workshops work 335 - Beyond Competence: Facilitating Uncertain Spaces with Rebecca Hopkins
Aug 19, 2025
Leadership facilitator and coach Rebecca Hopkins, known for her insightful approach to emotional complexities, shares her thoughts on navigating grief and fostering healthy feedback cultures. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and personal growth in facilitation. Rebecca explores how to create brave spaces for open dialogue, discussing the messy emotions that come with being human. The conversation dives into adapting to rapid tech changes and the significance of prioritizing personal desires over societal expectations, promoting a journey of self-discovery.
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Becoming A Facilitator
- Rebecca first called herself a facilitator in 2008 after shadowing agile coaches during a major merger.
- She set up an internal facilitator network to practice facilitation across the organisation.
Service And Presence Over Technique
- Good facilitators prioritise being in service of the group and staying present rather than showing off techniques.
- External facilitators can remain agnostic to past baggage and therefore treat participants without history-based bias.
Add Thirty Seconds Of Silence
- Give people at least 30 seconds of silent thinking time before expecting answers in discussions.
- That simple pause benefits both introverts and extroverts and improves participation quality.
