Facilitating in complexity: going below the surface

It is challenging to write and talk about the capabilities and practical experiences of facilitation that have “largely disappeared into our relatively inaccessible mental filing cabinets of intuitive, unconscious tacit knowing!” (Wadsworth, 2001).

We have spent considerable time (years) trying articulating the process of facilitation that we believe to be important when working with collective leadership groups tackling complex issues. It’s not easy! When working with these groups, facilitation we have found is not so much about methods, tools or techniques, but the level of conscious awareness, and ability to hold a space for ‘not knowing’ that enables facilitators to be flexible and stable whilst working with the complexity of groups working at the edge of chaos (Reason and Goodwin, 1999).

This art of facilitation doesn’t just lie with those who have a title of ‘facilitator’ but with anyone who is trying to create and hold a learning space for divergent voices to be heard, different perspectives to be considered and for collective action to emerge.

Please come along and share your interest, experiences and expertise.

This session will be hosted by Dot McLaughlin and Karen Lawson from Collective Leadership for Scotland.

About Illuminating Leadership Festival

This event is part of Illuminating Leadership 2022 – a global festival exploring the light and shade of collective leadership. To learn more about this festival and see all other events, have a look here.

Share your event experience using #IlluminatingLeadership and follow Collective Leadership for Scotland @CollectiveScot on Twitter.

Other Event Information

Please note that this event is participatory and has engagement at its heart. Therefore, access to a micro-phone and video-camera is a requirement to participate and get most out of this session.

Our ambition is to host events that are engaging, open and accessible to all. If there is something we can do to enhance your online event experience, please do let us know in advance by contacting collectiveleadership@gov.scot.