Have you ever used a new activity during a facilitation that didn’t go as well as you had hoped? 

Have you ever used a new activity, that you had never used before, during a facilitation that didn’t go as well as you had hoped?  How did you handle it?

Sometimes we introduce an activity that generates some heat, and we’re not sure how to handle it, despite our years of experience ;-0  We have to determine how long to let the group sit in the heat – do we just let them figure it out, or do we intervene and stop the activity?  I’ve heard situations that went both ways – the group managed to get past it, and in some cases the facilitator stopped the activity. 

The question this raises is:  What are the parameters that one should use in selecting an activity for a group – an activity that you’ve never used before and aren’t sure how it’s going to go?  What factors would you consider?  Here are a few:

• How well do the participants know each other?  That increases chances of success.
• What’s the degree of psychological safety in this team or group?  If you don’t know, try to find out – ask your sponsor or the team leader.
• What are the power dynamics in the room?  Is there a boss present with his/her team? 
• What power dynamics are inherent in the proposed activity?  Is it likely to create separation or tension between different levels of power?
  • If you’re not sure how this will play out, ask some colleagues – have they tried this activity before?  What should you be aware of? 
• Does the activity build on collaboration or collaborative problem solving?  In which case you’re less likely to get into trouble – or does it create a division between people?
• What’s your level of tolerance for letting people sit in the heat?  If it’s low, then choose something less risky.

So, just some factors to consider. It’s great to debrief these situations with colleagues to hear their approaches so we can try something different next time. 

We’d love to learn from your experience if you’d like to share 🙂