The perspective and state of mind from which a facilitator engages a group has a lot to do with the impact they will have on their group. Therefore, the inner attitudes and perspectives held by facilitators is a subject we're very interested in here at FacilitatorU.

As we continue to refine our take on facilitation, we've identified several perspective we feel are important for facilitators to embrace in their work. We call them "The Seven "U's" of Facilitation," or of FacilitatorU to truly drive home the "U" theme we've been visiting lately.

The Seven "U's" of FacilitatorU.

1. Universal Perspective. Facilitators are open to all people and perspectives and capable of sensing the larger truth in any group dynamic. This doesn't mean that "anything goes" in a group. It means that to the best of our ability, we are free of judgment regarding "right or wrong" viewpoints. Instead, we are open to supporting our groups to find the best solutions they can based on their collection desires, values, and interests.

2. Understanding. Facilitators model and facilitate the cultivation of deep understanding of the interests held and feeling experienced by each participant. This means that facilitators listen, observe, and empathize deeply with what's expressed. In a world where most of us are more interested in being heard than understanding others, this is a valuable behavior to model and takes groups a long way to aligning their energies to one another.

3. Unifying Purpose. Facilitators guide people from divergent interests and values to create and commit to a common purpose, freeing them from the barriers and misunderstandings that keep them from accomplishing larger goals.

4. Uncovering Possibility. Facilitators operate from a field of unlimited possibility which is contagious to participants. In a world of "either this or that," facilitators hold the space for and encourage exploration of the "and" around the issue at hand. There are always more, many more, than two solutions to any problem, yet this is often how we hear solutions to problems framed in our culture. This has less to do with the circumstances around a problem than it has to do with our habitual patterns of thinking...patterns that impede us from creating a wealth of alternatives.

5. Unique Solutions. Facilitators operate in present time and empower participants to respond to current reality to develop solutions that best fit today's challenges. Not surprisingly, history tends to repeat itself when we solve today's problems with yesterday's strategies. Facilitators encourage participants to look at current realities and to expose and withhold assumptions around these realities to craft the best solutions.

6. Unity of Group. Facilitators cultivate the realization of group mind and access to the greater potential of collective intelligence and passion to move the group forward. Facilitators know that this is a tangible capacity for those groups committed to realizing it and can guide those groups willing to achieve this level of intimacy.

7. It's About "U" (You). Who you are inside as a facilitator is reflected in your group in some way. Hence, effective self-facilitation is priority one. We all have our own "inner groups" that tend to go dysfunctional at times. Facilitators use their skills to clarify and focus their internal world to be the best instruments of service to their groups.