C R E AT I V I T Y C O N N E C T I O N C O L L A B O R AT I O N

T H E F I N E A R T O F FA C I L I TA T I O N

D E B L A N G E

C O N T E N T S

The engagement epidemic03Content and Process04Leader as Facilitator09

Content & Process1112 pathways on your journey12About the author22

T H E E N G A G E M E N T E P I D E M I C

A R E O U R B E H A V I O U R S A L I G N E D W I T H O U R E S P O U S E D VA L U E S ?

▶ 86% of employees believe there is a leadership crisis

▶ 85% of employees are disengaged

▶ 75% of employees say their boss is the worst part of their job

▶ 70% of day-to-day activity provides no added value

▶ 66% of change fails

▶ 66% of millennials are looking for a new job

M I S S I O N V I S I O N S T R A T E G I E S S T R U C T U R E S S Y S T E M S R O L E S R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S M E A S U R E M E N T

C O N T E N T I S K I N G

A N D , T H AT I S N O T A L L W E N E E D

E V E R Y T I M E W E C O M E T O G E T H E R W E H AV E A N O P P O R T U N I T Y T O M A K E

M A G I C ,

O R N O T

W E N E E D M E E T I N G S , W O R K S H O P S , L E A R N I N G E V E N T S & C O N V E R S AT I O N S …

T H AT C O N N E C T T H E W H O L E P E R S O N E N A B L E R E C I P R O C A L C O N V E R S AT I O N

B U I L D T R U S T A N D S A F E T Y I N T E G R AT E L O G I C , E M O T I O N , M O V E M E N T & I M A G I N AT I O N

&

C O - C R E AT E A N E X P E R I E N C E W O RT H H AV I N G

P R O C E S S I S Q U E E N

P R O C E S S I S Q U E E N

E N E R G Y C U LT U R E T H E U N S E E N R E L A T I O N S H I P S C O M M U N I C A T I O N S O C I A L S Y S T E M R I T U A L S I N T U I T I O N PA T T E R N I N G P R I N C I P L E C E N T R E D R I D I N G T E N S I O N S A R T S T O R Y N A T U R E M O V E M E N T

L E A D E R & F O L L O W E R L E A D E R A S FA C I L I TA T O R I S B O T H

E N E R G Y R I T U A L B E G I N N I N G S M I D D L E S E N D I N G S Q U E S T I O N I N G G R O U P D Y N A M I C S N O T I C I N G S E N S I N G L I S T E N I N G L E A D I N G F O L L O W I N G I N T U I T I N G M A K I N G M A G I C

L E A D E R A S FA C I L I TA T O R R E Q U I R E S N E W S K I L L S

FA C I L I TAT O R

A P P R O A C H A B L E & C R E D I B L E L I S T E N E R & S P E A K E R C O N T E N T & P R O C E S S M A N A G E R & L E A D E R

H O S T & S T E W A R D

A N E W M A P

P R O C E S S

C O N T E N T

TA L K I N G S T I C K

C U LT U R A L A R T E FA C T S

A P P R O A C H A B L E & C R E D I B L E

R E L AT I O N S H I P S

Q U E S T I O N SA new world requires new tools to make sense of the terrain.

voice

needs

relationships

issues

how

what

energy

I want

you want

we want

voicebreathing

gesture

authorityfacilitatorlocation

approachable

posture

credible

C O N T E N T & P R O C E S S

S T O R Y T E L L I N GPeople remember emotional content, imagery and

descriptive language far more than abstract research

and statistics. Scientists, Managers, CEO’s are all

learning the art of story telling to connect and engage

with people.

Designing and facilitating story telling activities within

meetings, events & training programs enables people

to connect with one another, build trust and remember

what occurred that was significant in the session.

Story telling experiences enable people to express

themselves and become more familiar with

improvisation. Being able to respond in moments,

connect with others, generate our imagination and be

creative is good for business.

There are a multiplicity of designs: 30 second stories, I

Can Tell You About, Stories from Different

Perspectives, Circle Stories, Babbling, Made Up

Language, Side by Side…

O P E N S PA C E• Do you have a theme for a meeting? Lots of sub topics? Lots

of people who could be experts and hosts for topics within that theme?

