Facilitating Constructive Contributions
Dealing with Difficult Behaviors, Helping People Share from a Better Place
Welcome
Suzanne FlintLibrary Programs ConsultantCalifornia State Library
TheChangingRoleofLibraries
Librariesareservingascommunityhubs• Librariansoftenaskedtoassumeroleoffacilitator• Mostare“learningbydoing”
Highlevelofinterestin moretrainingtobuildfacilitationskillsTodayis secondoftwowebinarsformoreexperiencedfacilitators(Feb.7topicwasMulti-DimensionalListening)
Exploringcross-cuttingskillsthatservealibrary’sinternalandcommunity-facingpurposes
LeadPresenter
Susan Stuart ClarkFounder & Director of Common Knowledge Group (www.ckgroup.org)
• Community engagement trainer, consultant, researcher• Research Deputy with Kettering Foundation• Board member National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation
(nccd.org) which is leading Libraries Transforming Communities project with ALA• Recently designed and conducted Libraries Lead the Way
community engagement and facilitation skills program
PollQuestions•Question#1 Whichcommonbehaviorinmeetingsdoyoufindmostchallengingasafacilitator?
a) Dominates,won’tshareairtime
b) Rambles;wandersofftopic
c) Negativeabouteverything
d) Silent
e) Other
PollQuestions
•Question#2Whatisyourexperiencefacilitatingdifficultbehaviorsincommunitymeetings?
a) I’mprettycomfortablewithwhatcomesup
b) I’vehadamixofgoodandbadexperiences
c) I’mtoonervoustotry
FacilitatingConstructiveContributions
Shiftingyourperspective
Designingforinclusiveparticipation
Preparingtofacilitate
SupportingthedialogueThen:Q&Aaboutspecificexamples
I
II
III
IV
Whatmanyofusareafraidwillhappen
ShiftYourPerspective
DifficultpeopleDifficultbehavior
ShiftYourPerspective
DifficultpeopleDifficultbehaviorFearfulorfrustratedcontributor
Foundationalpremise:Everyonehassomethingvaluabletocontribute
FeaturedLibrariansEileen Labrador, San Diego Public Library• SupervisingLibrarian,AreaIII• System-wideleadonHarwoodCommunityConversations,SanDiegoSTEMEcosystemandOutoftheShadowsProgram
• Chair,EmergencyOperationsCommittee
Patrick Remer, Contra Costa County Library• SeniorCommunityLibraryManager• FacilitatingcommunityprocessfornewPleasantHillLibrarybuilding• AdvisortoCSL’s EarlyLearningwithFamilies(ELF)InitiativeandTouchpoints inLibrariesCommunityLevelTrainer
Examplesofcollaborativelearning•“Harwood”-stylecommunitymeetings•LibrariesLeadtheWay•Touchpoints trainingsessions•Informalgroupencountersinthelibrary
FacilitatingConstructiveContributions
• Purpose/Framing• StructureMeetingdesign
• Understandingyourrole• Understandingyouraudience
Preparingtofacilitate
•Whatyoudo•Whatthegroupdoes
Supportingthedialogue
“Recipesgiveusconfidence,butwehavetocookwiththeingredientswehave.”PatrickRemer
DesigningforInclusiveParticipation
II
•Purpose/Framing•Structure
ComparingDebateandDialogue
Debate Dialogue
Two Sides Multipleperspectives
Listen toenhanceposition Listentolearn andconnect
Winners andlosers Exchange formutualunderstanding
Stressful;caneasilytrigger reactivity Openspathto newpossibilities
Today’sfocus:Planning&facilitatingGroupgeneratedlearningexperiencethatdevelopssharedunderstandingaboutasituationofcommonconcern
DesigningforConstructiveContributions1– Framingtheconversationasaninclusivedialogue- Setexpectationsthatthepurposeistolearn
- Therearenorightorwronganswers
