{"id":11895,"date":"2020-12-03T07:00:11","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T12:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/?p=11895"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:02:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T17:02:48","slug":"powerful-facilitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/powerful-facilitation\/","title":{"rendered":"Powerful Facilitation, Gratitude, and Scrum Guide 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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While an attitude of gratitude promotes more powerful facilitation,<\/strong> you won\u2019t hear the term \u2018happy\u2019 very often in one of our meetings, sessions, or workshops, as the word is both subjective and fuzzy. <\/span><\/h2>\n

Yet a positive attitude, such as an attitude of gratitude, is a leading indicator of powerful facilitation and the opportunity to galvanize consensus.\u00a0 The bottom line is—groups with more gratitude are more likely to agree, and to agree quickly! <\/em><\/strong><\/span>So while an attitude of gratitude extends far beyond powerful facilitation, it seems appropriate, and useful, to provide a quick reflection during this holiday season <\/span>in particular.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gratitude vs. Mandate<\/h3>\n

Of interest are the following trend lines extracted from Google\u2019s Ngram. As the use of the term \u2018mandate\u2019 has increased in recent decades, the use of the term \u2018gratitude\u2019 has decreased. While the relationship is a correlation and not causal, it does indicate that people have less gratitude today than in the past, as frequency of the term “gratitude” (and reference to its positive meaning) has been on the decline.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>

An Attitude of Gratitude Has Been Declining<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Gratitude vs. Facilitation<\/h3>\n

However, there has been a recent uptick in the use of the term ‘gratitude’ since 1990, correlating with an increase in use of the term ‘facilitation.’ Although the use of the term facilitation<\/em>, in a business sense, is relatively new, since we started teaching facilitation there has been a noticeable and positive slope increase in the use of the term ‘gratitude.’ Not coincidentally, we would argue.<\/p>\n

\"Gratitude<\/a>

An Uptick of Gratitude Correlates with Facilitation<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

How Does Gratitude Promote Powerful Facilitation?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

By encouraging your group to be thankful for what they have, rather than dwelling on what they do not have, you\u2019re encouraging them to focus on what they have (eg, skills, strengths, etc.) and on what they can do. People respond to a meaningful challenge, and powerful facilitation will fortify their gratitude for what they have and what they have accomplished.<\/p>\n

You will benefit personally as well. Harvard Medical School reports that…<\/p>\n

“In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps<\/u> people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships<\/u>.” (emphasis is ours)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

People in the United States take so much for granted that our attitude can make outsiders incredulous. Less than one percent of the people on this planet have some money in the bank, a few coins in their purse, a stocked refrigerator at home, the skill to read, at least one parent who remains alive, AND<\/span> the liberty to attend a place of worship of their choosing. Yet rather than gratitude, many Americans take these freedoms and benefits for granted.<\/p>\n

If you exude a sense of gratitude, then your meeting participants will empathize. For powerful facilitation, begin your meeting or workshop by first stressing the gratitude for an opportunity<\/u> to make things better for your business and its stakeholders<\/a>.\u00a0 Most people are not so fortunate. So be glad, not mad.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Let\u2019s Be Thankful \u2014 Where We Are Winning<\/h2>\n

Using a Delphi panel and research method lasting over 15 years, the Millennium Project<\/a>\u00a0identified hundreds of indicators of humanity\u2019s progress or regress. Since you are no doubt exposed to many of the negative factors by reading or listening to the \u201cnews\u201d, consider these following vectors as positive, documented further by the World Future Society. Humanity is experiencing substantial increases with . . .<\/p>\n