• Design for an Open Space session for an in-house meeting, an event or within a workshop/training program. This is now often called an “Unconference” when designed into events.

• Everyone is an expert at an OpenSpace Event. Harrison Owen made open space famous by noticing the space of what happens in between speakers at a conference when people are free to connect and talk with whomever they please. Open space design makes this easy for people to connect with the people who want to talk about a specific topic. People are given permission to move freely between groups. This design connects people and their passions. The agenda is created by the people who come. Anyone can host a conversation.

• Open Space can be used for open conversation and planning sessions for in-house meetings as well as conferences. Whether it be a 1-3 day retreat or conference, a 2 hour meeting at work, a 1/2 day, or integrated into an event after key note speakers. People have the conversation they want. They go to the topic of their interest and meet with others interested in that topic.

A C T I O N L E A R N I N G

Action learning teams are formed across the usual project teams. They come together to work on a project to improve the organisation. They are effective to…

engage large numbers of people to cross fertilise ideas,

enable people to take responsibility for creating what needs changing,

develop internal leadership and followship

build trust and relationships across the company

C O N V E R S AT I O N C A F E

The Host, Sets The Stage. Set up your meeting room like a cafe shop, share the principles for a cafe conversation, give people the time, and begin. For free open inquiry. No committees are formed. No selling of ideas.

Share the Agreements, Open mindedness, acceptance, curiosity, discovery, sincerity, no cross talk

Use a Talking Stick - a symbol of non-hierarchy. More like a hack sack conversation than a game of tennis

From good to great conversation with open questions.

N AT U R E

F R O M P L A N T S I N M E E T I N G R O O M S , T O WA L K & TA L K M E E T I N G S O U T D O O R S , T O C O N F E R E N C E S & E V E N T S T H AT I N C L U D E D E X P E R I E N C E S R E F L E C T I N G I N N AT U R E .

A P P LY R E C I P R O C A L C O N V E R S AT I O N G U I D E L I N E S T O WA L K & TA L K M E E T I N G S , T O R E - E N E R G I S E , B U I L D B E T T E R R E L AT I O N S H I P S & S O LV E C O M P L E X P R O B L E M S W H I L S T WA L K I N G .

WA L K A N D TA L K .

T H E C A L L O F N AT U R E

M O V E M E N T

Sitting all day is not good for us, whether it be in meetings or at a desk. There is a rise in stand up desks and design of learning through movement in meetings and learning experiences.

Integrate standing & moving to create:

energy

integrate ideas

foster emergent creativity

release tension

be grounded

– D E L O I T T E B E R S I N

A R T

This is not about being a professional

artist, but it is about doodling, simple

line drawings, playing with clay or lego.

Why?

Drawing evokes images from our

unconscious, making with our hands

connects patterns through visceral

senses that would otherwise be dormant

if using logic alone.

I M A G I N I N G , M A K I N G , C R E A T I N G

C I R C L E D I A L O G U E

People have been sitting in circle for conversations around fires from the dawn of time. The Quakers, United Nations, Indigenous people all sit in circle.

If you have a complex topic, divergent views, heightened emotion design the conversation for a circle dialogue.

Collective intelligence and new knowledge arises from intentionally hosted circle dialogues.

Hosting and facilitating circle dialogues requires advanced facilitation skills.

P O W E R I N T H E C O L L E C T I V E

R I T U A L

to…

begin and close meetings

to celebrate success

to grieve loss

to honor mistakes

to appreciate each other

D E S I G N W I T H I N T E N T I O N

D I S C U S S T H E U N D I S C U S S A B L ET R U S T, T R A N S PA R E N C Y & T R U T H

When there is an elephant in the room, it can feel like a gaping hole. Everyone knows it is there, but, no-one speaks up.

When speaking the truth about how we are working together we can do something to improve our situation.

When is is covered up, it simmers away under the surface, creating a great divide. We wonder why, we keep falling into holes, or the unspoken bubbles up in anger, snide remarks, avoidance and conflict.

