DEFINE: Facilitator Confidence Content Analysis

Two months ago, we played a game that identified "confidence" as a primary characteristic of effective facilitators. We then invited our players to provide definitions of this concept. We polled all players for their choice of the three "best" definitions. (Click here to review the definitions and the results of the poll.) We also sent the different definitions to a panel of experts and asked them to conduct a content analysis.

Here's what the panel identified as the major attributes and relevant elements of "facilitator confidence":

Focus on what is good for the group

sensing group's needs
helping groups handle their needs
identifying group's goals and objectives
encouraging individuals to focus on group needs
helping participants find value in group work
helping group members
feeling empathy for group members

Ability to concentrate

being present in the moment
ignoring outside distractions
ignoring "higher" status of some group members

Versatility

willingness to accept any challenge
willingness to try creative strategies
willingness to go to the edge of a confrontation
flexibility

Self assurance

high level of experience
high amount of preparation
high degree of skills
high level of knowledge
high level of self understanding
high degree of self acceptance
courage to acknowledge ignorance

Back to the definitions, sorted by voting results