This post has been coming for a while…
Yes, what is it about the energy of the facilitator(s) in the room?
Exactly like any facilitator typically brings their favourite repertoire, approaches, frameworks and their own ecosystem, they also bring a particular energy.
That energy uniquely affects the group.
Why I’m writing this post is related to exactly that: if there’s one positive thing that people in my groups have kept on saying consistently throughout the years about my presence, it is that I bring a lot of energy in the room – ie. to them.
I don’t mean to pry and shine here, I’m just interested in reflecting on energy.
That energy charge my people mentioned may be good, it may be bad. It probably depends on everyone’s preference. But there’s no denying that my energy affects others.
This made me ponder the notion that our energy is an important element, perhaps too easily overlooked by the fact that we (people facilitating) are supposed to be less visible, at least we’re not supposed to be in the lime light.
The energy a facilitator brings to the room
And let’s be clear, energy is not one simple, consistent thing. It takes various shapes or forms that heed attention in different ways:
- The abundant energy that keeps people on their toes – which I guess is what people referred to when speaking about me?
- The calm and clear energy with a rather slow diction that captures the attention of people (Michelle Howard comes to mind)
- The sharp and charismatic energy of someone who is clearly weighing their every word to make the deepest meaning of everything they say (Sam Kaner comes to mind)
- The wild and creative energy that is even mirrored in the dance-like body language of the facilitator (Fisher S Qua comes to mind)
- The quirky auntie ‘let me take you under my wings, and also challenge your thinking here’ energy that makes people feel entitled to think and explore more (Nancy White comes to mind)
- The warm energy of someone who is there to make everyone feel at ease and to imprint the relational nature of facilitation and the importance of presence in service of everyone else (Nadia von Holzen comes to mind)
- And I could name quite a few more…
These different energies tend to have a ripple effect on the participants (the ‘acticipants’ as I like to call them): It actually may give them extra energy; it may give them agency to feel they can be enthusiastic rather than cynical; it may keep them on their toes and curious; it can help them channel their thinking, their emotions, their experiences, their sense of themselves; it may make them feel good about themselves and about each other… in short it may spark off many positive effects.
What is clear, on the other hand, is that exactly like a public speaker bores everyone when they don’t feel passionate about their topic, a facilitator who looks like they’re just ‘going through the motions’ without ‘feeling’ what they are doing with the groups doesn’t invite their groups to do their best thinking.
Facilitators without energy? Not likely to happen…
Luckily I haven’t witnessed many facilitators without a distinct energy.
There are good reasons for it:
- Facilitating keeps you on your toes because of all the things you have to keep track of (the specific communication on the moment by someone talking, the group dynamics, logistical information, time management, emerging insights that could affect the whole group, the next bit in the workshop etc.)
- Any work that is oriented towards serving others (as facilitation is) tends to make us feel good about ourselves, and thereby give us energy
- For me, the distinct ‘aha moment’ of when my acticipants metaphorically lift their head from their individual sand hole and level up to a collective endeavour, vision or aspiration is one of the biggest energy boosts that I get to experience through my work
- Even for ourselves, honing our facilitation skills is always a reason to keep our focus and energy about
- And in the worst case scenario, if the dynamics is slow, following a beaten track, not inspiring, our remit is anyhow limited in time which is reason enough to keep energy ha ha ha (though that’s really not a great situation)
- And for all these reasons I think being a collaboration/facilitation specialist is one of the best jobs in the world – and facilitation is not just restricted to the world of work but as a lifeskill too.
So it’s not so much the lack of energy that might be a problem here, but rather that the facilitator’s energy may affect the group in not-so-desirable ways…
How our energy can negatively impact the group
Then of course there’s the risk of our energy taking too much place in the group dynamics, for instance when a facilitator’s playful energy bars the option to be serious and earnest.
Or when a facilitator’s charisma influences acticipants to mirror the facilitator’s stance rather than be themselves.
Or even when our positive energy might lead the way to toxic positivity (the feel good imperative).
The energy of a facilitator may also intimidate acticipants, make them feel energy-less, not in the mood, not capable…
So that energy is something to be aware of and to try to channel for the collective good.
The best sources of energy I’ve observed about facilitators
In any case, what I have found to be universally truly positive elements of a facilitator’s energy are:
- Their belief (and self confidence) in their own principles
- Their authenticity (in whatever quirky personality traits they brought around) – keeping true to themselves and bringing their whole person into the room
- Their authentic curiosity and care for their groups – walking the talk of being helpful and supportive with EVERYONE
- Their flexibility and agility in embracing what’s emerging – responding to what is alive rather than cruising on with a predetermined plan
- Their focus on both the objectives and the group dynamics and relationships, holding both in balance, as well as front and centre…
What does that say about cultivating our energy when we facilitate?
So let’s try, as people who facilitate, to be mindful of the gifts and curses of our energy, to preserve healthy levels of it and to still tune it to the group’s needs and individuals’ genuine selves…
What, in your experience, has the energy of a facilitator made either possible, or difficult? What else have you noticed about their energy?
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