Feature
Change Facilitation
TITA DATU-PUANGCO
Ms. TitaDatu-Puangco is the President and CEO of Ancilla Enterprise Development Consulting, an innovative provider of Organization Development and Training solutions in the ASEAN region. For your letters and feedback, email: tdpuangco @ ancillaedc. com. ph or fax: 556-3394 or call 556-3215, 16 or 19. Blog: titatalkstraining. blogspot. com
Last month, our company did a 5-day workshop to enhance the facilitation skills of talents who would become change catalysts in their enterprise. Once again I am amazed at the capability of people to transform themselves and commit to be at the service of others and their organization.
FIRST EXPOSURE
I recalled how in the early seventies, on an academic scholarship, I attended my first workshop in group dynamics at the Battle Creek Seminar Center of the University of Michigan. It created such an impression on me as I learned about self-mastery and the ability to do process observation of groups as well as the personal use of power. Little did I know then that I would shift my career as a journalist to the fulfilling job of an Organization Development specialist. What the two professions had in common was the capability to keenly observe human behaviors and arrive at conclusions that move people to decision and action.
OD GROUP
Recently, we had a Christmas reunion with colleagues of the original Organization Development Group of San Miguel Corporation. We ate good food and played games together. We remembered our joys and fulfilling moments as well as our mistakes and learning moments. We understood how practice made us perfect the art of facilitation. We also realized how our chosen profession has enriched us as persons and as professionals. We have gone our different ways but one thing remains- our competencies have been put to good use at the service of people and organizations.
FACILITATION BENEFITS
What are the benefits of facilitation skills? We realize that at the heart of effective change are leaders and facilitators with the ability to engage and involve people.
Change is all about making it easy for people to reflect on what they are doing, thinking and shifting mindsets and behaviors. It is empowering them to behave in ways that cause people to rethink structures, systems and their way of doing things to move towards greater efficiency and effectiveness.
KEY COMPETENCIES
What are the key competencies of an effective facilitator? First, the facilitator must reflect to " know thyself ". You have to understand and recognize the authentic you versus your cocktail self that often may be " positive but phony " and the " negative and depressed” self. It is cutting through one ' s defense mechanisms to be true and real to self. It is also the ability to process how situations affect or impact you to move towards action.
Here I often use the SRRA tool. Understand the Situation, explore your Reactions, Reflect on your insights into your situation and reaction and them move into Action.
This simple guide has helped many leaders achieve greater balance in addressing critical leadership situations. I have also seen how intelligent and technically competent people have failed because of the lack of emotional resilience and flexibility.
12 PEOPLE MANAGER I January 2013