I had a simple session to facilitate the other day. A short, 30 minute mindfulness practice. I was tired and had a lot on the go. To be honest I was also a little bored with these sessions and so I left it to the last minute. I joined, a little distracted and with a secret hope that no-one would arrive so I could get back to my day.
A few people joined. As I welcomed them and took us through an exercise, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. I was off. We as a result were off. Maybe the group noticed it, maybe they didn’t. But I know that the potential of that space could have been far greater.
Facilitation, or at least the only kind of facilitation I’m interested in, can’t be performed. It requires us. We are the instruments.
But what about AI facilitation? Surely this evidences that facilitation can be just a process, transactional? Sure! If an AI were facilitating (which I believe could be the case for many meetings in future) then the only human experience is that of the participants. Whereas when I’m facilitating, I am also present. I am also participating.
And so from this simple session, I took a fresh intention to be prepared, present, and participating in every workshop. No matter how simple. No matter how small. This work requires us. Participants deserve us. And surely, the world needs us.
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