Think on your feet in front of the room

You may not call yourself a facilitator but if you help groups create plans, clients solve problems and teams get projects done, you need to know how to think on your feet.

This weekend, I was halfway to the river before I realised I’d forgotten to put my mask on.

So, I started to jog.

We’re permitted to run, cycle or do other forms of strenuous exercise without a mask in Melbourne.

My slow jog would probably not pass the test, but I had to think fast and it felt like the only option.

Facilitators have to think fast on the spot all the time.

Like when someone in the group questions the purpose of a session when you state it up front.

No matter how clear this was when you planned the session with your colleagues, not everyone has turned up with the same intent.

And did you catch the tone of the question? Was it curious, confused or cynical? That will influence what you do next.

🏃🏼‍♀‍ Can you think on your feet?

🏃🏼‍♂‍ Change what you were going to do – fast?

👐🏼 Bring the group along with you as you switch gears?

🧭 Give them a sense of structure, even though you’ve not sticking to the plan?

Anyone who has worked with groups can tell you that this has happened to them. I have had to park the agenda. Depending on the tone of the question, I’ve taken it as a golden opportunity to have an honest conversation about purpose.

‘Why is this group meeting and what are they hoping to achieve?’ And doing this in ways that mixes solo reflection with pair work, rather than doing it in the larger group.

If you don’t call yourself a facilitator, could you do this?

If someone asked you to think on your feet in front of a room, would you feel curious, a little nervous or panicked?

I jogged slowly on without my mask. I figured that I’d run around this 5km bush circuit for 12 years and my muscle memory would kick in. I miss running. It was such a joy to get the rhythm back – albeit a slow one.

The fast walk I’d planned turned into a tentative jog. I managed to keep it up for the entire circuit, with a few pauses where I walked fast with my sleeve over my mouth.

A few good stretches afterwards and a few days later, no damage done.

Turns out, I may still be able to run. I wonder if you have to change your plans with a group, what you might discover?

I work with people who don’t call themselves facilitators to get better at working with groups. If you’d like to work with me 1:1 so you can get better working with groups, book a quick phone call.

Image credit: Jacinta Cubis