From Conflict to Creative Collaboration: A User's Guide to Dynamic Facilitation

by Rosa Zubizarreta

Overview

"A detailed user's guide for organizational consultants, facilitators, and mediators.

As group facilitators, we can use methods like Open Space Technology, Future Search, and World Café to reliably evoke "group magic" when working with larger groups. Yet how can we tap into the generative power of self-organization when working with smaller groups - especially ones facing complex and conflict-laden issues?

In From Conflict to Creative Collaboration: A User's Guide to Dynamic Facilitation, collaboration consultant Rosa Zubizarreta introduces a highly effective and agile way to welcome task groups into a co-creative "flow zone" - where participants create practical and innovative solutions while building trust, empathy, and authentic community.

Zubizarreta describes a ground-breaking facilitation approach for transforming unproductive group friction into world-class teamwork and innovation, which will allow them to be more effective at drawing out group creativity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626526112
Publisher:	Two Harbors Press
Publication date:	03/25/2014
Pages:	142
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Rosa Zubizarreta helps leaders and groups work productively with conflicting perspectives, by learning how to transform the energy of divergence into greater co-creativity and innovation. With an academic and professional background in Organization Development, she has worked with a broad assortment of group modalities, including Action Research, Open Space, Future Search, and Dialogue Mapping. She is also trained in various “inner listening” modalities including Focusing, Inner Empathy, and Internal Family Systems therapy.

During the last twelve years, Rosa has developed a deep content expertise in Dynamic Facilitation, a powerful process for transmuting impossible-to-solve problems into breakthrough insights, solutions and possibilities. In addition to leading workshops for consultants, facilitators, and mediators, Rosa enjoys consulting with business, non-profit, governmental and community organizations.

Table of Contents

Foreword Peggy Holman xiii

Preface xvii

Introduction xix

Chapter 1 Foundations and Connections 1

History and Overview of Dynamic Facilitation 1

Similarities and Differences with Other Approaches 3

Choice-Creating Conversation 5

The Relationship between Theory, Method, and Practice 8

Chapter 2 Basic Elements of the Facilitator's Role 11

What We Mean by Really Listening 11

Trusting and Supporting Group Self-Organization 13

Recording Participants' Contributions 19

Using the Charts to Maintain an Open Flow 20

Differences between Dynamic Facilitation and Brainstorming 22

"We-flection" and the Role of Designated Listener 23

Chapter 3 Preparing the Ground 27

Before the Group Meetings 27

Setting Realistic Expectations and Time Frames 28

Exploring the Broader Organizational Context 30

Chapter 4 Getting Started 35

Introducing the Process 35

What about Ground Rules? 37

Beginning the Content Exploration: Do We Need an "Issues" Page? 38

Jumping In 40

Chapter 5 Key Aspects of the Initial Stage 43

From Complaints to Creativity 43

Honoring Creativity by Welcoming Initial Solutions 46

Welcoming Both Solutions and Concerns 48

Protecting Creativity and Working Effectively with Advocacy 49

The Problem-Statements Chart: Tracking the Evolving Flow 51

The Data Chart: Honoring Context, Perspectives, and Everything Else 54

Drawing out Group Divergence 56

Chapter 6 Transition and Intermediate Stages 59

Allowing Convergence to Emerge 59

Helping Groups through the Yuck 61

Remaining in a Creative Flow 62

Each Arrival as a New Point of Departure 65

Disconfirming the Appearance of Convergence 66

Choice-Creating as an Alternative to Decision Making 67

A Meeting of Minds and Hearts 68

Letting Go and Allowing 70

From Shared Understanding to Action 72

Chapter 7 Concluding Stages and Follow-up 77

Closing Stages of a Session 77

Creating Content Closure 78

Creating Process Closure 82

Harvesting the Charts after Each Session 85

Following up with Action Plans and More 86

Chapter 8 Applying Dynamic Facilitation 89

When Is Dynamic Facilitation Appropriate? 89

Working as a Facilitation Team 93

The Wisdom Council: A Microcosm That Affects the Larger Whole 94

Using Dynamic Facilitation with One's Own Self or One-on-One 97

What's Next? Continuing to Learn Dynamic Facilitation 98

Acknowledgments 101

References 107

Postcript 109

Index 111