Short Courses for Facilitators
Posted by Laura on December 2, 2008
In The Workshop Book: from individual creativity to group action, Brian Stanfield lists a number of “short courses” facilitators can use. A short course is ideally just one sentence that contains the wisdom that the group needs at that moment. Any longer than a sentence, Stanfield warns, and you are venturing into lecture territory rather than facilitating.
Here are some short courses he provides. A facilitator can pull these one sentence zingers out of their hat, gently, when necessary:
1. You do not have to agree with any piece of data. You do need to understand it or try to understand it so that you can authentically dialogue with it.
2. The whole picture is attained through hearing and understanding all the perspectives.
3. There will be conflicts. Many are surface conflicts from not understanding each other’s perspectives and experiences.
4. Use your public voice so that everyone can hear and participate.
(p.139)
Stephen said
This is excellent input. I have heard myself slipping into lecture mode in the past. “One sentence” is a wonderful watchword. To do this successfully I would think you would need to be in step with the group in which you are facilitator (of course) AND you would need a clear view of which “short course” will have the most impact.
In fact it is like that picture of the “trim-tab”, the little rudder that steers the rudder of a big ship, that makes the ship turn.
Here endeth my short course on short-courses.