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| Master
Facilitator Journal | Issue #0205, May 24, 2005 | 7,000 Subscribers.. |
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Dear
friends,
Good facilitators spend
time thinking through and designing processes that we think will
be effective for our customer's unique needs. This is simply good
and responsible planning. But how many times have you felt uneasy
about being prepared enough? Or how many times have you found that
you had to deviate heavily from your plan? I know I have been in
these positions more often than not. I've also found that often
my best work has been done during those times where I simply "didn't
know what I was doing." Yet when it was all over, I knew that
I had done something special and the feedback from participants
confirmed it. This week we look at the overrated nature of thinking
by exploring the concept of "thinking without thinking"
laid out by Malcolm Gladwell in his new book "Blink."
Due to the great reception we received on "The Improvisational
Facilitator" teleclass, we've scheduled two additional sessions
of this class in June. One in a five-day format and the other in
a 4-week format. This class
presents powerful, practical improv techniques that are actually
inner attitudes and practices that you can use to immediately enhance
your facilitation, training, and group leadership skills.
This class is very interactive and uses many innovative experiential
activities that will surely surprise you. I'm really looking forward
to stepping through this process with you and hope to see many of
you there. Please see
details at the bottom of this issue and register by May 31st
to take advantage of our early registration discount.
If you are involved or plan to be involved facilitating or managing
virtual teams, you'll want to attend our upcoming 5-day teleclass
starting June 13th called Managing
People You Rarely See. This teleclass will be of interest to facilitators
and leaders working with virtual groups. Click
here to check out the details on this class, and if you're interested,
register now to take advantage of our early registration discount
by May 20th.
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Starts June
13th
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Starts
June 6th
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Self-Guided
Version
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| Self-Facilitation
Skill |
Is Thinking Overrated?
Putting
intuitive
perceptions on
par with rational
thinking
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| The
Point |
Good facilitators spend
time thinking through and designing processes that we think will be effective
for our customer's unique needs. This is simply good and responsible planning.
But how many times have you felt uneasy about being prepared enough? Or
how many times have you found that you had to deviate heavily from your
plan? I know I have been in these positions more often than not. I've
also found that often my best work has been done during those times where
I simply "didn't know what I was doing." Yet when it was all
over, I knew that I had done something special and the feedback from participants
confirmed it.
We're taught all of our lives to use
our heads. Who among us isn't familiar with statements like these:
"Come on now, use your head!"
"Think about what you're doing!"
"Knowledge is power"
"Think! Think!"
We put great faith in rigorous, rational scientific analysis as our savior
in times of trouble. We look for the counsel of experts in areas where
we feel we lack "expert knowledge." Yet everyone of us, at one
time or another, has had a hunch or a "gut instinct" that told
us something useful about a situation that turned out to be right on.
As it turns out, science is discovering that we have within us an enormous
capacity to make lightning fast decisions without the benefit of conscious
analysis, many of which are very accurate. It turns out that we have a
name for this capacity. It's called our adaptive unconscious. It provides
us with hunches or intuitive hits that we can't explain, largely because
their source involves access to huge amounts of unconscious material.
It's been said that if our thumb represents our conscious mind, then the
rest of our body represents our unconscious minds. If this is anywhere
close to the truth, and I believe it is, then most of the reasons we give
for our likes, dislikes, and the actions we take are wrong. This is true
because we are driven in large part by motivations and desires that are
outside our conscious awareness.
In Improv, we employ special exercises that help us to not think or process
while we practice listening to others. Most people find, much to their
amazement, that they are able to listen to and respond far more effectively
"without thinking!"--consciously that is. Of course processes
are happening that allow us to access the response we need without distracting
ourselves consciously to think about it. These are great skills to develop
and give one a great deal of added confidence that it's not their conscious
thinking that they have to worry so much about. What they truly need to
respond, even more effectively than usual, is already within them and
accessed more effectively by not thinking at all. This takes a great deal
of faith at first. Or shall we, as facilitators are fond of saying, "trust
in the process"--the inner process of our "adaptive unconscious."
