Be the Facilitator

I hope throughout the beginning of this new year - with all the historic change and economic unrest - you have been able to find your center and keep the peace that comes with forgiveness.

I haven't! And I forgive myself.

In my daily work life, I often serve as an outside facilitator guiding executive groups through a process - such as strategic planning - to help them achieve a desired end. In the role of facilitator, I work hard to be non-judmental, accepting of every contribution, projecting love and peace to even the most cantakerous participant. As a facilitator, I strive never to take anything any participant says personally. In those rare instances when I am attacked, my only goal is to redirect that energy to a positive outcome that helps the group.

Oh, if I could only be a "facilitator" in my personal life and other parts of my professional life!

I am a member of a Vistage group - 11 CEOs who meet monthly to grow together in our roles and to advise each other on various issues facing our companies. The other day I was on the hot seat as the group "helped" me address the issue I have with a constantly over-scheduled calendar. While some in the group would say I was very defensive in the discussion, I thought of it as wanting to make sure my fellow CEOs fully understood the situation. (Yes, my self-deception continues!) It was clearly a difficult and challenging discussion for all involved as I was trying to get them to understand and they were trying to get me to understand.

On reflection that night, I realized if I had only taken the "facilitator" role...if I had only stepped back and affirmed everyone who was sharing information to help me...whether I thought at the time it was helpful or not...if my only purpose was to say thank you and ask clarifying questions...what a different conversation it would have been!

Choose once again.

I'm excited and looking forward to the next opportunity my ego script gives me to "be the facilitator." I'm sure it will come soon. Pray with me as I keep affirming "Be the facilitator...be the facilitator...be the facilitator...and forgive."

In Joy,

Michael