india ToP FLP module 1-3
This was the first of three delivery sessions covering the six modules of the Technology of Participation (ToP) Facilitative Leadership Program (FLP) for a group of consultants, trainers and facilitators in India. The venue was the southern city of Bangalore in India. Kevin and Mike Young led the training. The group comprised 16 participants with some two-thirds from companies. The other third of the group were independent trainers/consultants/facilitators. The majority were highly experienced and theoretically well grounded in their respective professions while two acknowledged being relatively new to ‘facilitation’. Three of the participant group were women and 13 men.
The usual content of modules 1 and 2 (ToP Group Facilitation Methods and Facilitation Expansion & Integration) were covered however the scheduled second practice sessions for the Discussion and Workshop methods during the first two days didn’t happen primarily due to time taken up by the deep, insightful questions participants raised. A longer than usual session on the underlying dynamics at the end of day one confirmed we were working with a deeply insightful group with full of penetrating questions and reflections. The participants’ connecting with the underlying dynamics was a powerful “aha” moment, especially when they realised the “alternative methods” presented in module 2 all had the same dynamics. This was a source of great personal joy to work with a group such as this. The second two-days (after a break of one day) followed the usual outline for Module 2 with the high pace and activity that module two content is characterised by. A delightful surprise was learning that the group considered this type of facilitation as being at the edge. The robustness of the methods was affirmed repeatedly.
There are two more 3 day sessions scheduled during 2007 with this group.
Participant feedback & evaluation
6 What do you feel you have gained by attending this program?
A good understanding of the methods of facilitation and confidence to use them
Clarity of design, components of data gathering and analysis, nuances of asking right focus questions
Handling dissonance, tools for generating new ideas, more confidence as a facilitator
Understanding the various techniques and which to implement where/what issue/result
Understanding of the science behind the art that one was applying intuitively
A deep appreciation of the need for pre preparation and the focus question
Feel confident of continuing/sustaining my learning and use
Methodological clarity, underlying theoretical basis, confidence in myself to do facilitation
A framework that will guide me through any facilitation requirement and very importantly an insight into how to handle the people dimension in a business situation
Consolidation, reconfirmation, confidence
An understanding of facilitation, a realisation that facilitation is as much a science as an art
An understanding and practical demonstration of methods
The theory and underpinnings beneath the methods
An appreciation that methods are ‘methods’ and one can be creative with them once one is familiar and internalises the process and underlying dynamics
Very informative and very useful, lots of insight and technology approach to tools is fascinating
Confidence on the subject of ‘facilitation’ which was hitherto a blank canvas that was difficult to navigate
Methods, tools and techniques
Exposure to different tools and techniques, interaction with participants, fascinated by the competency in facilitation demonstrated
Structure behind facilitation, the process approach, pitfalls & tips, confidence to facilitate
An aside
Alongside being at the program, Kevin was reconnecting with India after an absence of 8 years. It was Mike’s first time in India and it was a great joy to accompany Kevin and to observe his “coming home”. The emotion was catchy. On the surface not too much looks different – overwhelming crowds of people, maddening 24/7 traffic jams with honking drivers who seem not to drive with any traffic sense – the art of missing by centimetres - and, the general hustle and bustle of a very populous country. Just beneath all of that however profound change is afoot on many fronts. The economic boom manifests itself in telecommunications, aviation, transport, consumer goods, and increased purchasing power to name a few examples. Issues such as employee turnover are the new strategic issues for organisations. On the way home, Mike found a book called “Chindia” at an airport bookshop. It was all about the extraordinary potential of both China and India. Of particular significance, from a business perspective is that India has relatively familiar laws and business systems that occur in the west, under a democratic system, thus providing some confidence when doing business there.
Mike Young and Kevin Balm
June 15 2007
