Bug Spray To Sticky Notes

Learning to Lead by Letting Others Lead

Ever wondered how someone ends up as a professional facilitator? It’s rarely a childhood dream. But the winding road that brings us here is often full of learning, pivots, and the pursuit of more meaningful collaboration. It’s a running joke within the community. Most of us stumbled upon this profession by accident, perhaps sensing that there had to be a better way for people to work and learn together. And discovering a passion and a potential career in solving that problem. Every so often, I receive a message asking how I found my way into facilitation. And like many others, my path wasn’t a straight line; it was more of a winding, adventurous trail. Perhaps my story will offer some insights for those of you just starting or curious about the journey.

Starting Without a Map

The world after college felt vast and directionless. My initial career strategy was simple: try different professions until one truly resonated. This feeling was amplified by a couple of uninspiring internships that made it clear I needed more than just a paycheck; I wanted to be the guy who could see the big picture and help others see it too.

Learning Through Adventure

Fate intervened in the form of a college friend who gave me a strong recommendation for a role at a student travel company. This marked the beginning of my deep dive into the world of experiential education, a cornerstone of my career journey for the next decade. I spent those years crafting and leading global travel experiences for students across the Americas, helping groups of young individuals and their teachers broaden their horizons and work in teams.

At first, I was drawn to the idea of getting paid to explore. But as I matured in the role, I fell deeply in love with the art of experiential learning, the subtle dance of making the learning process not just educational but truly impactful. The benefits of this approach are profound and well-documented: improved knowledge retention through active, relevant group activities; the development of crucial soft skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership; enhanced motivation and emotional engagement; the crucial bridge between theory and real-world practice; a safe space for experimentation and learning from mistakes; and ultimately, increased self-efficacy and empowerment. 

I loved trying to make our programs feel as effortless as possible, meticulously noting needs that arose during one experience and then addressing them in the design of the next. Before I knew it, I had worked all over the Americas, contributing to the growth and development of hundreds of students, teachers, and adventurers.

The work felt incredibly rewarding. I tell people I’d probably still be doing it if I hadn’t hit a ceiling as an employee. So much so that I made several passionate but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to launch my own programs. When those ventures didn’t pan out, I felt adrift, the prospect of starting a less exciting career loomed.

Discovering Design Thinking

Then, in 2015, a new horizon appeared: Design Thinking. A friend in Bogota invited me to help implement a program teaching students the fundamental principles of Human-Centered Design. This was a revelation. I was immediately struck by the powerful impact this seemingly simple problem-solving approach could have on teams. And then, I discovered that companies worldwide were actively seeking individuals to integrate Design Thinking methodologies into their business processes.

Finally, I knew my next move. I had found a more practical approach to helping people learn, and solve problems. In 2016, despite lacking a formal background in design or technology and with only one short project under my belt, I dove headfirst into the world of Design Thinking.

There was a steep learning curve! It felt overwhelming at times. I immersed myself in problem framing, various research methodologies, prototyping, and the crucial balance between convergent and divergent thinking, among a myriad of other topics. And, of course, the ever-present question loomed: how long would it take to start earning a living?

Facilitation as a Craft

With the cost and time commitment of a Master’s degree feeling prohibitive, and a strong belief in my natural ability to bring people together for social learning, I opted for an entrepreneurial approach. Alongside devouring the essential books, listening to insightful podcasts, and actively participating in online forums, I recognized the vital importance of building genuine relationships with established design leaders in the industry. This led me to start a Design Thinking meetup in my new home of Salt Lake City, Utah. At each gathering, anywhere from five to fifty people would come together to apply Design Thinking principles to tackle a real-world public challenge. Over four remarkable years, I hosted eighty of these Design Thinking meetups.

During this period of intense self-learning, I stumbled upon Jake Knapp’s work, “Sprint.” In this book, he brilliantly breaks down the often-intimidating innovation workshop into an accessible recipe, clearly defining the roles of each participant. I believe that was the first time the role of a facilitator truly crystallized for me.“Facilitation wasn’t just a skill—it was a mindset. A way of holding space, of helping people find their own way forward.” And then, seemingly out of the blue, I was offered the opportunity to facilitate Design Sprints at a local company!

It was exhilarating! The process felt remarkably similar to crafting those student travel experiences; I could focus on the process, ensuring everyone was engaged and learning together. I was hooked!

Finding My Facilitation Community

So the question remained: how could I create more opportunities to facilitate? Having now glimpsed the joy of professional facilitation and becoming aware of even more methodologies and skills, I felt a new wave of overwhelm. Even having already successfully led corporate innovation sessions, I knew it was time to stop going it alone and build confidence with like-minded people on a similar path.

My first step was to attend the Design Sprint Conference, where I experienced my first workshop facilitation training. It was there that I had the opportunity to connect with many inspiring individuals, one of whom was Douglas Ferguson, the President of Voltage Control. He was doing the very work I aspired to do, full-time and with evident passion.

