Dynamic Facilitation

DYNAMIC FACILITATION

and the 

CHOICE-CREATING PROCESS

taught by Rosa Zubizarretta and Elliot Shuford — in collaboration with Jim Rough and Associates   www.ToBe.net

What is DYNAMIC FACILITATION?

• An approach to facilitation that honors the self-organizing energy of a group.
• A way to facilitate that focuses on helping structure emerge from the inside, instead of imposing structure from the outside.
• A perspective on facilitation that places the unique nature and potential of each individual group at the center of the process.
• A way of facilitating that includes both head and heart, a balance between the person and the problem.

What is the CHOICE-CREATING PROCESS?

• A synthesis of  brainstorming, active listening, dialogue and mind-mapping.
• A non-linear model for collaborative problem-solving.
• A tool that encourages the emergence of a group’s natural
  creativity, energy, appreciation for diversity.

It is not a rational process.  It is rooted in feelings and in group energy. 

The choice-creating process is applicable if you want to:

• uncover REAL needs
• find UNDERLYING causes
• co-create NEW, OUT-OF-THE-BOX solutions
• discover SHARED COMMON ground

ROLE of the FACILITATOR (and its assistants)

• Directs traffic as need 
• Redirecting traffic jams
• Makes sure everyone is heard
• Records contributions to create a group memory
• Keeps time limits

ROLE of PARTICIPANTS

• Speak up, especially if you are holding a different perspective
• Trust that your perspective is valuable, regardless of how far apart it may be from the rest of the group
• Don’t run over the traffic patrol!

5 basic aspects of the CHOICE-CREATING PROCESS

1)  Active listening

• inviting people to expand upon their thoughts and feelings
• letting people know they have been heard
• helping draw out the “gift” in everyone

2)  Creating space for divergence

3) Recording, in a non-linear way, using 4 charts:  

• problems
• solutions
• data
• concerns

4)  Clearing the blocks to creativity

• completing the purge stage
• willingness to let go of control
• willingness to “stand in the unknown”
• helping the group tolerate discomfort (divergence, unknown...)

5)  Bringing the meeting to closure, measures of success include:

• honoring time boundaries
• creating greater trust
• allowing people to voice their real feelings and be heard
• addressing significant issues that are often ignored
• gaining a deeper understanding of the problems facing the group.
• feeling a sense of completion
• a unanimous breakthrough decision with action plans, by who and by when,
  is not possible in every meeting.