Often these terms are used interchangeably but there are some key differences. According to our guest contributor, ChatGPT (openai.com), the main differences are:
"Facilitation and consulting are two distinct approaches that are often used to help individuals and organizations improve their performance. The key differences between facilitation and consulting are: Role and Function: Facilitation is the process of guiding a group through a specific process or discussion, helping them to achieve a particular outcome or goal. The facilitator's role is to ensure that everyone participates and feels comfortable sharing their opinions and ideas, without steering the conversation towards any specific outcome. Consulting, on the other hand, is a more directive approach in which an expert is brought in to provide advice or solutions to a problem. Consultants typically provide recommendations based on their knowledge and expertise, and often have a specific goal in mind that they want to achieve. Focus: Facilitation is focused on helping a group work together effectively towards a common goal. The facilitator helps to create an environment where everyone can share their perspectives and work collaboratively towards a shared objective. Consulting is focused on identifying and solving a specific problem or achieving a specific goal. The consultant brings their expertise to bear on the problem and provides recommendations or solutions to help the organization achieve its objectives. Approach: Facilitation is a more collaborative approach that encourages participation and engagement from everyone in the group. The facilitator helps to build consensus and ensure that everyone is heard and their ideas are valued. Consulting is a more directive approach that relies on the consultant's expertise to identify problems and provide solutions. The consultant often takes a more top-down approach, providing recommendations and guidance to the organization. Overall, facilitation and consulting are both useful approaches for improving performance, but they serve different purposes and require different skills and approaches. Facilitation is best suited for situations where collaboration and consensus-building are needed, while consulting is more appropriate for situations where expert guidance and advice are required to achieve a specific goal." Thanks AI! We look forward to you taking over the world soon... At FOCUS we take a facilitative approach to working with organizations. Our expertise is designing processes that bring people together and help them collaborate on solving their own problems and reaching their goals together. We believe that when people have generative discussions and engage each other fully that incredible results can be achieved. Photo by Tara Winstead: https://www.pexels.com/photo/an-artificial-intelligence-illustration-on-the-wall-8849295/
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I used to ride the waves on my body board on family holidays. It was thrilling to wait in the water for the next big wave to come. I'd watch carefully to see where the swell was starting and then try to perfectly time my ride. I'd paddle and kick frantically to make sure I caught the wave at the right moment. If I got it just right then the wave would pick me up and carry me on a thrilling ride until it reached the shore or lost its momentum.
But if i got it wrong then it would be a terrifying disaster. Ride the wave too high and it could collapse at any moment, pushing me hard under the water and into the sandy bottom. Not take off fast enough and the force of the wave would swallow me up and send me somersaulting through the salty water. Then there was the added danger that if I didn't recover quickly enough, the undertow could suck me back into the ocean. Riding the waves required watching what was coming next and then deciding when and how to move in order to catch the perfect ride. Move too slow and you'll ride on top of the wave but it can crash at any moment. Move too quick and you risk getting swallowed up. The wave is a great way for organizations to think about developing trends in society and their sectors. We need to keep an eye out for what's coming next so we can respond appropriately and effectively. Move too quickly without understanding what's really happening and how the trend is being shaped and we risk getting swept over the new reality. Move too slowly or try to ride the old trends and we risk having everything we've built collapsing underneath us. At FOCUS we can help you identify, name and respond to the trends that will affect you and your work. We want you to be aware and ready to act when the time is right to be the most effective and impactful that you can be in a changing world. Photo by Emiliano Arano: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ocean-wave-at-blue-hour-1330219/ Words are powerful.
Words can create new realities or maintain old conditions. Words can bring hope or kill morale. Words can build up or destroy. What you talk about as a team, organization or community can make the difference between releasing innovation and opportunity or remaining stuck behind obstacles and problems. It's not just what you say but how you say it that makes a difference. Misunderstanding can lead to offence which leads to break down in relationship. Being able to clearly communicate and consciously listen can help groups avoid unnecessary conflict which can waste time and energy. Great conversations and positively sharing ideas can lead to breakthrough thinking, deeper connections and better implementation. By engaging with each other in powerful conversations, groups and organizations can begin to create new realities and possibilities. Words can make a positive difference. Words are powerful We create space and opportunity for people to talk about things that matter and make a difference through focused conversations, active listening workshops and reflective practices. Myopia is just a fancy way to say shortsightedness. This happens when the shape of our eye causes light to focus in front of the retina causing things in front of us to be clear but things far away from us to be fuzzy.
Fascinating but what’s that got to do with my organization? A lot of organizations lose their focus because of organizational myopia. For different reasons we are too focused on the day to day concerns of the organization that we miss what’s ahead of us. Perhaps its tweaking our systems, catering to funders, refereeing staff disputes, filing TPS reports or just getting bogged down into the day to day concerns of the organization. We are clear on what needs to get done to keep things going but we lose perspective on what’s ahead of us or why it even matters. One of the best ways to fix myopia is to get a new pair of glasses to help you see what’s in the distance. Priority Setting is one of the key ways we like to help organizations look ahead and remember why they exist in the first place. It's an engaging, collaborative and energizing process that gets everyone focused on the opportunities and challenges ahead. We can help your organization refocus on the things that matter. Contact us today for more information. |
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