What do you do if you want to leverage your strong facilitation skills for a successful executive career?
Facilitation skills are crucial for executives who aspire to lead effectively and drive organizational success. These skills, which include the ability to guide discussions, make decisions collaboratively, and foster a productive environment, can set you apart in the executive world. If you're looking to leverage your strong facilitation abilities to advance your career, understanding how to apply them strategically can be your key to climbing the corporate ladder. Excelling as a facilitator not only helps in managing teams but also in steering high-stakes meetings and negotiations, ensuring that your voice is instrumental in shaping the future of your company.
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Gary Rush IAF Certified Professional Facilitator MasterTransforming your workforce by developing collaborative leadership capabilities that increase performance 'n engagement…
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Elizabeth Taylor🦄Professional Development | Leadership | Learning and Development | Program Management | I'm Your Corporate Bestie | The…
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Amena 🦒 Chaudhry, SHRM-SCPExecutive Inclusion & Emotional Resilience Coach • DEI Strategist • Speaker ➡️ I help high-impact, high-integrity…
To leverage your facilitation skills for executive success, start by conducting a self-assessment. Recognize your strengths and areas for improvement by reflecting on past experiences where you facilitated effectively. Consider the techniques that worked best for you—whether it's active listening, conflict resolution, or strategic questioning. Understanding your unique facilitation style will allow you to apply it more consciously and effectively in leadership roles, demonstrating your capability to guide teams and influence decision-making processes.
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Facilitation skills develop strong people skills. I've had numerous students go on from being facilitators to becoming CEOs, CIOs, and CTOs because they had both effective technical skills, but also strong people skills - people drive the organization.
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It’s important reflect on how your facilitation style reflects your personality and how you to be perceived. One of the best questions you can ask yourself is “how do I want people to feel after they leave a session with me?” And then document what those characteristics look and sound like. Start practicing those techniques. Facilitation is a muscle that requires repetition to get stronger. The more reps, and the more diversity, allow you to practice in a variety of ways. Soon you’ll find what you like/dislike about your style and grow into it, own it. You’ll soon understand what makes you unique and diverse amongst others.
Effective communication is the cornerstone of strong facilitation. As an aspiring executive, you must hone your ability to articulate ideas clearly and listen actively. This involves practicing both verbal and non-verbal communication skills, such as maintaining eye contact and using positive body language. By mastering these skills, you'll be better equipped to lead discussions, present your vision, and negotiate with stakeholders, ensuring that your message is not just heard but also resonates with your audience.
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Becoming an effective Facilitator develops strong communication skills. You practice presenting, reading others, and active listening - all outstanding communication skills.
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Mastering communication is a key skill for not only facilitation, but also executive leadership. It’s important to understand everyone’s perspective and diverse backgrounds. This will challenge you to think on your feet, respond to uncomfortable situations on the fly, and address and command an audience. Executive leaders need to be empathetic, actively listen, and address all types of issues or conflicts that may arise. How a leader and facilitator handles these situations, hopefully with diplomacy and tact, will influence the experience of others who are listening.
Building strong relationships is essential for any executive. Use your facilitation skills to create a network of trust and respect with colleagues at all levels. Foster an environment where open dialogue is encouraged and everyone feels valued. This will not only enhance team cohesion but also position you as a leader who is approachable and invested in the well-being of your team members. Strong relationships can lead to better collaboration and more successful outcomes.
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Reach out to existing connections who are currently executives or have executive experience in their resume. Ask to meet and have a proactive plan for the conversation. It's respectful of their time. Ask what facilitation skills they use as an executive. Ask how they grew and grow their facilitation skills. If they know you well, ask them for feedback on your facilitation strengths and weaknesses. After the conversation assess your facilitation skills in light of the conversation.
Strategic thinking is a must for executives who facilitate. You need to be able to see the bigger picture and guide discussions toward long-term objectives. This means being prepared, setting clear agendas, and keeping conversations focused on strategic goals. By integrating facilitation skills with strategic thinking, you can ensure that every meeting and decision aligns with the company's vision, driving progress and innovation.
Your ability to influence decisions is a testament to your facilitation prowess. As you climb the executive ladder, use your skills to bring people together and create consensus around key issues. This involves understanding different perspectives and finding common ground. Your role as a facilitator is to navigate through complex discussions and help shape the outcomes that align with organizational goals.
Finally, commit to continuous learning to refine your facilitation skills. Attend workshops, seek mentorship, and stay updated on industry trends. Being proactive about your development will not only enhance your current skill set but also prepare you for future challenges. As the business landscape evolves, so should your facilitation techniques, ensuring you remain an effective and dynamic leader.
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Continuous learning is critical for adapting to change in a timely and relevant manner. Executives need to be able to engage with their followers/audience in a way that is receptive to them. Staying up to date on leadership approaches, understanding the change in employee needs and communication styles, thinking about how generational workforces differ and tailoring messages to be consistent yet feel connected is hugely important. A dynamic leader can adjust their communication style for the needs of those who are receiving their message.
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Consider working with an Inclusion Coach to develop strong intercultural competence skills. No matter how good your facilitation skills are, if you don't know what to do in conflict, when there's dissent, when there's significant power differentials standing in people's ways to collaborate...you will not be able to facilitate effectively. Inclusion Coaching is ESPECIALLY crucial in today's climate and context. It's why this is one of my main services. I heard another coach say this: An Olympic athlete would never be without a coach, especially in a competing year. 2020 and forward have been competing years.
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a) Champion diversity, innovation & inclusion: By promoting a culture that values diverse perspectives and fosters a sense of belonging, you’ll not only enhance employee wellbeing but also drive innovation and performance. b) Extend your facilitation skills beyond your organisation by participating in or leading industry panels, workshops, and conferences. Networking and sharing your expertise can raise your profile and open up new opportunities.
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