One of the persistent challenges for facilitators is finding consistent opportunities to practice. Reading about facilitation techniques can only take you so far; practical, real-world experience is essential. Douglas, recognizing this need, hosted a weekly online community of practice session called Facilitation Lab. I became a regular participant, forging friendships within the community and actively sharing my learning journey on LinkedIn.

Perhaps recognizing my commitment and enthusiasm, Douglas extended an invitation to work as an assistant during his workshops. This was an incredible opportunity to become more comfortable navigating client relationships and new processes without all the stress. 

It also made me want to do what he was doing even more. It created an urgency within me to level up my own game faster. I needed a program to help me get there. And the Voltage Control’s Facilitation Certification was just what I needed to do it. 

Saying Yes to the Certification

Not to say there weren’t some initial hesitations about the Facilitation Certification. Since its 3 months, time commitment was a significant concern; juggling my existing work, passion projects, friends, and yoga obsession already felt like a tightrope walk. Additionally, because the certification program was intentionally method-agnostic, I worried it would be too theoretical. 

My doubts were quickly assuaged during the admissions call for the Voltage Control Facilitation Certification. This wasn’t a generic sales pitch; it felt like a tailored consultation. The team, with whom I already had a relationship, took the time to better understand my aspirations and challenges. They thoughtfully mapped out specific aspects of the program that would have the most significant impact on my individual growth and how to use the capstone portfolio presentation to fulfill the individual outcome I wanted. 

Deciding to finally enroll felt fantastic. I couldn’t wait to carve out time to work deeply on my goals. But the surprises didn’t end there, I was invited to be a Teaching Assistant (TA) for the program! I was genuinely thrilled.

Growth Through Practice and Community

Stepping into the role of TA brought with it a fresh set of challenges. Initially, I wrestled with self-doubt. Would I be knowledgeable enough? Could I effectively support other learners? However, these insecurities were overcome by the supportive environment of the cohort. The other participants were not only learners but invaluable allies. We were all navigating a learning journey together, sharing our experiences, offering encouragement, and celebrating each other’s progress. 

This cohort-based learning model proved to be incredibly powerful. The shared momentum kept us all engaged and accountable. The sense of community fostered a supportive system where we could freely ask questions, offer peer feedback, and build lasting professional connections. The diverse perspectives, combined with participants’ individual agendas, enriched our discussions and broadened our understanding of facilitation in various contexts.

Unexpected Gifts Along the Way

Unanticipated gifts surfaced out of these discussions. I discovered a new skill that would be both challenging and profoundly transformative for my practice: mastering Clean Language. Clean Language is a hallmark of effective facilitation. It’s the idea of using language precisely and neutrally, without injecting personal biases or interpretations into the conversation. Clean Language is a precise and empathetic way of facilitating conversations that allows individuals and groups to explore their own unique “map of the world” and discover their own meaningful insights and outcomes.

Learning Clean language is not easy. It takes lots of practice. It’s one thing to understand the theory, but putting it into practice requires conscious effort and self-awareness. I was ecstatic when Voltage Control provided a dedicated course on Clean Language during our asynchronous learning month, where I could roleplay with peers. 

The second unanticipated gift of the method-agnostic program was the confidence to lead across facilitation disciplines. Listening to my peers, I noticed that while specific activities might have different names across methodologies, the underlying principles often remain the same. I gained the ability to quickly see how activities from Design Thinking could be easily applied to organizational development, strategy, and learning agendas. 

I used Facilitation Lab to try out what we had been learning in the cohort. I liked having a safe space to experiment and receive feedback before sharing back with our cohort for more feedback. All these opportunities to practice instilled in me a greater sense of readiness for work with clients. 

Becoming a Facilitation Chef

Finally, receiving detailed feedback on my capstone portfolio project was perfect for gauging if I had met my personalized learning goals. It made me document and reflect on my evolving facilitation style, the strategies I employed, and the outcomes I helped achieve. This portfolio has become a crucial asset in communicating my capabilities to potential clients and collaborators, effectively showcasing the depth of my facilitation skills and my unwavering commitment to continuous improvement.

It became clear from feedback by experienced professionals that I had become more confident and adaptable in my practice. It made me think of an article I had read years earlier about “facilitation chefs”. “Cooks” follow recipes(Design Sprint), but the “chef” understands the ingredients and can adapt and create based on the specific needs of the group. What seemed like such a stretch at the time had become reality.

Beyond the tangible skills gained, the program created a deeper passion for the art of facilitation and the people doing the work. And just like during my time in student travel, I moved beyond just wanting a paycheck, doing something fun. I’ve fallen in love with a noble profession and desire to help advance it. This personal evolution transformed me into not just a more capable facilitator providing a better service for my clients, but a more fulfilled individual, genuinely excited about the prospect of driving meaningful change through the power of collaboration.           

As I look ahead, I’m committed to not only doing great work with great clients but helping others discover the magic of facilitation, too.