We received many kind words of encouragement and positive feedback about our first edition of this newsletter. We also heard some constructive criticism. Either way, we really appreciate the valuable feedback, so thank you.
We're very pleased that we've had a number of offers from people to contribute articles and information — a few of which you'll find in this issue. If you'd like to contribute, we'd love to hear from you. Drop us a note at editor.theedge@gmail.com .
We hope you enjoy reading The Edge in 2009.
Feature Articles
Toughing out the touchy-feelies
by Chia Moan
From time to time I encounter people who characterise what I do as ‘touchy-feely’ – often without having any direct experience of what I actually do. This has caused me to reflect on the issues raised by the use of this and similar phrases.
The key issue is power. Touchy-feely is a derisive term which I suspect is linked to gender, and is code for “don’t be such a girl.” (I wonder if male facilitators encounter this as often as female ones?) Chambers dictionary definition: “involving emotion and personal contact as distinct from intellectual activity.”
The phrase usually surfaces when someone is convinced that they know the solution, they know how things should be done and feel threatened by new ideas or ways of working.
Here is a story of a foiled attempt to undermine a process for opening up a difficult discussion.
We were working with a major utility to rebuild a badly fractured relationship with a contractor, managing a substantial part of the utility’s on-the-ground operations.
An acrimonious relationship had developed over many years between the two organisations leading to all sorts of accusations and innuendo circulating between the two organisational cultures. The contract was due for re-tender and the incumbent contractor chose not to submit a bid.
Three days before they were due to start, the winning contractor rang up the incumbent contractor and asked if they could buy their heavy equipment.
The proverbial hit the fan then, the head of the utility was sacked putting the replacement CEO in the position of begging the previous contractor to stay on after all.
My business partner and I had the job of running a series of partnership building meetings between the two erstwhile ‘divorcees’. We worked closely with the new CEO and the contractor to design a series of workshops. The intention was to move from the 'master-slave' relationship that had characterised the previous era to a partnership model.
A draft agenda for the first meeting was sent out. The contract manager on the utility side responded by sending around his own agenda which consisted mainly of reviewing a long list of details of the contract. We were told by other people that he thought the whole process of trying to work together as a team was a crock and that the meeting would be ‘touchy-feely’ with “lots of holding hands.”
Armed with this information, at the start of the meeting I asked everyone to stand up in a circle. I then instructed people to hold hands. To my amazement, they did. I said, “I heard that people were worried we would be holding hands, so now we have that out of the way we can get down to business.”
We took the power back and were able to run a series of very tough but productive meetings. I need to remember that when I feel attacked by the 'touchy-feely' demons it is an attempt to undermine open discussion and to maintain the status quo. I now see this language as a flashing beacon to remind me that every attempt to railroad a ‘solution’ through, without real discussion, without engaging all players, will fail.
Chia Moan is the consummate communicator who connects easily with all sorts of people. She is energetic, fun and fearless. She is dedicated to helping organisations and communities get clear about new directions and work together to make stuff happen. www.makestuffhappen.net
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An Architect's view about creating space
by Martin Butcher
Most facilitators have a background in something else, and for me that something else was architecture.
The reasons for this career change are many, but I also see many parallels between the two activities. As an action learner, there is the connection between creating physical spaces, and experiential spaces. Both require a design approach, and both provide a personal learning opportunity. There are though, other connections. As a built environment consumer (as opposed to creator) there are some places and spaces that are just amazing to experience, and others that we don’t really notice, except that it has been pleasant (or unpleasant) being there for a period of time.
It is this shared activity of creating space that others will experience that creates the further link between architecture and facilitation. To a degree this link is also shared with performers and entertainers, but it is not as strong. A park can be transformed by a wonderful performance artist, or a vandal. In both cases that persons being will effect others experience of the park. There is though a difference between performance and facilitation.
