PAPERS AND ARTICLES
Topical Papers and Articles
Here we have a compilation of papers and articles covering topics on Facilitation, Teams, Groups, and Supervision. If you come across (or have written) a publication on this topic and are happy for us to include it here, then please get in touch.
An introduction to working with constellations
On Monday March 25th 2024 I will be facilitating a learning day for AoF on the topic of constellations. I thought it would be helpful to outline how and why I see constellations as a valuable tool for facilitators. I am also writing this to help myself and others tune in to the day, and to gather my own thoughts on what is one of my favourite ways of working with groups. I would be pleased to hear
Association of Facilitators 2023 Survey
In late 2023, we conducted a survey of facilitators in the UK, inviting responses from AoF membership and beyond, including from those who buy facilitation services. As well as some AoF-specific questions, we gathered insights into where facilitators work, fees charged, the impact of facilitator skills training and thoughts on the future of facilitation. Results and highlights are presented below. Thank you to all who took part in the survey. Highlights Most survey respondents were self-employed facilitators, with facilitation as
A Cooperative Enquiry into the facilitation of online video calls
Co-enquirers and co-authors: Bella Mehta, Brian Watts, Colin Heyman, Ellie Highwood, Louise Veenhuis, Inger Bowcock, Victoria Shaw, Elizabeth Matsui, Simon Roe, Becky Venton, Ian Hiscock, Debbie Jackson-Cole Introduction In May 2020, during the coronavirus outbreak, and with various degrees of lockdown in operation across the world, the Association of Facilitators (AoF) hosted a 90-minute cooperative enquiry session, using web-based video conferencing tool Zoom, into our experiences of facilitating meetings using video technology. AoF is a member organisation dedicated to the training,
Love over Fear an experience of assessment
Moderators, tutors and candidates of the final accreditation process of Ashridge/Hult Business School’s supervision postgraduate diploma share their experiences of a new method of assessment that aims to ‘reduce fear and develop love’ and offers unique learning opportunities for students and tutors alike. Robin Shohet, David Birch and Erik de Haan with Ineke Duit, Karen Griffin, Arne Hemkes, Leen Lambrechts and Marjan Timmer
The organisational impact of facilitation skills
An article by Bella Mehta: I am one of the several original co-founders of the Association of Facilitators (AoF). Our offering grew out of the humanistic psychology movement, in particular the work of the Human Potential Resource Group at Surrey University, the emergence of Facilitation Styles training, and the integration of Gestalt approaches into organisational development.This article attempts to describe the principles of facilitative working that seem to generate a positive impact within organisations. I do not intend to dwell for too long
Interview with Robin Shohet
Robin Shohet has been teaching supervision through the Centre for Supervision and Team Development for 30 years. He lives with his family at the Findhorn Foundation, a spiritual community in the North East of Scotland. He is the author of a number of JKP books, including the new Supervision as Transformation: A Passion for Learning.
Foundation Course in Facilitation Skills
Foundation Course in Facilitation Skills - A Remarkable Journey of Self Discovery: I signed up to the AoF’s Foundation Course in Facilitation Skills with a degree of anticipation but also trepidation. Would everyone have more experience than me? Was I a good facilitator or not? Over the five day course my eyes were truly opened to
Lessons from group facilitation
How awareness of group dynamics can substantially add to coaching: There is much similarity between the practice of 1-1 coaching and group facilitation. Active listening, rapport, and effective questioning each build to a common skill set. Couple this with a commitment to learning and
Why understanding group dynamics improves leadership
Learning more about the invisible assumptions, experiences and behaviours of groups is an essential leadership skill, says Bella Mehta, founding director of Association of Facilitators. As a trained scientist leading my first project in the world of consultancy, it soon dawned on me (with a degree of fear) that 'group dynamics' were going to influence our achievement much more than the quality of our research data or the qualifications we all held...
Engagement: what’s missing?
Bella Mehta examines the difference facilitation can make to people’s relationships with their organisations. Employee engagement is not just about ‘comms’ or ‘hearts and minds’. Engagement happens, or fails to happen, at many levels of organisational life, but often the day-to-day team experience is undervalued. Most employees experience working life through being part of a team. For a group of individuals to become a high-performing team, they need healthy habits, good communication and positive group dynamics. Most groups need to learn how to create a high-performing environment, but few are taught. This is a training gap that leaves a huge untapped source of potential within our organisations.