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| Application
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Malcolm Gladwell, in his latest book, "Blink,"
gives dozens of examples of how people make brilliant snap judgments that
rival the finds of volumes of scientific research.
He kicks his book off with the story of the Getty Museum's purchase of
an ancient 2,500 year old statue called a kouros for $10 Million. Experts
spent 14 months studying the artifact to verify its authenticity, after
which they did in fact purchase the statue. During this period, a couple
of third party experts were brought in to view the statue and remarked
in one way or another upon their first glance that authenticity was in
question. They had nothing to back up their feelings but they were strong
nonetheless. As time went on, others began to question the statues authenticity
and with more exhaustive research, it was now proven to be a forgery.
How could it be that some people could look at a statue and in two seconds
come up with a conclusion that 14 months of detailed, rational, scientific
research could not?
Gladwell also quoted the results of speed-dating studies that indicate
most people have a stated set of parameters they use to select mates,
and a much different unconscious list that actually drives their attraction
to prospective mates. The bottom line from this and other research quoted
in the book indicates that people are largely ignorant of the things that
affect their actions but rarely feel ignorant. He suggests that we should
say "I don't know" more often as it is more often than not closer
to the truth.
Perhaps this lack of awareness of our unconscious material, particularly
that part we don't like to look at (our shadow as coined by Jung) explains
why the whole world can continually speak of peace, while peace continues
to elude us.
Recognition of the power of snap judgments is not intended to discount
the value of scientific analysis, planning, and the expertise developed
over years of study and practice. But we would often do well to question
"hard scientific facts" as they are not always as hard as we
think they are, and "irrational intuitive hits" often carry
more weight than we care to give them.
Gladwell also shows that there is another category of snap judgments that
are faulty, as they are built on irrational and unconscious cultural biases.
Race and gender biases fit into this category, as do our desire to trust
tall, dark, handsome, and charismatic men.
Gladwell found that it's not how much information we have, and how long
we deliberate that contributes to the quality of our decisions, but how
well we discern those few simple keys that carry most of the weight. So
after taking all this in, consider practicing tapping into and acting
on your adaptive unconscious through the use of snap judgments when appropriate
in leading your groups, and encourage your participants to do the same.
See if you can come to trust this great resource within you and use it
to your advantage.
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| Action |
This week practice tapping into and
acting on your adaptive unconscious through the use of snap judgments.
Which ones can you trust, and which ones are in question? We'd love
to hear you're perspectives and experiences. Please
send us your comments.
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Resource
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 Blink
: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell
Blink is about the first two seconds of looking--the decisive glance that
knows in an instant. Gladwell, the best-selling author of The Tipping
Point, campaigns for snap judgments and mind reading with a gift for translating
research into splendid storytelling. Building his case with scenes from
a marriage, heart attack triage, speed dating, choking on the golf course,
selling cars, and military maneuvers, he persuades readers to think small
and focus on the meaning of "thin slices" of behavior. The key
is to rely on our "adaptive unconscious"--a 24/7 mental valet--that
provides us with instant and sophisticated information to warn of danger,
read a stranger, or react to a new idea.
He goes on to explain how to make better instant judgments by training
our mind and senses to focus on the most relevant facts??”and that less
input (as long as it's the right input) is better than more. Perhaps the
most stunning example he gives of this counterintuitive truth is the most
expensive war game ever conducted by the Pentagon, in which a wily marine
officer, playing "a rogue military commander" in the Persian
Gulf and unencumbered by hierarchy, bureaucracy and too much technology,
humiliated American forces whose chiefs were bogged down in matrixes,
systems for decision making and information overload.
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| In
the Spotlight |
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The
Improvisational Facilitator
It's
easier than you think...your
life is already an improv!
Learn
improv techniques to become a more effective facilitator,
trainer, and group leader
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The Improvisational Facilitator Teleclass
The inner attitudes of facilitators, trainers, and leaders are keys
to their success with groups. However, very few trainings address
the development of those inner qualities that can make a good leader
great. That's why I'm thrilled to be offering this class where we'll
present powerful, practical improv techniques that are actually
inner attitudes and practices that you can use to immediately enhance
your facilitation, training, and group leadership skills.