There was a time where all theatre occurred behind a proscenium arch, but more recently many artists establish situations to set up a dialogue between themselves and the audience. Facilitation though sets out to enable dialogue between the audience itself. In this respect, the role of the facilitator is more akin to the architect than performer, in that the structure is always there, but not usually or necessarily the subject of the conversation.
Just as the architect creates a physical space to enable conversations and life progress, a facilitator creates a framework to enable others hold their conversations. Sometimes that framework is understated and almost invisible, sometimes almost the driver of the conversations themselves. In both instances what is ordinary or amazing for the participants is dependant on a wide variety of factors, including both the skills and the values of the designer. Thus for me, facilitation is about creating a space for others to find both enjoyable and useful, and in this respect there is a strong correlation between the two arenas of endeavour.
Dr. Martin Butcher gained his PhD in Community Engagement and Participatory Development. His background is in architecture, planning and facilitation. His vision is a world where people freely express their creativity.www.martinbutcher.com
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Five things ...
5 things facilitators look for in a client
Our roving reporter (Kimbra) recently asked 5 facilitators what they looked for in a client. Here's what they said:
- I seek clients wishing to implement change in a positive environment, clients who are supporting young people and people moving into leadership positions. Cheryle Gilroy, Gold Coast. www.peopledynamics.com.au
- I look for a match in personality and style. I like to work with clients who are prepared to experiment or try a different way, approach challenges with flexibility. If there is only one way to get their outcome, then I'm probably not the one they need. If they are ready to play with ideas to get there, that's a job for us to do together. Cindy Tonkin, Sydney. www.cindytonkin.com
- I look for great communication and a really friendly relationship with the client. I like clients that know what they want to achieve by the end of a project or workshop but are prepared to let me get them there. Susan Benedyka, Wangaratta. www.regionaldevelopment.com.au
- I am seeking clients that are authentic about what they are doing and that my work will fit into a larger framework — that there is a connection to a place from which action will flow. Chia Moan, Sydney. www.makestuffhappen.net
- I look for clients who want the 'real' thing: Not just a fake tan, distinguished grey hair and a celebrity profile! Daryl Cook, Melbourne www.darylcook.com
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Tips and Techniques
A fun, art-based approach to team building
A colleague consulted me about a facilitation she was doing for a team of six in a country region in which members worked in different locations and were having difficulty establishing a sense of team and getting clarity around their own and others’ roles. We designed an activity using a large pre-cut cardboard jigsaw.
The jigsaw consisted of one large piece for each team member and one central piece forming the connection between the other six pieces.
Each person worked individually to clarify their role and identify strengths. They then depicted these visually on their jigsaw piece.
Each person then presented their artwork to the other members describing the significance of the visual images so that each person was able to get a very clear idea of their own and others’ roles and strengths.
The team was then invited to join their pieces. That the pieces did not readily fit led to a discussion of what was missing and what could possibly be put in place to create a firm and effective connection between each team.
All members collaborated to identify solutions and to visually depict these on the linking jigsaw piece.
The result? An enjoyable team effort to identify strengths and needs, and to make meaningful changes, plus a visual reminder of how the team can work collaboratively and effectively to hang on the office wall.
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Out and About: Reports from the Field
Ashley Ramsden on tour
All speaking says, I'm hungry to know you. — Hafiz
Ashley Ramsden, world-renowned storyteller, recently spoke these words of 14th Century Persian mystic and poet Hafiz, leaving an indelable impression on me.
I was extremely fortunate to attend a number of the events held by Ashley's on his recent visit to Melbourne. His performances of the spellbinding works of mystics Rumi and Hafiz were captivating and entertaining.
His passion for storytelling and performance shone through and was infectious for participants of his workshops. I attended 'Performing Rumi' and 'Metaphors and More' and walked away from both with a great deal of learning about the art of storytelling.
