{"id":8444,"date":"2019-02-07T07:00:23","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T12:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/?p=8444"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:10:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T17:10:47","slug":"facilitative-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitative-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"Facilitative Leadership \u2013 How Novice Facilitators Can Succeed Quickly"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"p1\">Using the principles of <em>facilitative leadership<\/em>, novice facilitators will succeed when they draw a line of sight from the meeting deliverable to the quality of life of the meeting participants.<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">To understand \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/leadership-style\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">facilitative leadership<\/a>,\u201d begin by understanding the two terms: \u2018facilitative\u2019 and \u2018leadership\u2019. For example, the root term for \u2018facilitative\u2019 means \u201cto make easy.\u201d Therefore, the role of a meeting leader primarily relies on making it easier for their people to succeed. Leadership begins with line of sight and knowing where you are going. Assuredly, a leader needs to know the destination and focus on reaching milestones during the journey. For instance, in <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meetings-workshops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">meetings and workshops<\/a>, a leader needs to know what <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-introduction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DONE<\/a> looks like. In other words, they need to know the destination.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Similarly, facilitative leadership demands understanding about . . .<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">How to approach group <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/group-decision-making-styles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">decision-making<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Importance of the <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/holarchy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">holarchy<\/a> (i.e., organizational goal alignment, dependencies, and reciprocities)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The role (of the facilitator) is not as a person, but rather as a temporary position (like a referee)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Skills such as clear speaking, precise questioning, keen observing, and <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/active-listening\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">active listening<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The criticality of being content-neutral; passionate about results, yet <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/guard-against-bias\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">unbiased<\/a> toward content<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">We aspire to develop understanding among our readers about the differences and challenges of becoming a <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/servant-leader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">facilitative leader<\/a>.\u00a0We seek primarily to shift the thinking of our readers from <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitation-best-practices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">facilitation<\/a> (as a noun or a static way of being) to facilitating (as a verb or a dynamic way of doing). Therefore, truly making it easier for meeting participants to make more <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/poor-facilitation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">informed decisions<\/a>. Facilitating creates value because the method encourages speaking with people rather than at them. For that reason, facilitating is about creating an environment that is conducive to productivity and breakthrough. Above all, the <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitator-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">role of the facilitator<\/a> is about stimulating and inspiring people. In other words, facilitating amplifies the DNA of the modern leader.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Consequently, Learn to Overcome Challenges with Meetings<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Facilitative-Leadership-\u2013-How-Even-Novice-Facilitators-Can-Succeed.jpg alignright wp-image-9311 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Facilitative-Leadership-\u2013-How-Even-Novice-Facilitators-Can-Succeed-300x267.jpg\" alt=\"Facilitative Leadership, Novice Facilitators\" width=\"300\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Facilitative-Leadership-\u2013-How-Even-Novice-Facilitators-Can-Succeed-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Facilitative-Leadership-\u2013-How-Even-Novice-Facilitators-Can-Succeed-768x683.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Facilitative-Leadership-\u2013-How-Even-Novice-Facilitators-Can-Succeed-1024x911.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Facilitative-Leadership-\u2013-How-Even-Novice-Facilitators-Can-Succeed.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Avoiding <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitation-dos-donts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">judgment<\/a>, both positive and negative.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Avoiding the first person singular, especially the word<a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/stop-saying-i\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> \u201cI.\u201d<\/a> Therefore, putting the focus on the plurality \u201cyou\u201d or the integral \u201cus.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Being able to clearly articulate the meeting <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-introduction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">purpose, scope, deliverable, and agenda<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Building and using an appropriate meeting design called an <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-preparation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">agenda<\/a>. The agenda represents the method or how the leader will get the team from the introduction to the wrap in a consensual and expeditious manner.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Challenging participants to make their <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/make-thinking-visible\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">thinking visible.<\/a> Understanding that people think about symptoms, not causes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Constantly observing the participants\u2019 body language or using a roll call method to further include online participants.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Having well-built <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/how-to-develop-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">questions<\/a> that avoid vagueness and ambiguity. Understanding that the meeting deliverable (call it \u2018Y\u2019) is a function of many details (call them \u2018X\u2019 for weighty issues and \u2018x\u2019 for the minor points). Therefore, Y is a function of many Xxes. Participants do not need answers. However, they need someone who knows the right questions to ask, and the optimal sequence for those questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Removing <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/remove-distractions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">distractions<\/a> during the meeting, especially electronic leashes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Showing up for meetings <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitation-secret\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">prepared<\/a> and that includes having properly prepared participants so that the meeting can take off running.