An important trick when facilitating workshops is being aware of your status in the session and then being able to modulate it up or down.
Let me explain.
High Status is when you’re visible and active. You’re leading from the front. People are looking to you for input and you’re directing the energy, tasks and indeed everything that’s happening.
Low Status is when you’ve taken a back seat. Other people are leading and you’re more of a bystander or participant in the meeting. The session is moving along happily with very little active engagement.
When to adopt a High Status
This is the default role of a facilitator. You adopt this position when you kick off the session, you manage the energy, and you introduce the exercises. You assert this role as the timekeeper - calling breaks and setting limits on activities. It’s when everyone is looking to you to steer the session. Even when there are senior people or VIPs in the room.
At times, you will need to assert your high status, if there’s a dispute that needs arbitrating. Or if presenters are taking up too much time and you need to push them along.
When to adopt a Low status
When the meeting is flowing, step back and take a back seat. Let the participants take control. If they’re working on a task - leave them to it. Be invisible. Don’t interrupt or offer your unsolicited opinions. If someone is leading a conversation or making a presentation - give them centre stage. Only intervene if you feel you need to.
Put your ego to one side. Resist the urge to demonstrate you’re smart, witty, or creative. In some of the most successful meetings I’ve been involved in, I’ve had to do very little.
Summary
Be sensitive to the importance of your status at any one time when facilitating. For the most part, you’re high-status - at the front, leading the session, directing operations, intervening. However, don’t be afraid of adopting a low-status position - listening, observing, and letting others share their ideas and perspectives. Be supportive and encouraging, but don’t feel the need to be the focal point all of the time.