Facilitation disasters - your stories please

[Robyn Williams]

Hi folks

On Friday I was facilitating a 2 hour workshop primarily using Open Space
principles as requested, and as I would have suggested anyway given the task
in hand. My own 2 feet did the walking less than halfway through when the
'person in charge', who I'd not met before, interrupted the process,
criticised me, and gave me directions (in public) and not for the first
time. The agenda items were being announced, and her direction was that all
the issues should be dealt as a whole group and indicated that I should
facilitate that. I said no, thanked them for their time, wished them well
for the rest of the session, and left.

Given the short duration and the task at hand, this had been a long-winded
arrangement which resulted in more questions than answers. Arranged by a
delegated person without authority, I wasn't able to ascertain who was
really 'in charge' (I was told that it was a group project, ie all team
leaders) or get agreement for a meeting to clarify expectations. The day
before the workshop I contacted the Director of the department, had a
pleasing chat, and arranged to meet before the session. That session was
cancelled later in the day, and a shorter session was re-convened for
another time (when critical people could be available). Sure bells were
ringing but I started to think that I was being overly consultative. I mean
what could go wrong in 2 hrs? Right? 

On the way home I reflected on how it had unfolded and my part and felt that
I'd done as well as I could do under the circumstances despite my
inner-critic suggesting that walking out was pretty extreme and surely I
could have done better. Needless to say I've learned lessons from this and
have damage control ahead of me this week (sigh).

So what would you do, or have you done, when your role is undermined?
And how did you reach closure with the client/s?


Best wishes, Robyn
Fremantle Western Australia

PS WA colleagues - anyone available to debrief this with me?

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