Formal
theories and methodologies provide a strong scaffold for facilitation,
especially in the design stage. My favorites over the past few years have been
Solutions Focus, Theory U, Design Thinking, Circle of Trust and a little dash
of Marshall Rosenberg’s Non Violent Communication. Each provides guidance in
designing meaningful events. Yet no theory guarantees success when the event
goes live. People struggle with purpose, the tasks, each other, and the
facilitator. I had a recent experience as a participant where the result from a
group discussion was worse than each individual might have produced for
themselves.
This session will put a microscope on table group/small group discussion.
What can we, as facilitators, say and do (or not say and not do) to reliably
generate useful dialogue? This session will explore this question and, to a
lesser extent, the assumptions underneath the question. In particular, we will
do some experiments with small/table groups in ‘fish-bowl’ role plays. Come, if
you want to be part of the experiment, either as participant or observer. No
results are guaranteed. Like life, really
About Ian Colley
Ian
Colley is a facilitator of change and learning projects. These mostly
deal with ‘tricky’ issues – building common ground between diverse interests,
solving problems, leading difficult conversations, creating clarity about
uncertain futures (isn’t it all uncertain).
Over
20 years in consulting, Ian has led hundreds of projects in business,
government and community settings. He has chaired a number of community liaison
committees – for Barangaroo Development Authority, NSW Ports, Orica, Taralga
Wind Farm. Ian also teaches facilitation and leadership at the University
of Technology (since 2005).
Ian’s
current focus is on the possibilities (and limits) of dialogue. He is
passionate about teaching facilitation – helping other professionals stretch
these skills in their everyday practices.
Venue: [Our usual venue]
University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580.
Time:
From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up | Donation $5
Enquiries | Greg Jenkins; gregjenkins@yahoo.com ; 0418 486 501 | Eoin Higgins eoin.p.higgins@gmail.com ; 0407 411 684
