Accompanying corporate change: The essential role of facilitators
In today’s dynamic world, companies and other organizations are constantly faced with the challenge of adapting and evolving. Whether it’s optimizing internal processes, transforming corporate culture or implementing innovative projects – change is constantly required. But how can this change be managed effectively? In our opinion, facilitators play an important role here!
But what does the word "facilitator" actually mean?
My year in Italy points me in the right direction: “facile” means “simple” – and obviously goes back to the Latin “facilis”, which unsurprisingly also means “simple”. So we are definitely on the right track. It’s about making something simpler.
What do facilitators do?
Facilitators support groups in working together creatively and effectively to achieve their goals. In doing so, they create an environment in which all participants can freely express their ideas, develop their own solutions and make decisions together. It is important that facilitators remain as neutral as possible and do not impose their own solutions. Their main task is to shape the process and support the group on its way to the common goal – for example, by suggesting a methodically structured approach to the group and by ensuring that the group communicates well with each other while working together.
What do facilitators do when they accompany corporate change?
Change often comes with uncertainty and resistance. Facilitators help to overcome these challenges by
- Promote communication: You ensure that all voices are heard and that an open dialog is created.
- Moderate conflicts: When opinions differ, they mediate and find solutions together with the group.
- Choreograph processes: They design meetings and workshops in such a way that they are interactive, fun and, above all, deliver clear results.
- Increase commitment: Using participative and creative methods, they motivate participants to actively participate and take responsibility themselves.
Sometimes they only do this for the duration of a short workshop or meeting and sometimes they accompany longer projects or even complex processes. From our point of view, the latter in particular makes a lot of sense, as the facilitators then really help the team to come together. In most cases, all participants also grow personally and develop further.
Facilitation in practice
Imagine your organization is planning to introduce a new technology. Different departments have different expectations and concerns. Facilitators can organize workshops in such a situation, for example, in which all participants contribute their perspectives. Using targeted questions and methods, they guide the group towards common solutions and ensure that the implementation process runs smoothly.
The International Institute for Facilitation & Change has created a nice little video that once again clearly explains what facilitators do:
Tried and tested facilitator training
For companies that need employees who can professionally support transformation processes, we offer a specialized Transformation Facilitator Program. This program empowers people to shape change sustainably. We have already run this program eleven times and trained over 200 facilitators. Our next open wave will also start in May, to which we are inviting freelancers and other self-employed people as well as company representatives. We even have a great funding offer for them, where 90% of the costs are covered.
