Practice: The Silent Facilitator
Practice: The Silent Facilitator
A practice in facilitating through presence and minimal intervention.
Instructions
This is a practice to try in your next group conversation—formal or informal. The goal is to facilitate with minimum intervention.
In your next group conversation (a meeting, a discussion with friends, any group), try to speak less than 10% of the time. Observe what happens.
Instead of speaking, practice: waiting, nodding, making space, using facial expressions and body language to invite others.
When you do speak, use only process-oriented comments: "What do others think?" "Can you say more?" "I want to make sure everyone has a chance."
Notice your urge to contribute content. Don't suppress it—just notice it. What happens when you don't act on it?
Afterward, reflect: What did the group do that you would have done for them? What emerged that wouldn't have if you'd been more active?