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Staying conscious about everything above, while carefully administering and adjusting to a method using appropriate tools to get more done faster.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Substance over style, speaking with clarity when required (i.e., aspiring toward<a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/rhetorical-precision\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> rhetorical precision<\/a>). Realizing however that the \u201cfacilitator\u201d role is primarily geared toward listening rather than preaching.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Understanding there is more than one right answer and <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/decision-quality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">decision-making quality<\/a> is sensitive to the conditions under which one solution may or may not be better than an alternative.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Nine Characteristics of the Facilitative Leadership Difference<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Facilitative leadership benefits are best realized for projects and teams where the leader is coordinating competent specialists in complex situations. The best leaders are flexible because both command control and facilitative leadership have their place. Task-focused direction is required for the close oversight of tasks. Structure-focused direction works best when leading teams of experts.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 1309px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Modern Leaders<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><em>Facilitative Leaders<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Are receptive to change<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Focus on <\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/process-improvement-questions\/\">continuous improvement<\/a><\/u><\/em><em> of both results and the method used to obtain them<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Communicate and receive feedback<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Can also structure <\/em><em><u>activities<\/u><\/em><em> to ensure that participants evaluate themselves and each other<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Effective <u><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/collaboration\/\">interpersonal<\/a><\/u> skills<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>More than people savvy, they are group-focused<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Believe that staff work for them<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Work to exceed the expectations of all <\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/stakeholder-analysis\/\">stakeholders<\/a><\/u><\/em><em>, including their staff<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Have meeting management skills<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Can also use groups to build complex deliverables and structure any type of conversation with <\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/collaborate\/\">collaboration<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Involved in directing tasks<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Strive to build collaborative <\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/voting-sucks\/\">decisions<\/a><\/u><\/em><em> based on staff input<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Remain <u><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/raci-chart\/\">accountable<\/a><\/u> for results<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Leads groups whose members are highly skilled and accountable for outcomes<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Value <u><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/science-of-teamwork\/\">teamwork<\/a><\/u> and collaboration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Focus on providing <\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/structured-meetings\/\">structure<\/a><\/u><\/em><em> that supports superior performance<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 444.354156px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Work to meet the expectations of management<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 846.666687px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Operate without status or rank consciousness<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><strong>When to Use Facilitative Leadership<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">We want you to see that facilitative leadership does not apply to all situations but is ideally suited for projects and teams where the leader is coordinating the efforts of subject matter experts. Use facilitative leadership when you have:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">An effort or project requiring breakthrough, <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/creativity-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">creativity<\/a>, and innovation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/smart-dumb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Decisions<\/a> requiring broad support and commitment from stakeholders<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/team-diversity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Diverse<\/a> team members who get evaluated with different performance measurement systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Extremely <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/quantitative-swot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">complex<\/a> or sensitive decisions<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Group members who need to be self-motivated because they are working independently<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Historically <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-conflicts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hostile<\/a> parties or complex bureaucracies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Leaders operating without direct authority over some of the members<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Projects crossing multiple lines of business or departments<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Projects tied to a <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/scope-creep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">critical time<\/a> frame<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Situations calling for leaders to be seen as <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-problems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">neutral<\/a> by all parties<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Strong subject matter experts need to align around new goals or outcomes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Teams communicating across time zones, cultures, and organizational boundaries<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Organizational Benefits of Facilitative Leadership: Improve Quality, Reduce Costs, and Optimize Timing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_2166\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2166\" class=\"wp-image-2166 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/facilitative-leadership-may-improve-quality-reduce-costs-and-optimize-timing-300x254.png\" alt=\"Facilitative Leadership, Novice Facilitators\" width=\"300\" height=\"254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/facilitative-leadership-may-improve-quality-reduce-costs-and-optimize-timing-300x254.png 300w, https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/facilitative-leadership-may-improve-quality-reduce-costs-and-optimize-timing.png 611w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2166\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>Facilitative Leadership Benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Benefits ensue both to the organization and participants. Organizations that deploy skilled facilitators have allocated resources to ensure the success of their meetings.