6 signs that you might be a facilitator
Last November I completed my annual Sprint For Good project and was overwhelmed by the number of individuals who were interested in joining my facilitation 101 workshop. I had more than 100 applications for a 10-seat class, which tells me that: (1) many of you are considering a career in facilitation, or (2) many of you are acting as the unofficial facilitator within your organization, or (3) you really wanted to spend two hours with me on Zoom.
This got me thinking about all the ways in which many of us may already demonstrate facilitator tendencies naturally without even knowing it. And so this list was born!
Whether you’re looking for a career change, or simply feel curious about cultivating this skillset, these six behaviors might indicate that facilitation is in your DNA.
1. You recap things live.
Do you find yourself synthesizing what has been said into a succinct summary for the group? During a meeting you tend to replay what was discussed in real time, or constantly guide the group back to the problem you’re trying to solve. You can’t help yourself, you like to summarize and crystallize things at the end of conversations.
2. You want to organize or drive meetings that are unstructured or meandering.
Do you feel the urge to take control and get into the driver’s seat during meetings? You may not own the meeting, or be the highest-paid person in the room, or even feel empowered to take the reins, but you have the desire to do so. Whether you find yourself full of ideas for improving meeting framework without the voice to express them, or are already vocalizing your suggestions to the group, these are early indicators that you might be a facilitator.
3. You find yourself at the whiteboard drawing and capturing.
Do you find yourself with a marker in hand, scribbling on the board for the whole room to see? In a virtual world, this might mean you’re owning the digital whiteboard. It also might mean capturing what you heard during a meeting and sharing it out with the participants afterward so they know what was agreed on, next steps and action items.
4. People look to you to organize the meeting agenda.
Do people often look to you for input on how a meeting should be organized, or which activities should be included? People with natural facilitation skills are often consulted by others to guide the agenda for the group even if they don’t own the meeting. I found that I was often consulted for advice on how to structure workshops that weren’t even mine to run.
5. You’re asking questions vs giving answers during a meeting.
Do you find yourself continuing to drive clarity for the group by asking question after question? This role is so important because it illuminates things that aren’t being considered, ensures the group stays on track, and helps align the team by the time the meeting adjourns.
6. You don’t feel the need to be right, but you can’t rest until there’s clarity.
Period. Sometimes your question-asking and answer-seeking ways may frustrate others, but without that spirit the kinks wouldn’t get worked out.
If any of this resonates with you, you aren’t alone. I too was naturally portraying these behaviors at work, which is why I left my amazing job to start a career as a facilitator. If you’re ready to take the leap, already have, or simply want to get better at your unofficial role, these are my quick tips for being a great facilitator.