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1996 - 2011

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How can we facilitate ourselves?

Facilitating Ourselves events are not for everyone. Some prefer an event with a trained and experienced facilitator. Someone working to invite, encourage, ease and enable participation. Such a role requires considerable training and experience. We have, perhaps, been in error in considering facilitation as a role that can be taken on by volunteers at Facilitating Ourselves events. Sometimes it has worked well, other times not. Perhaps facilitation can be usefully divided into two complementary parts: Holding and Intervening. Subtle and effective facilitative intervention requires considerable discernment. Such discernment coming through training and experience.

Holding might consist of: 1. Building and maintaining community with fellow holders before, during and after the circle. 2. Gathering the circle together. 3. Calling the start on time. 4. Staying aware of everyone in the circle throughout the session. 5. Resisting any urge to participate. 6. Calling for a period of silence at the start of or during the circle if appropriate. 7. Ending the session on time. Yes, holding is a big ask! But, I feel, it is an appropriate one for Facilitating Ourselves participants who are committed to taking responsibility for the process and wish to begin to learn about and experience facilitation. We would benefit from distinguishing two parts of facilitation and by being very clear about what we are asking of volunteer ‘holders’ at Facilitating Ourselves events.

Facilitating ourselves, then, is about: 1. Taking full responsibility for our own participation; facilitating ourselves fully and honestly into the process. 2. Learning about and experiencing the holding of a Community Building circle, which forms the foundation of  facilitation skills developed through considerable training and  experience.