Life as a facilitator

The boring, but necessary and at the end rewarding, part of it.

I remember when I invited 20 leading experts into a formal meeting room with chairs, a table and a big screen. 

I started my power point presentation introducing the challenge. Then I asked people to raise their hand if they had some suggestions on how to solve this challenge. 

Some people talked a lot, others didn't say a word. After two hours we were done. No conclusion. No solution. Just more confused.

Back then, I thought I facilitated a brainstorming. Now I realize I didn't. 

Now I realize that facilitation is an art.

A skill you need to acquire. An essential skill for any leader. Leading people through divergence, exploration, convergence and closure.

I learn something new in every workshop I facilitate. I have failed, but also succeeded.

There are three sources I use when planning a workshop. The toolbox from Liberating Structure, the team and workshop tactics from Pip Decks as well as the material from my Agile Team Facilitator Certification (ICP-ATF) from Distilled.

Do you have any facilitation superpowers or secret tricks you'd like to share?