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Ability to test for the quality of the deliverable before the meeting concludes (valuable since the worst deliverable of any meeting is another meeting).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Agendas, approaches, tools, deliverables, and outputs become more repeatable and consistent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Analysts obtain higher quality, more comprehensive information.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/subject-matter-experts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">context<\/a> is carefully managed, teams focus on higher-quality content.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As stakeholders\u2019 ideas are included, meetings become more collaborative and innovative.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Facilitative leadership makes it easier to develop new <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/how-to-build-trust-as-a-meeting-facilitator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">leaders<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Faster results: Facilitated sessions <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/structured-facilitation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">accelerate<\/a> the capture of information, especially if the meeting participants\u00a0arrive knowing the questions and issues that need to be discussed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Fewer omissions\u2014projects accelerate with increased clarity and reduced <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/fud-factor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">uncertainty<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Greater commitment and buy-in from all stakeholders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Higher quality results: groups of people make higher <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/decision-quality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">quality decision<\/a>s than the smartest person in the group. Facilitated sessions encourage the exchange of different points of view enabling the group to identify new options, and it is a proven fact that people or groups with more options at their disposal make higher-quality decisions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Increased return-on-<a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">meeting time<\/a>\u00a0and investment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Modern leaders who have been successful with their existing style accrue additional benefits from the increased flexibility of adapting a facilitative style.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">More coherent <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/guardian-of-change-communications-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">communication<\/a> among workshop participants, project, steering, and dependent teams.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Properly facilitated sessions lead to innovation because multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitation-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">perspectives<\/a> generate a richer (360-degree) understanding.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">When staff is treated as collegial, commitment and <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/better-staff-meetings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">motivation<\/a> increase.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">With assertive <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/structured-meeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">structure<\/a> and facilitation, quality dialogue becomes the focus.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Witness a decline in smart people making <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/smart-dumb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">dumb<\/a> decisions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Six Personal Benefits of Improving Your Facilitative Leadership and <a href=\" https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/how-to-ensure-neutral-facilitation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Meeting Skills<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As you increase your <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitation-best-practices\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">facilitative leadership skills<\/a>, you and your team participants will become more successful. For example, let us consider six substantial areas of success for improving your facilitative leadership and meeting in more detail:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-problems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Consensual Understanding<\/a> and Higher Quality Decisions<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Properly facilitated, participants understand both WHAT is decided and WHY. Since groups are capable of generating more options than the aggregate of individuals, they arrive at higher-quality\u00a0decisions that are capable of <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/holarchy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reconciling<\/a> seemingly contrary points of view.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Flexibility and Breaking through Stalemates and Deadlocks<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/structured-meetings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Structured approaches<\/a> afford a higher degree of flexibility than approaches without structure. With structure and topical flow, meetings can take the \u201cscenic route\u201d because there is a backup plan to provide a respite from the stream-of-consciousness approach taken by <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">unstructured meetings<\/a>. By exploring newly created options and challenging working assumptions, teams can break through their stalemates and deadlocks by rediscovering <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/addicted-to-being-right\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">common ground<\/a> or by <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitate-prioritization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">creating options<\/a> during the meeting that did not walk into the room at the start of the meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Impactful Groups through Improved Working Relationships<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-conflict\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Conflict<\/a> becomes responsibly managed rather than ignored. Complex issues may be addressed face-to-face as they should, rather than through a series of e-mails and innuendo. Proper facilitation will demonstrate the opportunity and method for discovering win-win solutions. Consequently, as stakeholders\u2019 ideas are sought, meeting activity becomes more collaborative and <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitate-innovation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">innovative<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Integral