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********************** Dynamic Facilitation Skills Learn how you can bring Dynamic Facilitation to your community by sponsoring a public or "inhouse" seminar. . |
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About the Seminar
Topics from the Seminar Jim Rough, Instructor Other Jim Rough & Assoc., Inc. |
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Choice-Creating
What is choice-creating?
Choice-creating is a quality of thinking where people face important issues authentically and creatively seeking what's best for all. It's like "decision-making" in that people determine specific conclusions, but different because rather than "make decisions," which divides people, they "create new choices," which brings them together. It's a heartfelt, nonlinear, creative process often involving moments of seeming chaos, rather than a logical step-by-step one always in control. Choice-creating often happens naturally when there is a crisis and people pull together, drop their roles, get creative to achieve the impossible. Better than waiting for the crisis to be upon us, however, is to be able to facilitate this quality of thinking beforehand. Just thinking this way, even if there is no clear breakthrough, builds deep connection with others ... a "We."
Just think what happens when a group achieves a breakthrough. Then ...
• People reach unanimity easily and quickly.
• The results are win/win — better than anyone thought possible.
• The individual uniquenesses of people are valued and celebrated.
• Each person feels brilliant and involved, knows what to do, and is committed to helping.
• The thinking process builds capabilities, awareness, enthusiasm and empowerment.
• The process also builds trust and the spirit of community—a "We.".
Through "Dynamic Facilitation" you can assure Choice-creating in groups or individuals.
How is choice-creating different?
Choice-creating is different than "consensus-building," "dialogue," "deliberation," "negotiation," "decision-making," "problem-solving," and "creative problem-solving." If we acknowledge this distinction amazing new doors of possibility open. Consider the difference between "decision-making" and "choice-creating."
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Decision-making
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Choice-creating
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| Seeks to be a rational process — weighing options and selecting the best | Is primarily a creative process with insights, changes of heart or other breakthroughs |
| Keeps emotions supressed. People try to maintain a "professional" demeanor. | Uses the emotions to leverage shifts. (e.g. a passion for one idea) |
| Applies to well-defined issues that are possible to solve. | Applies to whatever issues people care about, including those that are unclear and impossible |
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Breaks down BIG issues into smaller ones |
Can make issues bigger or smaller. But even when they get bigger, people feel more empowered. |
| Is controlled through objectives, plans, guidelines | Is driven by the energy of participants, trusting in the process and in the people |
| Aims for the best option among a limited set | Aims for what is best, right and good ... and expects shifts of understanding |
| Seeks to measure all progress |
Uses measures when appropriate, otherwise uses dialogue to assess progress. |
| Often breaks down into rational-seeming arguments, going in circles, or frustration. | May seem chaotic but it yields faster and better results, plus people grow into a team or community |
Also consider the difference between Choice-creating and dialogue and deliberation. See the Chart.
Criteria ... how to recognize choice-creating?
In a meeting, choice-creating is recognizable because people are addressing the really important issues and each person is:
| Authentic... | there are no roles or hidden agendas |
| Open-minded... | people are interested in different ideas |
| Open-hearted... | feelings and attitudes grow |
| Learning... | each person gains in capability |
| Engaged... | everyone is involved and wants to be part |
| Efficient... | decisions are reached with less time and effort |
| Creative... | breakthroughs are normal |
| Respectful... | each person and his/her uniqueness are appreciated |
Examples of different kinds breakthroughs from Choice-creating
As with any creative process, Choice-creating involves periods of seeming chaos, punctuated by enthusiasm and closure. Progress happens in quantum steps – with new ideas, jumps in trust, shifts in capability, or changes of attitude. Four different forms of results might be: Mission-building, Innovation-building, Perception-building, and Trust-building.
How Dynamic Facilitation elicits choice-creating
The dynamic facilitator orients to group energy instead of extrinsic factors like agendas, guidelines, or objectives. He or she uses four charts--Solutions, Problem-statements, Concerns, and Data -- to assure that whatever someone says is accepted. . No one is judged, each comment is valued.
Additional information on Choice-creating
- AUDIO: Half-hour interview: Choice-creating ( Paul Everett interviews Jim Rough 7/25/07)
- ARTICLE: Transforming the Public Conversation ... Describes how choice-creating opens new doors of possibility for big seemingly impossible-to-solve social issues like poverty, prejudice, the environmental crisis, relieing the healthcare crisis, overcoming wars, etc.
- CHART: Contrasting dialogue, deliberation and choice-creating (pdf) by Jim Rough
- Article: Overcoming Impossible Problems
- ARTICLE: The Circle Organization and Dynamic Facilitation by Jim Rough
- Article: Self-Organizing Change
www.ToBe.net---Jim Rough & Associates, Inc. - 1040 Taylor Street - Port Townsend, WA 98368 - phone: (360) 385-7118 - seminars@ToBe.net