Worksheet Facilitation Basics
Jan Haverkamp
In the next table you will find a list of basics of the Skilled Facilitator approach as developed by
Roger Schwarz (2002)1
and some additions from the view of the Transformational Approach of
facilitation as used by the ZHABA facilitators collective.
The Skilled Facilitator
(Schwartz 2002)
Differences with the
Transformational Approach
(ZHABA, 2003)
Core Values
Core principles on top of
Schwarz's principles
Valid information • People share all relevant
information.
• People share information in
such a way that others
understand their reasoning.
• People share information in
such a way that others can
independently validate it.
• People constantly seek new
information to determine
whether past decisions
should be changed on the
basis of new valid
information.
• Facilitation is part of a process
to improve society / the world
on the basis of a shared
agenda – and is therefore not
neutral.
• Facilitation tries to balance
internal power in order to
reach an optimal result.
• Facilitation is part of a process
that leads to action.
Free and informed choice • People define their own
objectives and methods for
achieving them.
• Choices are not coerced or
manipulated.
• Choices are based on valid
information.
Internal commitment • People feel personally
responsible for their
choices; they own their
decisions.
• Commitment to action is
intrinsic, rather than based
on reward or punishment.
Compassion • People temporarily suspend
judgement.
• People are concerned for
others' and their own good.
• People appreciate others'
and their own suffering.
1 Roger Schwarz, The Skilled Facilitator – new and revised, 2002 (San Francisco) Jossey-Bass – www.josseybass.com
1 Worksheet Facilitation Basics
The Skilled
Facilitator
(Schwartz 2002)
Differences with the
Transformational Approach
(ZHABA, 2003)
Ground Rules 1. Test assumptions and inferences
(= interpretations).
2. Share all relevant information.
3. Use specific examples and agree
on what important words mean.
... agree on how people
understand important words.
4. Explain your reasoning and intent.
5. Focus on interest, not positions.
6. Combine advocacy and inquiry.
7. Jointly design next steps and
ways to test disagreements.
8. Discuss undiscussable issues.
9. Use a decision-making rule that
generates the level of commitment
needed.
Work on the basis of passive
or active consensus on
goals, process and action.
The ZHABA facilitators collective has published a range of worksheets that can help you with facilitation. These sheets can be obtained
from the Internet on http://www.zhaba.cz
The ZHABA facilitators collective is a group of NGO facilitators. It helps non-profit organisations to improve their work. More information
on http://www.zhaba.cz
© 2003 Stichting ZHABA facilitators collective
(parts of) this worksheet may only be copied or used in other publications after previous written consent of the Stichting
ZHABA facilitators collective.
2 Worksheet Facilitation Basics