This dynamic teleclass, led by master trainer,
Sue Walden, is for anyone who facilitates, manages, teaches, mediates,
coaches, counsels, directs any group. This highly interactive course
provides an experiential approach using very novel exercises
to help you build the skills to create an environment for participation;
one that encourages openness and risk-taking for you and groups.
Benefits
to you of participating from this Improv Training...
1. Gain tools that will help you relax and have a lot more fun with
your groups.
2. Learn simple strategies that will help you to be more open and
flexible to the specific and dynamic needs of your groups.
3.
Be able to connect whatever people share to the group purpose or
theme.
4. Get a lot more comfortable being "in the moment" with
your groups..
5. You won't panic when you "lose your place."
6. Come to enjoy dealing with the "unexpected" in your
groups.
7. Never have speaker's block again.
8. Discover reservoirs of creativity within you that you didn't
know existed.
9. Collaborate and learn from a community of your peers, all passionate
about empowering groups.
Comments
from past participants...
I've
been to lots of teleclasses but have never done offline partner
exercises like this and they worked great, they really heightened
the learning. Excellent resource book.
How
the Training works...
1. You dial into your class every day for a 75-90 minute focused
training segment using a conferencing bridge.
2. Several times we will leave the bridge line for short 8-12 minute
periods to give you the opportunity to engage in short exercises
with a partner to practice and deepen your skills.
3. You work through a learning/resource workbook which accompanies
the class including practice assignments after each session.
4. You will have the opportunity to discuss issues on the subject
matter with the instructors and your classmates via an online listserve
during the course.
5. During the course, you may access the instructors via email for
help or situational questions.
Improvisational
Facilitator Training Agenda...
Here's what you'll be learning and doing during the course...
Being
present to your natural creativity
-
Overview
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Introducing the Parking Lot
- Awareness
experience
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What is your default facilitation skill set?
- Improv
Core Skills that support facilitation
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Exploring 1st Core Skill: Present Time
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The "Voice Mirror," a simple and powerful listening
tool
- Facilitation
Applications
Building the
"muscle" that encourages participation
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Check in on practice assignment
- Explore
2nd Core Skill: Openness
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Experiencing the look and feel of openness
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Building the openness “muscle”
- The
"Yes and..." approach
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Facilitation Applications
Making flexibility
a way of being
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Check in about practice assignment
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Explore 3rd Core Skill: Flexibility
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Combining Being Present and Open to become more flexible
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Identify unexpected challenges in facilitating
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Building the options and possibilities “muscle”
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Facilitation Applications
Witnessing the
magic
- Check
in about practice assignment
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Introduce “The Observer”
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Apply Core Skills to self
- Getting
present with self
- Quiet
the inner critic
- Think
on your feet
- Be
aware of your language
- Facilitation
Applications
Further applications
and applied Improv
- Check
in about practice assignment
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Explore other applications of Improv Core Skills
-
Emptying the Parking Lot
-
Q & A with the Applied Improv Process
Also
included with your training...
In addition to the training described above, you also receive:
1. Free Learning/Resource Workbook ($20 value) to help you drill
down deep and master the art of improv for use in facilitation,
training, leadership, and group work.
2. Free access to the RealAudio version of the training ($69 value).
3. Free pre-recorded one-hour real audio teleclass, "The Art
of Improv in Facilitation, featuring Izzy Gesell, who discusses
the use of humor and improvisational theater techniques as facilitation
tools.($20 value).
4. Articles and resources around using Improv in leadership and
facilitation:
__-
Collection of humor and improv resources.
__- The Six Paradoxes of Improv.
Six paradoxes that will help free you to be a better facilitator
____and trainer.
__- Leadership Through Improv.
Article on how Improv techniques can be applied to leadership.
Pricing...
The full cost of training/access is only $99 including the free
items ( worth $109) listed above. Everything you read about above
is included. And, we offer a 100%-satisfaction-guaranteed guarantee.
Early Registration Discount: Sign up by May 31st for $89
Registration...
