Facilitator Assessments LO9308

Barry Mallis (bmallis@mail.markem.com)
21 Aug 1996 15:43:17 -0400

Reply to: RE>Facilitator Assessments LO9277

A facilitator can perhaps be assessed on understanding of team dynamics and
the ability to interact appropriately.
I am, of course, speaking about work which a facilitator does with teams.
Also, I am defining a facilitator strictly as a PROCESS-oriented individual
whose function is to keep a team on track with their work style, behavioral
styles, team process.
A facilitation continuum might be represented on a graph with a negative
curve. On the Y-Axis you have degree of facilitator involvement; on the
X-Axis, team skill. when team skill is low (X=0 or so), then facilitation
work is greatest. The facilitator tells the team what to do, how to do it,
explaining the benefits.
As a team moves through forming, the facilitator may recommend possible
courses of action, explaining the benefits. The team, however, decides on the
next steps.
Further along, the facilitator points out to the team how they're
interacting--the team decides the next steps.
As teams progress in their work and development, the facilitator asks
questions about the team's behavior, and the team decides the next steps.
In advanced teams, when a facilitator is present, she or he observes the
team, participating only if asked (responses range from telling to
questioning).
Finally, a facilitator may observe the team and meet with the team leader
outside of the meeting, where responses range from telling to questioning.

The team leader is NOT the same person as the facilitator. The leader is
content AND process oriented, acting as a servant to the group to lead them
and focus them; the facilitator is process-focused only. Above I have
described a type of model for behavior.

Along with behavior comes knowledge of team dynamics, quality tools (Pareto,
fishbone, flow-charting, etc.) That is measurable to some degree. The best
facilitators have had training. Their knowledge is applied in action, which
leads to understanding of team dynamics. Through experience, the facilitator
develops skill.
Knowledge + application = understanding
Understanding + experience = skill

These thoughts are a part of facilitation skills.

Best regards,

-- 
Barry Mallis
Total Quality Resource Manager
MARKEM Corporation
Keene, NH
bmallis@markem.com
 

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