FACILITATION
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Facilitation is a management skill where a third party neutral
assists groups to work together in a range of different forums to
achieve agenda goals.  As parties try to collect information,
formulate proposals, defend their views and take account of
what others are saying, a facilitator reminds them of the ground
rules they have adopted and, much like a referee, will intervene
when a participant violates the ground rules. 

Facilitators are usually neutral third parties. 

Negotiating parties should have available to them processes for breaking deadlocks or mechanisms to help advance dialogue in meaningful ways.  The Facilitator helps this process. 

Who pays for the Facilitator?  Ideally, each party pays an equal share of the cost.  One party may pay the whole of the fee.  The other parties need to be satisfied that the Facilitator will remain independent.

Some facilitation techniques:-

(1)  Before the meeting the Facilitator reads the background information provided by the parties (a joint list of
      documents should be agreed upon).
(2)  In the opening session the basis for the disagreement is established and the dialogue moves forward
      from there.
(3)  In confidential separate private sessions with each of the parties options can be developed. 
      These options will look at breaking deadlocks, if any exist.

A confidentiality agreement is recommended to operate during the meeting.  Discussions between the Facilitator and individual parties or their representatives both before and during the meeting and afterwards will remain confidential.

When an agreement is reached it can be put into writing and signed by each participating party.

Pre-litigation discussions need to be specifically set up to ensure that they are confidential and on a Without Prejudice basis, otherwise the parties need to wait for the litigation to commence before the discussions can proceed on a Without Prejudice basis.  Waiting for the litigation to commence is an unsatisfactory waste of time.  Time is money so money is wasted as well.

Next time you plan a meeting think about seeking the assistance of a skilled Facilitator. 

If you need further information about how your issue can be facilitated email johnhaydon@ecodirections.com  or phone (07) 3236 1633.

     


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