1. Leader As Facilitator: Fostering Participation
Kathleen Osta
Vital Clarity
February 6, 2005

2. Session Objectives To introduce a facilitation tool that you can use:
In any ICC role
In typical work situations
With your family
To generate practical application possibilities
Delete the border and existing text; substitute the text below
Session Objectives:
1. To introduce a facilitation tool that you can use in various settings, including ICC meetings, typical work situations and with your family
2. For participants to be able to generate practical application possibilities after becoming familiar with the method
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3. Focused Conversation Method
An approach to guiding conversations based on the way we:
Take in information
React to that information
Make sense of it
Move to action
Focused Conversation Method
A approach to guiding conversations based on the way our minds and hearts take in information, react to that information, make sense of it and move to action
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4. Keys to Using This Method
Know why you’re having the conversation by designing a:
Rational Aim – what people will know, decide or understand
Experiential Aim – what attitude or mood shift you’d like the group to experience
Change Title to: “Keys to Successfully Using This Method”
Add: Know why you’re having the conversation by designing a:
Rational Aim - Same language
Experiential Aim - What attitude or mood shift you’d like the group to experience
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5. Objective People Take In Life First With Their Senses SENSES
See, Hear, Taste, Feel, Smell
People Take In Life First With Their Senses
I think we can get rid of those arrows and wavy “Senses”
For text, I’d like what is on the faxed postings
I’m fine with using the the images if they can be arranged in a way that works better. Otherwise, it might be simpler to create an image like the one on the faxed posting - tell me what you think.
I don’t know what the person is suppose to represent or what that blue streak is about so I guess it gets lost, too.
Objective
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6. “Auto” Response Occurs— Emotions, Feelings Stir
HEART
Emotions
Memories
Associations
I prefer both the image and the wording from the faxed postings on this one. Scrap this one as is.
Reflective
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7. We Think About What’s Going On; Ideas Form
So now I think…
We Think About What’s Going On; Ideas Form
HEAD
Meaning
Value
Significance
Once again, I prefer the wording and the image on the faxed postings over what’s here.
Interpretive
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8. We Consider Actions, Choices; How To Respond
Resolution
Opinion
Do Something
Choices
Opinions
Solutions
Resolutions
Actions
Bag this and use the text and image from the faxed postings, if possible.
Decisional
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9. ORID Recap Objective Reflective Interpretive Decisional SENSES
People Take In Life First With Their Senses
SENSES
See, Hear, Taste, Feel, Smell
Objective
Reflective
HEART
Emotions Memories Associations
“Auto” Response Occurs— Emotions, Feelings Stir
Interpretive
So now I think…
We Think About What’s Going On; Ideas Form
HEAD
Meaning Value Significance
This is the one that I’d like to have the animation on, with the sequence of each line being more like what I faxed Bruce at work ( ) and using the language from the faxed cards, if possible. Let’s talk about that by phone so you don’t do more than you need to.
You had suggested one row per slide (which would be 4 slides) and then a composite slide like the one above. So this one will come after the 4 new ones, I guess.
I’m unclear about where we would put the last column that has the “What” “Gut” “So What” “Now What” so let’s both think about that.
Decisional
Choices
Opinions
Solutions
Resolutions
Actions
We Consider Actions, Choices; How To Respond
ACTION
Resolution
Opinion
Do Something
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10. Example: Waking Up The alarm clock rings – Objective
You groan and feel tired or, you are alert and feel rested – Reflective
You remember that you have a morning meeting – Interpretive
You get up and get ready for work – Decisional
I’d like to use this example and have it come after the composite slide, wherever that ends up. The clock graphic is fine as is.
I’d like to add text to the Gut line so after “want more sleep - or - you feel rested
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11. A Memorable Shortcut Objective What? Reflective Gut?
Interpretive So What?
Decisional Now What?
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12. Possible Uses Where can you imagine using it?
Reviewing & interpreting results of a survey
Discussing a report by a task force
Debriefing a shared experience or a change
Where can you imagine using it?
I’m not crazy about this graphic at all; will replace this text. An image of people sitting around a table like in a meeting would work but I don’t feel strongly about it.
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13. Tips for Creating Questions
Avoid “yes” or “no” questions
Try questions yourself, consider flow
Invite entire range of perspectives (like & dislike)
Prepare “hip pocket” questions at each level
Keep this slide, I will just change some of the text
1. Same
2. Same (add: and consider the flow)
3. Invite the entire range of perspectives (like/dislike)
Delete the existing 3rd and 4th ones
4. Prepare questions at each level so you’ll have “hip pocket” ones
I may one more but this will do for now
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14. Facilitation Tips Hear from everyone at the Objective-level
Maintain neutrality by withholding your comments
Make questions easy to answer, be ready to paraphrase
Ask open-ended questions
New Title: Tips for Guiding a Conversation
Delete all except the 4th bullet, replace with:
• Hear from everyone in the group using one or two Objective-level questions
• Maintain a neutral role by withholding your comments on the topic
• Make questions easy to answer, be able to paraphrase them
• Ask open-ended questions (same)
• Adopt an affirming style to all responses
• Make silence your friend - it means people are actually thinking!
• Allow varying perspectives co-exist, no need to resolve
I know this is probably too much but for this 1st go ‘round, let’s just put it all in here, if possible
I’d like to use the logo in the right, lower corner but earlier on and at the end. Let’s figure that out together.
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15. More Tips Adopt an affirming style to all responses; use some variety
Make silence your friend—it means people are actually thinking!
Allow varying perspectives to coexist, no need to resolve differences
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16. Small Group Practice Form groups of 10
Identify lucky person who will facilitate a prepared conversation
Take 20 minutes to discuss topic
A volunteer to guide feedback to practice facilitator
Delete the graphic, leave the title, change the bullets to be like all the others. I’ll probably change the text later but let’s leave this in as is.
I wasn’t nuts about the red boxes as bullets so if you have other ideas, I’d like to know what my options are.
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17. Practicing Back Home Always do Rational & Experiential Aims first
Practice in low-risk settings
Brainstorm questions that come to mind, then figure out the level
Schedule practice conversations
Rehearse and time yourself
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18. Resources
The Art of Focused Conversation, Gen. Editor R. Brian Stanfield. 2000, Canadian Institute for Cultural Affairs.
Winning Through Participation, Laura Spencer. 1989, The Institute of Cultural Affairs
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19. Contact Information
Kathleen Osta, Vital Clarity:
Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA)
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