workshops work 127 - How to set up a successful co-facilitation process with Shoba Chandran
Co-facilitation feels like a wonderful, secret club.
Those who’ve experienced successful co-facilitation understand the impact it has on outcomes, as well as the experience of participants and facilitators alike.
Those who haven’t often look at it as a ‘nice to have’, rather than an essential tool in the facilitator’s toolkit.
Shoba Chandran, co-owner of The Innovation Matrix and vastly-experienced facilitator, is firmly in the first group – and she’s eager to see more co-facilitation.
It just so happens that I feel the same way, which leads us perfectly to this knowledge-filled episode of workshops work.
Listen in to explore what it takes to successfully co-facilitate, how to start if you’ve never tried before, and what to strive for and avoid in co-facilitated workshops.
Find out about:
● Identifying the boundaries, limits, and benefits of co-facilitation
● Why successful co-facilitation starts from practically the first conversation
● What the nuances of the co-facilitator dynamic are and how they show up
● Why personal connection tends to supersede professional competency
● How to align with your co-facilitator and set yourselves up for success
● What to consider if co-facilitating with a someone from the client’s organisation
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Questions and Answers
[00:57] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator?
[03:57] How did you facilitate innovation in such a command and control environment as the Ministry of Defence?
[06:18] How did you spread the facilitation mindset?
[07:36] And how did you break the command and control mindset – in fact, did you at all?
[09:17] What were your key learnings from this period?
[11:48] What does co-facilitation mean to you?
[14:35] Do you always work with the same co-facilitator? If not, how do you select the ‘right’ person?
[16:47] What is ‘a good attitude’ in relation to co-facilitation?
[20:42] What are some of the glitches or roadblocks you encounter when co-designing a workshop?
[22:58] Do you have a process or a template that you use for co-designing workshops?
[25:35] Have you ever realised after a ‘norming’ conversation that a co-facilitator isn’t aligned with you?
[27:38] Does the co-facilitation dynamic develop in the same way a team dynamic develops?
[34:15] Why do you think so many early-career facilitators resist co-facilitation?
[36:23] Would you say Singapore has more of a culture of co-facilitation?
[38:03] What advice would you give to a new facilitator?
[40:42] What is your experience with co-facilitation with someone client-side?
[42:47] What makes a workshop fail?
[45:25] What are some red flags to look out for from clients who want you to ‘facipulate’? (Facilitate + manipulate!)
[47:00] Do you have a favourite exercise?
[51:16] Is there anything e
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You can now find the podcast on Substack, where your host Dr. Myriam Hadnes is building a club for you to find fellow listeners and peers: https://myriamhadnes.substack.com/