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The Global Flipchart is IAF's quarterly magazine about the power of facilitation – made by members, for members. Contact the editorial team by email: globalflipchart@iaf-world.org

Global Flipchart

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September 2016
| Issue #5

Feature: Facilitative Leadership

How does facilitation look like beyond the meeting? How do facilitators lead? How do leaders facilitate? In the run-up of the IAF Conference “The Urge for Facilitative Leadership” in the Netherlands (October 7-9), the editorial team decided to investigate.

Here’s what we learned:

When facing volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environments, facilitative leadership helps us work with systems and complexity. Read more in Michelle McCormack’s article Practicing Facilitative Leadership.
Addressing complex challenges with groups requires building trust and a collaborative culture first. This sometimes feels counterintuitive. Read more in Rebecca Ejo Colwell’s article Understanding Facilitative Leadership.
Mindfulness and reflection is one of the core preconditions of facilitative leadership. Read more in Monique Walsh’s article Applying Facilitative Leadership as a Mindset: Three Simple Ways.
Facilitative leadership is a lot like organising a dinner party. The focus is on creating conditions for a successful interaction. Read more in Mark McKergow’s article Want to lead facilitatively? Think like a host!
We can start making change by defining reality and possibilities, and our last task is always to celebrate and say “thank you”. Read more in Jan Lelie’s article On Nature and Nurture of Facilitative Leadership.
Simple skills go a long way: just by planning and conducting great meetings you can become a better leader. Read more in Beatrice Brigg’s article Facilitation is a Leadership Skill.
Visuals can be a fun way to encourage diverse perspectives, clarify disagreements and build relationships. Read more in Mia Liljeberg’s article Graphic facilitation + Facilitative leadership = Sustainable results.
Start by paying attention and listening. Your role is to help the group develop their best thinking. Facilitative leadership can be quietly powerful – like earthworms working underground. Read more Voices from the IAF Hall of Fame.