Immediately
upon completion of your registration, you will receive an email
with instructions to access the course and free article bank.
This course is limited to 20 individuals on a first come basis.
I
really enjoyed the Improv class. Great material, excellent delivery
including the opportunities to "try it out" in partner
settings. --Sandy Brown, Facilitator, Intel Corporation--
Dates...
This teleclass will be offered in two separate formats. A 5-day,
75-minute class, starting June 6th, and a four-week, 90-minute class
starting June 9th. Each session contains the same material simply
offered in different time formats based on your preference.
Session 1:
5-Day Teleclass, meets 75 minutes everyday from 1:00PM to 2:15 PM
EDT (NY Time), Monday through Friday, June 6-10th
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Please click
here
to register for 5-Day Teleclass
June 6-10th
Session 2: Four-week
Teleclass, meets 90 minutes every Thursday from 4:00PM to 5:30 PM
EDT (NY Time), June 9th through June 30th
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Please click
here
to register for 4 week Teleclass
Starting Thursday, June 9th
Self-Guided
Real Audio Version
If you'd like to learn this
material at your own pace and on your own schedule, you can purchase
the real audio version of this teleclass complete with the learning
guide. You'll be provided with access to recorded offerings of the
five-hour teleclass (5 hours total) that you can listen to online
and follow along in the learning guide is used in the live class.
Click
here to purchase for $69.
Self-Guided
(Real Audio Only)
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Click
here to purchase the
Real Audio Version for $69.
Self-Guided
5-Day CD Version
The Compact Disk (CD) version
comes with all of the self-guided features listed above, together
with 5 CD's you'll receive by mail that you can listen to anywhere
you have access to a CD player. Click
here to purchase for $79.
Self-Guided
(CD's and Real
Audio Only)
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Click
here to purchase the CD
Version for $79
plus $4 Shipping and Handling
One-Day
Live Version
Interested
in a one-day "live" version of this class offered to your
group? Email
us to
discuss options.
Your
instructors
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Sue Walden. Sue Walden is the Founder and Director of ImprovWorks,
a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building Life Skills
through Improvisation. Her experience includes a BA in Education
and 26 years of teaching, performing and adapting and widely applying
the techniques of improvisation. She approaches improv training
as a powerful and joyful way to peel away constraints, restraints
and inhibitions, allowing the naturally expressive, collaborative
and creative self to emerge.
Sue is a skilled
teacher in ImprovWorks' public workshop program, a dynamic corporate
facilitator, an engaging speaker, an author (Working with Groups
to Enhance Relationships, Whole Person Assoc.), the delightful "Playmeister"
of both the public and corporate Recess! programs, the director
and a regular performer with San Francisco's longest-running improvisational
theater company, "Flash Family". She has been a member
of the Specialty Staff for the year-long Co-Active Leadership Program
since its inception eight years ago.
Her current
passion is training trainers and consulting on how to design powerful
experiential workshops. Sue promises that, in any of her programs,
while the learning may be challenging, it will also be fun!
![]() Steve
Davis. Steve
Davis, M.A., M.S., is an Facilitator's Coach, Infoprenuer, and free-lance
human, helping facilitators, organizational leaders, educators,
trainers, coaches and consultants present themselves confidently,
access their creativity, empower their under-performing groups,
enhance their facilitation skills, and build their business online
and offline.
Steve spends most of his time building and running FacilitatorU.com.
He also publishes a weekly ezine for facilitators called, the Master
Facilitator Journal, continues to write ebooks, design teleclasses,
and maintain a part-time coaching practice. His breadth of experience
spans business, corporate management, engineering, teaching, spiritual
psychology, and wellness, offering a pragmatic yet creative coaching
foundation. To learn more about Steve, visit his website at www.livingmastery.com.
About
the satisfaction guarantee
If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with this package, simply
email us with a request to refund/credit your credit card in the
full amount and we will do so immediately. It's our policy to do
this and we honor this in every single case. This policy completely
removes the buying risk for you and keeps our customer-satisfaction
rates extremely high.
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Master Facilitator Journal Web Site
Feature Article:
Thinking Without Thinking