Resistance To Change | The Ultimate Self

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Liliane Rausch

The Ultimate Self

The New Way Of Coaching

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The New Way Of Coaching

There Is No Such Thing As Resistance To Change

The art of facilitation is a highly valuable skill for “people guiding other people”, such as managers and professionals in for example the fields of HR, Project management, Wellness, Compliance or Training and Development. In essence, facilitation is helping a group accomplish its goals by providing the right fundaments, conditions and climate. Facilitating requires preparation, leadership, content expertise, a focus on results as well as process dynamics. Above all, it requires self-reflection, sensitiveness and flexibility. Here are my golden rules to facilitate instead of “difficilitate”:

1. Ensure the right fundament

Suppose you are the client and you step into a room to attend a group meeting. In a split second, all your senses will absorb the total ambiance: the facilitator, other people, furniture, materials at hand, even the refreshments and room temperature and much more.

As a facilitator it’s key to ensure your clients step into the room just the way you would like if you were the client. Professional, clean, open, welcoming, fresh air, a great program and a facilitator full of positive energy. If you prepare every meeting in an excellent way and make sure you yourself feel excellent, you will have a solid fundament for success.

Remember to also learn about your clients’ attitudes towards the meeting– preferably up front. It’s for example very important to know the level of intrinsic motivation of your clients. Especially when clients are forced to attend a meeting to work on a project they don’t see the added value of, it’s your responsibility to steer them from extrinsic towards intrinsic motivation, or at least a constructive, cooperative attitude.

2. Sense the group and individuals

As the meeting progresses, it’s helpful to keep “two mental pictures” in your mind: the result your clients wish to achieve and the total atmosphere or working climate you wish to create for your clients. First of all, never lose track of the results your clients wish to achieve. Your well prepared program is a splendid tool to guide your group towards success. However, more important are the dynamics going on within the group and the individuals. If you stay tuned with the energy-level and (re)actions of the group as well as the individuals, you can steer your group towards the optimal working climate they need to do their job successfully. Staying tuned in with the dynamics of your clients requires you being tuned-in with how you feel. If you sense within your Inner World something is off use all your tools to guide your clients back to the standard of excellence in working climate.

3. Your tools

The most important tool you have, besides your program, is you and you have many ways to steer the group towards success. If you sense something is off, use your tools. Don’t be afraid if at some point in time the program is not being met or your behind on schedule. By tuning into what your clients need, you will catch up later on in the program and gain back the time you have lost.

Valuable tools you can use are:

Total Attention. Give the group and its members your total attention. Recognition, Confirmation, Complimenting … use them all, during the meeting as well during the program breaks. Remember, as a facilitator you are never on a break during the meeting. Show you care, especially in the little things, such as offering someone a cup of coffee or asking how your clients are feeling.

Change Roles. Provide clients with your facilitation skills, but also your content expertise, life and work experiences, coaching and training skills – make sure to be flexible and change roles where appropriate. Remember: the meeting revolves around your clients – so give them what they need to do their job, but don’t put yourself in the forefront.

Know The Buttons. People have buttons you better not push. Get to know those buttons and don’t force people into doing something they are not comfortable doing or that will lead to unwanted emotions, such as insecurity or frustration. In addition, use the program guidance buttons. There are many! For example: change the pace of discussion; tighten or loosen the program structure; make room for discussions or - the opposite- park certain topics for later; change the level of interactions, etcetera.

4. In case of emergency

If your tools are not working, just review your opinions with the group. Drop the agenda and ask your group: “What’s up? What can I do to help you?” Don’t panic, don’t keep on trying if you notice all your attempts back fire. All you need to do is share your opinion with your group and let them help you. Take a break from the program and maybe go for a walk together. Do not blame the group. There is no such thing as resistance to change!

Liliane Rausch has extensive facilitation experience and facilitates groups and organisations. In addition, she trains facilitators - using the train-the-trainer concept.

For information, contact (T)US.

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