The Facilitation Community of Practice

10 Qualities of Facilitative Leaders

What are the ten qualitites of facilitative leaders? Do you exercise these qualities? What qualities might you add?

The following list comes from the Master Facilitator Journal. Go to their website for more information and leadership ideas.

1. You’re Facilitative vs. Directive. Facilitative leaders know
that they’re not here to “fix” anyone. While they may be the
“designated” leader, they understand that they don’t always need to
have all the answers. As a facilitative leader, you see your job as
one where you help your team members expand the horizons of their
awareness, and facilitate them taking responsibility for their
actions, past, present, and future.

2. You’re not a “know-it-all.” Being the leader doesn’t necessarily
mean that you have to be the “authority” on the subject at hand.
The amount of brilliance unleashed in your team depends on how well
you let go of your need to know more than anyone else.

3. You’re a guide on the side vs. a sage on center stage. The way
most of us were raised and schooled, we were conditioned to shut up
and listen to the wisdom of the “expert” on the podium or the
person “in charge.” But if you consistently approach your
leadership from the perspective that the wisdom in the “room” is
far more potent than the “sage” in front of the room, you’ll see
your people more engaged, having more fun, and achieving greater
results.

4. You believe in your people. You see, invite, and challenge your
people, not based on what they’ve done, but what you know they can
do based on the latent abilities you see in them – abilities that
they may not be aware of just yet. Empowering your team takes a
huge burden off of you to do everything as the leader. This is
replaced by the burden of faith you must maintain in what’s
possible and hold that vision in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

5. You’re transparent. You don’t withhold relevant thoughts and
feelings to try to look good to your team. To the degree we are
honest about what we see and experience, the more effortlessly we
will move forward, and the more powerful our invitation is to
others to accept and see what is.

6. You make adjustments instead of judgments. Facilitative leaders
are models of functional behavior. You engender trust by telling
the truth and doing what you say you will do. You gracefully accept
constructive feedback from your team members. When you make
mistakes, you own them, correct them, and move on.

7. You’re over yourself. You accept yourself fully, flaws and all.
You’ve given up presenting an image you think others want to see
and offer your unique self as you are, placing your focus on
greater visions, on others, and on the task at hand.

8. You practice extreme responsibility. You get that you choose
your thoughts, feelings, and actions in every moment no matter the
outer circumstances. When the unexpected occurs, instead of letting
it set you back, you simply ask, “What’s my next action?”

9. You practice being present. You live in the present knowing that
this is where you get your power and knowledge of right action. You
simply notice where you are and when you’re not here, you choose to
be “here” now. People’s ongoing patterns of behavior show up
constantly in their everyday interactions. Being available to the
present moment helps you discern these behaviors, provide
compassionate feedback when possible, and see the underlying
dynamics that cause problems in groups. Ironically, the best future
possible will be derived from living solidly, fully, and
effectively in the now.

10. You take excellent care of yourself. You engage in regular
centering and self-care practices to help you stay in peak
condition physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Engage in practices to expand and cultivate your awareness such as
meditation, marshal arts, tai chi, yoga, good nutrition, exercise,
diaphragmatic breathing, practicing presence, etc.