Explore key insights from Rick Rubin's "The Creative Act: A Way of Being" for facilitators and leaders. This bestseller from the music industry icon merges discipline with creativity, providing valuable lessons for corporate innovation. Learn Rubin's approach to the creative process, the importance of embracing constraints, and the power of collaboration. Inspired by his extensive music career, Rubin's methods apply to various fields, enhancing problem-solving and innovative thinking. This summary shows how Rubin's ideas can rejuvenate facilitation and spark innovation in today's professional environments.
Facilitation Skills
Susan Golab Wilson's blog post details a transformative facilitation experience. Confronted with lackluster engagement, she transitioned to a standing meeting around a SMART board, invigorating team interaction and collaboration. This approach allowed the group to collectively identify crucial project elements, fostering a co-created solution that capitalized on individual strengths and amplified lesser-heard perspectives. This success reignited Susan's passion for facilitation, bolstering her confidence and preparing her to tackle future challenges with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.
Workplace conflicts can drain time and morale, making conflict resolution meetings crucial. These meetings tackle disagreements affecting productivity and wellbeing, involving all parties in a comfortable setting with a neutral facilitator. Establish ground rules, encourage open dialogue and active listening, and develop an action plan with fair task assignments. Training can enhance these skills, fostering a harmonious and efficient workplace.
The guide underscores the impact of participatory decision-making in strengthening team relationships and involvement. It advocates for embedding participatory principles in decision-making to guarantee inclusiveness and collective accountability. Facilitators are portrayed as vital in steering intricate conversations, particularly through the challenging "Groan Zone," using methods to promote constructive discussions. The guide prefers a collaborative approach over autocratic methods, demonstrating its efficiency in attaining enduring, inclusive resolutions and enhanced management results.
Eddie Jjemba's post details his shift from aspiring Ugandan medical doctor to climate education advocate. His journey, from school conservation efforts to a Master's in Climate and Society at Columbia University, underscores the need to make scientific knowledge accessible. Eddie stresses culturally-sensitive facilitation, reflecting on his experiences across Africa and Europe. He credits facilitation courses for honing his skills and for the realization of a professional portfolio's importance, showcasing his strengths and development in facilitation.
Roselle's blog post narrates her evolution from a Manila-based leader to a global facilitator adept in managing diverse teams across continents and virtual platforms. She outlines the challenges of leading through cultural and digital shifts, emphasizing the significance of "unintentional facilitation." Roselle reflects on the benefits of formal training and tools like Liberating Structures and Mural, which have shaped her approach. She discusses the importance of certifications and mentorships, marking her transition from project management to becoming an empathetic mentor focused on inclusivity and effective outcomes. Her journey offers valuable insights for leaders and facilitators striving to transform meeting culture and enhance their leadership skills.
Facilitators bring people together in beneficial collaboration, serving as a neutral party guide toward a common goal. In today’s corporate environment, many professionals are faced with calendars full of meetings, workshops, retreats, forums, retrospectives, coaching sessions, and more, each of which can be made more effective when led by a skilled facilitator. With professional facilitators in high demand, read on to learn how to become a facilitator.
In a transformative journey spanning from Brazil to London, Vanessa navigated the complexities of an evolving artistic career deeply entrenched in experimental music and arts facilitation. Despite notable collaborations with international organizations, she felt disconnected from her artistic ethos in the fast-paced gig economy and institutional contexts. Her epiphany came after enrolling in Voltage Control’s Facilitation Certification, which prompted her to critically reassess her professional identity and career trajectory.
Our "How to Facilitate a Workshop" guide outlines key differences between workshops and regular meetings, highlighting the vital role of facilitators. It presents a structured approach including defining objectives, setting expectations, and preparing flexible plans. The guide offers techniques for engaging diverse learning styles and effective post-workshop strategies. Packed with tips, videos, and expert insights, it's a valuable resource for both novice and experienced facilitators, aiming to make workshops productive and aligned with team and organizational goals.
Dom Michalec's experience in startups led him to consulting, where he sought to understand and improve large team dynamics. His time with Voltage Control's certification program highlighted the power of facilitation and healthy conflict in fostering team growth. Now, as a certified facilitator, Dom leverages conflict as a tool for progress, emphasizing collective intelligence and collaboration in his workshops.