explore · Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution · 120–960 min · 6-25 people · medium energy

Dynamic Facilitation

The facilitator follows the group's energy rather than an agenda. Every contribution is welcomed and written onto one of four charts: Problem Statements, Solutions, Concerns, and Data. People speak to the facilitator rather than to each other, which takes the heat out of disagreement. Over time the group often sees the problem differently and reaches a solution everyone can support, which Rough calls choice-creating.

When to use Dynamic Facilitation

Use when a group cares strongly about a messy, contested problem and structured problem-solving keeps stalling.

What it solves

Heated issues get cut into agenda items and voted through, and the real disagreement comes back next month.

How to run Dynamic Facilitation, step by step

  1. Put up four charts: Problem Statements, Solutions, Concerns, Data (5 min).
  2. Invite people to say what is on their mind about the issue, speaking to the facilitator (ongoing).
  3. Write each contribution on the matching chart in the speaker's own words and reflect it back until they feel heard (ongoing).
  4. When someone attacks an idea, record it as a Concern and ask what they would do instead (ongoing).
  5. Keep going without forcing convergence. Watch for the problem statement changing or a solution that draws wide energy (2-6 hours).
  6. Read back the charts and name what has shifted, including any decision the group has reached (15 min).

Materials needed

  • Four large chart areas on the wall
  • Markers
  • Chairs in a semicircle facing the charts

Facilitator tips

  • Protect whoever is speaking. Once people trust they will be heard, they stop repeating themselves.
  • Resist steering towards a decision. The shifts come when the group feels fully heard.
  • It needs real energy on the issue. With a topic nobody cares about, there is nothing to work with.

Common pitfalls

  • The facilitator gets nervous at the apparent mess and imposes a structure halfway through.
  • Recording paraphrases instead of the speaker's words, so people do not recognise their own ideas.

Variations

  • Wisdom Council: a randomly selected group uses Dynamic Facilitation on a public issue and presents its conclusions to the wider community.

Running it online or hybrid

Use four visible areas on a shared board that only the facilitator writes into. The facilitator must be able to see every face.

What it produces

Four charts holding every problem statement, solution, concern and fact raised, and often a shared new framing or decision.

Origin

Developed by Jim Rough while working with teams of hourly employees at a sawmill. Taught by Rough and Rosa Zubizarreta. — source

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