Hidden anxieties
Wouldn’t life be simpler if we could see anxiety? If people walked around with a neon halo circling their heads, flashing the colours of their true emotions. But we learnt as adults not to admit, or hide our concerns. Sometimes even from ourselves. Why do we hide? Is it because it makes us look weak or we’re embarrassed to admit to our worries?
When I’m training, I rarely know the people and I frequently only have a superficial knowledge about the organisation. At 9am, I am in an unknown room facing fifteen strange faces. Their faces might be inscrutable but their worries are fluttering through their minds.
- My manager said I had to do this course
- I was never good at school
- The boss is in the room with us
- Will the tutor pick on me and ask me to write or read or contribute?
So, if every meeting and workshop will be riddled with personal anxieties, how do we deal with them?
No perfect answers for you but this is a philosophy and a few methods that I’ve learnt. We welcome your own techniques and suggestions, please add them to the blog comments.
Equality
Workplaces are usually hierarchical but within this room and my workshop, I enforce (as far as I can) a philosophy of equality. It means nobody is more important than anyone else and everyone is entitled to equal attention and equal contributions.
Reduce hierarchy
If the CEO opens the meeting with the words. “Ok, everyone. You’ve seen the plan, what do we think about those idiots in London?” Would you then expect a reasoned and balanced discussion of the issue? Or will people
- Agree with the CEO, to toe the line with the person of power?
- Disagree with the CEO, out of antagonism or to score a point?
- Say nothing and keep their real views quiet?
There may be a balanced discussion, but it is likely this meeting has failed; it is simply rubber stamping the decisions of power. Aiming for equality will reduce this hierarchy.
From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs
(Paraphrasing Karl Marx) equal contributions and equal attention from you doesn’t mean the same contribution or attention. For many reasons, people need additional time, space and encouragement to contribute equally to the workshop. I aim to give attention to everybody and ensure that everyone contributes. This may mean giving some people more time and encouragement to contribute.
Let them choose how and when to contribute
Some may take time before they are comfortable contributing to the group. If you ask open questions to the whole group, people can volunteer to answer. If some voices are dominating you can try asking a quieter area of the room “what does this side, think about that?” Expect that some may be happier contributing in small groups or working in pairs and ensure your workshop is a blend of whole group, small groups and pairs.
Let their groups decide amongst themselves who will read out and feedback to you and the larger group.
Respect dissent and competing voices
We are leading the workshop but there is always room to learn. Encourage and respect dissent and other ideas. If they’re right, fantastic. We’re all learning together, and we’ve learnt something new. If they’re wrong. No harm, no foul, it’s worth a try. We want participation and contributions.
Model democracy
If you have competing ideas, you can promote equality by asking people to privately vote for ideas. Why do you ask for their vote to be private?
It is to reduce the possibility of powerful, personable voices leading the group. You also must respect democracy by accepting the chosen idea. You can’t ask for a vote and then not act on their choices. Otherwise, your ‘democracy’ is bogus. The majority have won but respect the ideas of the minority, “these are all great ideas but we’ve decided to work on this one”.
You have the power to lead a successful meeting or workshop
You are the facilitator. In the space of this workshop, you have the power to flatten hierarchy and create a culture of equality. Participants will thank you for creating a space where they are comfortable. Where every voice is heard and every need is met.
Buy Scarlet and the White
Michael’s debut novel of love and resilience as a neurodiverse Black teen and a deaf young woman fight to survive in Antarctica (Paperback & Kindle).
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