It doesn't have to be this way. There are safe ways to have conversations where people speak the truth, taking our team work to new dimensions of creativity.

T E A M C U LT U R E A R T E FA C T

Develop team behaviour

a r t e f a c t s t o k n o w w h a t

behaviours we are doing well

and what behaviours detract

our engagement.

This helps us talk about the

elephants in the room with

simplicity.

Track our own progress on a

rich team culture.

H O S T I N G T H E S PA C E

means aesthetics, energy, holding space for the safety for people to connect

allow for people to be themselves, create trust quickly

allow for emergence, surprise, creativity & self-organistion

How not to get shot

How to handle attacks and dirty fighting

How to handle resistance

Handling the incessant talker

How to use questions to increase effectiveness

Reading an individual’s readiness

How to send information and seek information effectively

How to listen to understand vs listening to respond

D I F F I C U LT M E E T I N G S

L O O K F O R T H E G O O D

in moments we can make a difference

affirm one another

see what is working and do more of that

acknowledge with a kind word

show appreciation

give a pleasant surprise for noticing, the unnoticed

A F F I R M A T I O N

– D E L O I T T E B E R S I N

“Organisations with a learning culture and invested in staff showed increased productivity by 52%, retention by 30-50% and a 17% increase in

profit.”

D E B O R A H L A N G Eis an Author, Advisor and Master of The Fine Art of Facilitation. She has over 35 years experience working in, advocating for and learning how to engage through embodied experience.

From corporate corridors to the red earth of the outback, buddhist monastery’s to African fire ceremonies, Deb has learned from and lead with some of the world’s most innovative minds.

Deb has designed many openings, and plenaries for conferences to generate engagement, facilitated executive retreats, leadership development, face to face feedback programs, and practised process consultancy to coach both teams and individuals in action.

Deb has an M.Ap.Sc (Hons) in Social Ecology, Degrees in Business and Education, Certificates in Social Artistry, Equine Facilitation and much more. She is also a certified InterPlay facilitator and wherever possible applies InterPlay practices and philosophy in her designs. InterPlay works with the social system and story to help people feel safe to experiment, express, connect and work together creatively.

“I enjoyed working with Deborah on challenging organisational projects. Her professionalism was very evident, and the passion and energy she devoted to the development of people in life enhancing ways to contribute to organisational effectiveness is to be admired.“ - Peter Simpson, Second Commissioner, Australian Taxation Office

“I gained the inspiration that we can achieve our vision for BioMetrics SA in the future. I am committed to developing my leadership approach and empowering the team and at the same time maintaining a balanced lifestyle for myself and my family. Deborah has played a significant part in me gaining the confidence in my abilities to develop the team.” - Ari Verblya, Director, Biometrics SA

“Deborah’s efforts in assisting SARDI grow have been appreciated. Her understanding of both the public and private sectors has enabled her to discern the appropriate strategies and approach our organisation as it has transitioned to a more commercial approach within a public sector framework.” - Rob Lewis, Executive Officer, SARDI

"Attending Deborah’s presentation was both a pleasure and a mind-shifting experience. Deborah has an innate ability to engage with her audience and guide participants to a new level of “understanding of their inner wisdom”. As Deborah points out ‘although we have been trained to Think’, Deborah opens the window to our intuitive capacities. She helped me understand ‘What I feel’ and it's impact on ‘Engagement’…so valuable from both a personal and career perspective. Thank you for your great wisdom and insights." - Alex Bonett, Professional Trainer

Deb’s creative and thoughtful session enabled individuals to express, reflect, adapt and connect in a safe, fun environment. Lessons emerged for all of us as she gently invited personal and group observations. Discussions about comparisons and contrasts with workplace dynamics switched on lightbulbs for everyone. The invigorating session offered different levels of participation, and accommodated introverts and extroverts alike. I recommend Deb’s approach to any organisation wanting to build high levels of trust and connection within the workplace. - Julie Hassard, Living Well Dying Well

T E S T I M O N I A L S

(+61) 418 338 889 www.deblange.com

deb@deblange.com.au

A F I N E A R T P R O C E S S