leadership


Qualities of Effective Facilitation• environment allows participants to get to know

and feel comfortable with each other.• all participants are encouraged to actively

contribute their opinions and ideas - no domination of a few voices

• participants are supported in developing their own solutions rather than having solutions fed to them

• discussions are kept on track to achieve the meeting’s purpose.

• the leader steps back when participants begin to “own” the process and start facilitating their own discussions and solutions


Basics for Effective Facilitation• A common focus on the content (purpose).• A common focus on the process (how we will go

about this).• Someone responsible for maintaining an open and

balanced flow of ideas and suggestions among all attendees.

• Someone responsible for keeping attendees’ contributions from being prematurely evaluated or attacked.

source: American Heart Association ‘Get with the Guidelines - tips for facilitating effective discussion’


Sockalingam, S. (2012) adapted from Facilitative Leadership Styles http://www.facilitativeleader.com/frset_fl.htm

Facilitative Skills in Adaptive Leadership

Assumes Knows Seeks Relies On

http://www.facilitativeleader.com/frset_fl.htm

http://www.facilitativeleader.com/frset_fl.htm

Components of Facilitative Skills in Adaptive Leadership


Tips for effectively facilitating discussions

• Understand your audience• Understand group process• Encouraging participation• Managing participation• Helping groups to prioritize• Understanding and moving towards consensus• Resolving differences• Handling distracting behaviorssource: American Heart Association ‘Get with the Guidelines - tips for facilitating effective discussion’


An idealized approach to dialogue and decision-making

source: Kaner, S (2007) Facilitator’s guide to Participatory Decision-Making

DecisionPoint

NewTopic


How communication often works


NewTopic


The Temptation to stay in the comfort zone


NewTopic


Leading through Distress


DecisionPoint

NewTopic

Active Listening


Active Listening Steps• Face the person• Indicate an open posture• Lean towards the sender• Maintain eye• Relax while attending• Minimize internal and external distractions• Keep an open mind• Engage yourselfSockalingam, S. (2010) Effective Communication: Adapted from http://www.taftcollege.edu/lrc/class/assignments/actlisten.html


Becoming an Active Listener

• Pay Attention• Show that you are listening• Provide Feedback• Defer Judgment• Respond Appropriately

Sockalingam, S. (2010) Effective Communication adapted from http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm/


WA I T

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alking?


How We Listen

IN AN 8 HOUR WORKDAY:YOU SPEND ABOUT 4 HOURS LISTENING

YOU HEAR ABOUT 2 HOURS WORTHYOU ACTUALLY LISTEN TO 1 HOURS WORTH

YOU UNDERSTAND 30 MINUTES OF THAT HOURYOU BELIEVE ONLY 15 MINUTES WORTH; AND

YOU REMEMBER JUST UNDER 8 MINUTES WORTH


Listening Blocks• Comparing• Mind Reading• Rehearsing• Filtering• Judging• Daydreaming• Advising• Sparring

• Being Right• Derailing• Placating• Denying• Rationalizing• Nitpicking• Identifying

Sockalingam, S. (2010) Effective Communication. Adapted from: http://EzineArticles.com/356668, and Communicating for Results by People Developing. Com, ChangeMatrix, LLC, NV

http://EzineArticles.com/356668

Asking Good Questions


I have a dilemma…

Source: The Collaboration Lab (2011)


The Power of Questions• What we ask, how we ask it, the spirit with

which we ask, all invite certain responses and discourage others.

• The very act of asking questions influences people. Acts of asking and answering alter experiences and generate experiences.

• Questions have the power to shape meanings and restrict or expand possibilities for action.



Intentional Inquiry

• Is intentional and purposeful• Is born of genuine curiosity.• Causes both the inquirer and the

responder to “ponder.”• Broadens the range and opportunity for

response.• Creates openings rather than closings.



Crafting Intentional Questions• What work do I want this question to do?• What kinds of responses might this question

invite? Restrain?• Is this question likely to stimulate fresh thinking?• Do I have an answer in mind?• Are my own assumptions imbedded in this

question?



Types of questions

• Broadening • Clarifying• Explaining• Exploring

• Challenging• Brainstorming• Consequential



Another dilemma• One person presents a dilemma to the group• One person records the Questions• Remaining people at the table ask questions• Person with dilemma does not answer questions• After a round of questions, person with dilemma

goes through the list of questions and describes the effect of each question.

Source: adapted from The Collaboration Lab (2011)


Reflection: Are you a Facilitative Leader in Adaptive Work?

• Complete the questionnaire of 10 signs• Identify the frequency of each item

• 1 = never• 2 = sometimes• 3 = half the time• 4 = more often than not• 5 = always

• Total the score

facilitative skills for adaptive leaders

Documents

childrens mental health

work facilitative skills

georgetown university4basics

effective discussion

responsibilities of

georgetown universitythe

american heart association

guidelines tips