Adopting a neutral mindset

- Your power to influence the group…helps you facilitate good meetings,…but it can also unintentionally influence team members.…The process is subtle;…you can miss it if you're not present in the moment.…It could be because you provided an opinion,…or you keep agreeing with certain people.…When this happens, you become a crutch to the team…in that they begin relying on your opinions…instead of taking ownership over their own process.…It's at this point that you've moved…from being a facilitator to simply a contributor.…Why does this happen?…In my experience, facilitators never intend any harm,…but often, it comes down to our own ego.…

It feels good to add value, provide our opinions,…and have people listen.…And in the moment, it rarely feels disruptive to the team.…Ultimately though, we disempower the team…from developing their own conclusions and way forward.…This means training yourself to be open to any thinking…that is different than yours.…You've got to watch your physical cues…like rolling eyes, and stop yourself…