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Master
Facilitator Journal | Issue #0443, May 11, 2010
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| Dear Friends, |
This week's article will be of particular interest to new facilitators
who often doubt themselves and fear stepping out to lead a group.
And, it may also interest those experienced facilitators who may
continue to feel these feelings as well! My colleague and fellow facilitator, Fred Niziol submitted an excellent
perspective he entitles, Facilitateaphobia, about the fear
new facilitators face and what to do about it. Thank you Fred for
this contribution! I look forward to your comments on it.
Do you work with youth or adults in detention? Do you use journaling in your training or coaching? I'm working with a colleague to develop a 12-week journaling program for incarerated youth and adults. I'd like to have our plan reviewed by some trainers or facilitators who have worked with this population and/or who have a background in the use of journaling for personal discovery. If you are interested in learning more, please reply to this email with your interest.
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The Point |
Facilitateaphobia
Embracing
the Fear of Facilitation
for Beginners
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Self-Management Skill |
I’ve trained many facilitators and notice a feeling that appears
in the apprentices somewhere near the end of their formal training. Almost
all of them want to watch experienced facilitators work before they go
off on their own. This in itself is not a bad idea, but then they want
to watch more, and watch some more, and keep watching. At first I didn’t
understand this hesitancy, then one day I had the ”aha.” I call
it: Facilitateaphobia – the fear of being the facilitator.
Strange as it sounds, facilitaeaphobia is a condition that occurs when
the facilitator begins to think about what it is they're doing while they’re
doing it. It’s marked by that little voice in your head asking questions
or sometimes raising self-doubt; things like, “What if they don’t
like me?” or, “What if I miss something?” It also shows
itself in random unrelated thoughts such as, “It’s getting close
to lunch” or “I really like that outfit that Peggy is wearing”.
What triggers facilitaeaphobia?
Facilitateaphobia grows out of not being present to the group (see past
article, “Your
Presence is Your Present to Your Group”) and is aggravated by
being unsure of yourself as facilitator.
If you’re not sure of yourself, you allow facilitaeaphobia to take
hold. If you’re not present to the group you will begin to think
about other things. This “Thinker” (that little voice
in your head when you use all your filters and relate things to past experience,
future possibilities or just random ideas) is not the facilitator’s
friend. It takes away your presence to the group. When you are present,
I say “the Watcher” is at work, you're there and because of
your training and experience, you know what to do without debating
it in your head. When suffering facilitateophobia, you no longer experience
the here and now of the group, but instead you experience what you think
happened – the magic of facilitation is gone.
The "Thinker" vs. the "Watcher"
Here's a little background on the "Thinker” and the "Watcher."
When you know something and are comfortable with your proficiency you
are the "Watcher." Take driving a car for example; it is a very
present focused activity. When you take a trip, first you plan it. You
plan where you are going. You may use a map, a GPS or it may be a familiar
destination. Once planned, you get in the car, put the key in the ignition,
start the car, check for traffic, put it in gear and off you go. During
the trip you speed up, slow down, check your interval, switch lanes and
turn signals off and on, always assessing the situation.
Yet, very rarely do you hear the "Thinker” in your head. If
you do, it’s usually a reminder about maybe a confusing turn. You
acknowledge that thought then move on; this is the "Watcher”
in operation. On the other hand, if you drive using the "Thinker”
you separate yourself from the act of driving and the "Thinker”
starts to put time and attention between you and the act of driving. Soon
while you’re thinking about your destination or the conversation
on the cell phone you don’t notice that the car in front of you is
stopped. If you’re lucky, you only have a close call, but if are
still being the "Thinker” then you may fear that all cars will
stop in front of you. Your proficiency as a driver is diminished. If you
don’t drive, you can adapt this illustration to almost anything you
do.
By now you’ve probably said to yourself, OK Fred this driving lesson
is all well and good, but, what does it have to do with Facilitateaphobia?
Great question Grasshopper (a little U.S. TV trivia!). Read on to find
the answer.
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Application |
How do you avoid Facilitaeaphobia?
- Be competent in the art of facilitation. Become a student of
the facilitator’s craft. Work on your skill set so that you don’t
need to be the Thinker talking to yourself in your head, telling yourself
“if this happens then I’ll do that."
Thoroughly plan and prepare for the session. You will know what
to do or you will know the options to present to the group for them without
the complications that the "Thinker" brings. Fear comes from
memories and possibilities rooted in the "Thinker”. You will
not suffer facilitateophobia. You have no fear of what might happen because
you, as the "Watcher,” are in the here and now and this is where
magic happens.
Be
present and honest with your group. As a beginning facilitator, you
may fear that you'll run across a situation that you haven't experienced
before, didn't prepare, and didn't anticipate. Well guess what, that happens
to all of us. Human dynamics are just too complex to be fully predictable
all of the time. One thing is assured however, by being fully present
and honest about what you know and don't know, you provide the group with
a clear mirror about where they are now. This is the grand gift of the
"watcher." Armed with this perspective in the here and now.
Then you can help them decide what to do next. As a facilitator, you act
as a catalyst for the group's decision-making, you are not the decision-maker!
About the Author: Fred Niziol facilitated for the US Social Security
Administration for 8 years doing IT groups, labor management IBB sessions,
strategic planning and facilitator training. He worked with community
organizations and served as a member of the IAF and the Mid-Atlantic Facilitator
Network (MAFN). He's also a contributing author to The IAF Handbook of
Group Facilitation.
Add Your Comments
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Action |
Do
you suffer from Facilitateaphobia? If so, what can you take away from this
article that will help you deal with it? Please click on the Add Your Comments link above and share your thoughts, stories, and experiences. I'd love to hear from you!
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