- Jointlydevelopingasharedunderstandingaboutthesituation
The“Arc”ofaConversation
DesigningforConstructiveContributions2– Structure withmultipleoccasionsandmultipleformatsforsharing- Whenpeoplewalkintheroom- Icebreaker;getpeopletalkingwithafewothersassoonaspossible
- Mixoflargegroupandsmallgroup- Providechancestoreflectandwritesolobeforesharing
- Onsensitivetopics,commentscanbedrawnoutofabox
PreparingtoFacilitate•Yourrole•Youraudience
III
LibrarianServiceversusFacilitation
FamiliarRoles• Enforcerulesofconduct
•Moderatetightlyscheduledprogramming
• Teachaclass
LibrarianServiceversusFacilitation
FamiliarRoles• Enforcerulesofconduct
•Moderatetightlyscheduledprogramming
• Teachaclass
DifferentRole•Createasenseofsharedpurpose•Enlistthewholegroupinthelearningexperience•Encouragecontributionsfromallkindsofparticipants
Beginningfacilitation
Facilitatoras“trafficcontrol”;atthecenterofthegroup
Moreadvancedfacilitation
Facilitatorhelps peopleintheroom engagewitheachother
UnderstandingYourself&YourRoleWhatisyourstartingpoint?•Mindsetofauthenticfacilitation•Vulnerabilityandtransparency•Touchpoints:“Recognizewhatyoubringtotheinteraction.”
UnderstandingYourAudienceBeCuriousAboutYourParticipants• Howmanywillknoweachother?• Willtheybringmorepositiveormorenegativeexperienceswithpastmeetings?• Whatculturalandgenerationalvariablesdoyouanticipate?• Arethererecentdevelopmentstobesensitiveto?
MappingtheParticipantJourney
SupportingtheDialogue
IV
•Whatyoudo•Whatthegroupdoes
SampleConversationGuidelines
• Treateachotherwithrespect• Listentolearn•Helpmakesureeveryonehasachancetoshare•Assumegoodintentions• Yourquestionsarevaluable
Keypractice: Aligninggroupexpectations
•Recognizethatweallbringavarietyofexpectations•Clarifymeetingpurpose;createspaceforpeopletoadjusttheirexpectations•Createearlyopportunitiesforpeopletocontribute•Consistentlymodelinclusion
Keypractice: Navigatinguncertaintytogether
• Encouragepersistentcuriosity• Embracethemessinessoftheprocess• Createopportunitiesforparticipantstosharereactions•Allowthegrouptodrivethemeaning-making
ModelingAuthenticFacilitationSomeonedominates?• Givethemadifferentwaytoshare(e.g.,viaworksheet)• Findoutwhattheyfeelhasnotbeenheardsoitcanbecaptured• Referbacktotheguidelinesandthebenefitsoflearningtogether•Makethechallengetransparent:“WhatI’mstrugglingwithiswantingtohearwhatyouaresharingwhilealsoneedingtohearmultipleperspectivestogettosharedunderstanding”• Ifneeded,suggestaseparateconversationafterthemeetingorhavea“designatedlistener”takethemoutinthehall.
FacilitatingConstructiveContributions
• Purpose/Framing• StructureMeetingdesign
• Understandingyourrole• Understandingyouraudience
Preparingtofacilitate
•Whatyoudo•Whatthegroupdoes
Supportingthedialogue
Question&Answer
V
ResourcesforFacilitators
•RecordingofFeb7webinar:FacilitatingMulti-DimensionalListeningvimeo.com/254771490
•HabitsofMindelf2.library.ca.gov/how/resources.html
•HarwoodPublicInnovationsforCAPublicLibrarieswww.library.ca.gov/services/to-libraries/harwood/
•LibrariesLeadtheWaynorthnetlibs.org/libraries-lead-the-way/
•LibrariesTransformingCommunities-- ALA&NCDD:www.ala.org/ltc-models
ThankYou!
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Create the conditions for learning
Neo-cortex
Calm:Readytolisten,learnandparticipate
Flooded:Angerorfear,fightorflight
Neo-cortex