I learnt a lot from the way that Ashley held the space as a facilitator: A delightful, safe and comfortable space in which to try strange and perhaps at times, uncomfortable exercises. He is very natural and composed, comfortable with silence, and able to be with whatever arises so that he can effortlessly change tact and respond to the needs of the group. I enjoyed being in his company.
I also gained tools and techniques that I can incorporate into my facilitation work and was also stimulated to develop other related ideas and activities.
Here's one of the techniques that I learnt. Let's call it "Two ways of approaching the world."
- Ask participants to walk towards objects with intent and perform a number of tasks (upturn a chair, straighten rug etc.)
- Ask participants to do the opposite — wait for the world to come to them
- Debrief with participants: "What did you notice/How do we usually approach the world/Is there a third way?"
Clare Coburn, who is an Associate Lecturer at La Trobe University, and is completing a PhD in Listening in Mediation, used this exercise with her students studying negotiation. She said that the exercise and debrief enabled her students to have deeper understanding of the difference between "positional negotiation" in which you are negotiating towards a particular goal and "principled negotiation" which takes wider interests into consideration.
I'm very grateful for the experience and look forward with bated breath for Ashley's return to Australia — hopefully late 2009 or early 2010.
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Taking Care of Ourselves
Salute to the sun
Surya Namaskar, Salute to the Sun, is a series of movements which stretch and loosen all the joints and muscles of the body, massage the internal organs and bring the endocrine gland system into balance. It stimulates glowing good health in body, mind and spirit and is a great exercise to 'recharge your batteries'. Use it as a regular start to the day or as a way of refreshing and refocusing throughout the day.
To learn how to do this yoga practice refer to this WikiHow article.
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Calendar 
Upcoming events
Whilst it's a bit quite to start off the new year, there's sure to be lots of great events and opportunities for professional development coming up.
Keep an eye out for our reports from these events. We'll publish them in the regular Out and About section of the newsletter.
February — March, 2009
- Tuesday 17th February: 5.30pm — Victorian Facilitator's Network. Monthly meeting at 333 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield. Delish food is provided at 5.30pm, Meeting 6-8pm. There is no formal membership and no RSVP is required. Donation for food and venue - $5. Contact: ed@groupwork.com.au.
- Monday 16th March: 1.30pm — Victorian Facilitator's Network. Monthly meeting at 333 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield. Delish food is provided at 1.30pm, Meeting 2-4pm. There is no formal membership and no RSVP is required. Donation for food and venue - $5. Contact: ed@groupwork.com.au.
- Tuesday 31st March: 9.30am — Workshop. Introduction to Community Engagement Planning. An opportunity for project and program managers to explore a planned approach to community engagement. Melbourne. Cost: $275 inc. GST lunch and teas. Bookings: Contact Nathan Polley on 03.9380.7777 or email nathanp@moreland-grp.com.au.
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Odds and Ends
Australian Citizens Parliament
The first Australian Citizens Parliament is fast approaching. February 6-9, 2009 are the dates and the location is at Old Parliament House in Canberra. A call went out on the Australasian Facilitators Network email list recently for volunteer facilitators. They also volunteers to help with all aspects of the event. So if you wish to see citizen democracy in action and can pay your own way to Canberra this is a great opportunity. 150 citizens from all Australian federal electorates have been randomly selected and chosen to take part in the parliament and the preceding regional meetings that were held last November. The February Citizens' Parliament is aimed at making democracy more accessible to Australians beyond the election cycle.
For further information see: www.citizensparliament.org.au
Small Group Discussion in Community Engagement
I seem to have come across a lot of information about small group discussion as part of wider community engagement processes or a means of putting participatory democracy into action. Here's a few resources that I found useful:
- Wisdom Groups used by Victoria in Canada www.wisedemocracyvictoria.com
- Citizen Councilor Network used by King County Council in Seattle www.kingcounty.gov
- Study Circles in the US www.everyday-democracy.org
- Study Circles in Australia www.studycircles.net.au
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