Guide, Don’t Dictate: The Power of Facilitation in Business and Life

Facilitation: A Business Trend or a Leader’s Secret Weapon?

In the dynamic world of business, terms like “facilitation” and “facilitator” are gaining traction. Some associate facilitators with moderators who organize and conduct meetings. For others, a facilitator is a catalyst who helps groups generate creative solutions and ideas. One thing is clear: facilitation is trendy, popular, and in high demand.

Insights from Experienced Facilitators

At the “Summit of Positive Changes” in Minsk, we had the opportunity to speak with seasoned facilitators to understand why facilitation is so sought-after, its benefits for businesses and families, and its future prospects.

Meet the Facilitators

Elena Litvinova (Moscow)

• Managing Partner at Global Dialog
• Dean of the Faculty of Corporate Communications at OEAER (Prague)
• Founder and Ideologist of the “Facilitator to Facilitator” community
• Business Consultant and Executive Coach
• Over 20 years of managerial experience
• Member of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF)
• Honorary Member of the European Association of University Teachers (HiSTES)

Galina Tyurina (Minsk)

• Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Corporate Communications at OEAER (Prague), Partner at Global Dialog
• Facilitator and Organizational Development Consultant
• Over 10 years of managerial experience
• Member of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF)
• Member of the European Association of University Teachers (HiSTES)

What is a Facilitator?

Elena: A facilitator is someone who works with a group, understands its dynamics, and focuses on helping the group think collectively. They help people share their ideas and doubts, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone’s input is valued. The goal is to help the group find common ground and reach a consensus.

Galina: Additionally, a facilitator keeps the group’s goal in focus and helps them achieve it.

Can Anyone Be a Facilitator?

Elena: A facilitator needs to be empathetic, trust the group, and set aside their expert opinions. They must be result-oriented and able to guide the process accordingly. Not everyone can do this, as some people live in the “here and now” and may not see the path to guide the group.

Galina: If someone wants to become a facilitator, they likely already have the predisposition. People who want to help groups and teams often gravitate towards this profession. Facilitation comes in various forms, with different methods and approaches. It’s about having the desire and understanding.

Do You Need Special Training to Be a Facilitator?

Elena: Self-learning is a good starting point. I began this way when I was a manager of a large team. You can start by reading books and experimenting. Through this process, you’ll identify your weaknesses and understand what to focus on in your training. Those who come to training without any prior knowledge or experience in facilitation may struggle to grasp the concepts.

Galina: Facilitation is an applied field of knowledge. You need to know where you will use it. Without practical application, training can be a waste of time and money. Managers can start with simple tasks like organizing dialogues within their team, conducting brainstorming sessions, and analyzing what worked well and what needs improvement. This is already a form of facilitation.

How Does Facilitation Work?

Elena: Facilitation is a structured process with a plan, goal, and main question for the group to consider. It involves open communication, constructive discussions, and finding common ground. The group’s decisions can be documented on flip charts, cards, or online boards. The key is that everyone is on the same level, with no single person dominating the discussion.

Galina: Facilitation isn’t always about collective decision-making. Leaders often hesitate because they feel responsible for the outcomes. However, facilitation can occur at different levels and doesn’t always involve collective decision-making. It’s about open and honest dialogue with the team. For example, a leader’s first task might be to build trust and a common information field with the team. If the goal is to generate ideas, the leader can say, “Let’s brainstorm, but I’ll make the final decision.” This is also facilitation. Structured discussion and managing this process, not necessarily tied to decision-making, is what facilitation is about.

How Can Women Leaders Use Facilitation?

Elena: Leaders often need to decide their role in different situations. As a manager, I would list the questions and determine where I needed to approve decisions and where I could trust the team to make decisions on their own. It’s essential to agree with the team on which questions need approval and where the leader participates as an equal. Once agreed, the leader must keep their expert position to themselves during discussions.

Galina: From my managerial experience, I recall that employees would attend international conferences but often fail to implement what they learned. We decided to use facilitation to address this. By asking, “How can we use these new international practices here?” we generated ideas that improved our business processes. The biggest advantage of facilitation is involvement. When there is open dialogue and participation, people take responsibility for implementation because it’s their idea.

Facilitation in Everyday Life

Elena: Even with basic facilitation skills, our students have shared numerous examples of how they’ve applied these techniques in their personal lives, such as family discussions. Facilitation can be a powerful tool in both professional and personal settings.

For further reading on facilitation techniques, you can visit the International Association of Facilitators.