Decision-Making<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Defined as better <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitate-alignment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">alignment<\/a> with organizational <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/smart-measures-and-criteria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">goals and objectives<\/a>. Structured decision-making must appeal to organizational goals and objectives supported by the meeting; typically, the project, program, business unit, and enterprise. Alignment with the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/holarchy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">holarchy<\/a>\u201d perspective ensures that proposed actions are appropriate and supports <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/decision-matrix\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">prioritization<\/a> based on the impact of proposed changes across the entire enterprise. Therefore, effective decision-making reflects the <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-conflict-response\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">integral perspective<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Knowledge Transfer and Increased Organizational Effectiveness<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Learning organizations understand the need and power behind the <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/business-analyst-body-of-knowledge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">transfer of knowledge<\/a> from those who know to those who do not know, but should. Facilitated environments provide the opportunity for challenge, reflection, and <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/meeting-documenter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">documentation<\/a> that underlies shared understanding and amplifies organizational effectiveness. Facilitative leadership also makes it easier to develop new leaders.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Saving Time and Increased Personal Effectiveness<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Session leaders (aka facilitators) will get more done faster. As staff is treated as colleagues, commitment, and motivation increase. By becoming an expert on methods and tools rather than content, they can continue to use tools that generate consistent and repeatable results. Meetings only fail because either the participants do not have the talent, do not have the motivation, or do not know how. The role of the <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/facilitative-leader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">facilitative leader<\/a>\u00a0shows them how.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>______<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Don\u2019t ruin your career by hosting <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/bad-meetings\/\">bad meetings<\/a>. Sign up for a <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">workshop<\/a> or send this to someone who should. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20260106090117\/https:\/\/mgrush.com\/\">MGR<span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">USH<\/span><\/a><\/em> workshops focus on meeting design and practice. Each person practices tools, methods, and activities daily during the week. Therefore, while some call this immersion, we call it the road to building high-value facilitation skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>______<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">With Bookmarks no longer a feature in WordPress, we need to append the following for your benefit and reference<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">20 Prioritization Techniques = <a href=\"https:\/\/foldingburritos.com\/product-prioritization-techniques\/\">https:\/\/foldingburritos.com\/product-prioritization-techniques\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Creativity Techniques = <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mycoted.com\/Category:Creativity_Techniques\">https:\/\/www.mycoted.com\/Category:Creativity_Techniques<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Facilitation Training Calendar = <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training-calendar\/\">https:\/\/mgrush.com\/public-facilitation-training-calendar\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Liberating Structures = <a href=\"http:\/\/www.liberatingstructures.com\/ls-menu\">http:\/\/www.liberatingstructures.com\/ls-menu<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Management Methods = <a href=\"https:\/\/www.valuebasedmanagement.net\/\">https:\/\/www.valuebasedmanagement.net<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Newseum = https:\/\/www.freedomforum.org\/todaysfrontpages\/<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">People Search = <a href=\"https:\/\/pudding.cool\/2019\/05\/people-map\/\">https:\/\/pudding.cool\/2019\/05\/people-map\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Project Gutenberg = http:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/wiki\/Main_Page<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Scrum Events Agendas = <a href=\"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/scrum-facilitation\/\">https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/scrum-facilitation\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Speed test = <a href=\"https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/result\/8715401342\">https:\/\/www.speedtest.net\/result\/8715401342<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Teleconference call = <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DYu_bGbZiiQ\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/DYu_bGbZiiQ<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">The Size of Space = https:\/\/neal.fun\/size-of-space\/<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Thiagi\/ 400 ready-to-use training games = <a href=\"http:\/\/thiagi.net\/archive\/www\/games.html\">http:\/\/thiagi.net\/archive\/www\/games.html<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Visualization methods = <a href=\"http:\/\/www.visual-literacy.org\/periodic_table\/periodic_table.html\">http:\/\/www.visual-literacy.org\/periodic_table\/periodic_table.html#<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Walking Gorilla = <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vJG698U2Mvo\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/vJG698U2Mvo<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Using the principles of facilitative leadership, novice facilitators will succeed when they draw a line of sight from the meeting deliverable to the quality of life of the meeting participants. To understand \u201cfacilitative leadership,\u201d begin by understanding the two terms: \u2018facilitative\u2019 and \u2018leadership\u2019. For example, the root term for \u2018facilitative\u2019 means \u201cto make easy.\u201d Therefore, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2516,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[453185969,453185952,453185951,453185953,55884429],"tags":[13502,103515,9212055,453192574,453192456,453192573,453190972,453192218],"class_list":["post-8444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communication-skills","category-facilitation-skills","category-leadership-skills","category-managing-conflict","category-meeting-support","tag-agenda","tag-bias","tag-facilitative-leadership","tag-facilitative-leadership-benefits","tag-meeting-conflict","tag-meeting-skills","tag-novice-facilitators","tag-preparation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 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