The Manager As Facilitator

Anyone who manages more than one direct report becomes, de facto, a team leader, mediator, and communicator extraordinaire. From meetings to training exercises to brainstorming sessions, managers are called upon to lead groups--defining goals and tasks and bridging differences among members to collaborate and innovate. Drawing from their extensive research, teaching, and practical application in the field of counseling and group dynamics, the authors show readers how to master the role of facilitator--one who engages others in dialogue, resolves conflicts, and steers groups toward collective solutions. From leading project teams to getting buy-in for new policy recommendations, managers will develop skills that can be applied in many contexts, wherever people are working in groups, ultimately contributing to greater awareness and understanding of different points of view. Featuring diagnostic exercises, worksheets, examples, and an extensive listing of resources, The Manager as Facilitator will provide individuals and teams with the tools to promote effective communication, capitalize on diversity, and improve productivity.

Anyone who manages more than one direct report becomes, de facto, a team leader, mediator, and communicator extraordinaire. From meetings to training exercises to brainstorming sessions, managers are called upon to lead groups--defining goals and tasks, creating a climate of mutual support, and bridging differences among members to collaborate and innovate. Drawing from their extensive research, teaching, and practical application in the field of counseling and group dynamics, the authors show readers how to master the role of facilitator--one who engages others in dialogue, resolves conflicts, and steers groups toward collective solutions.

From leading project teams to getting buy-in for new policy recommendations, managers will develop the skills that can be applied in many contexts, wherever people are working in groups, ultimately contributing to greater awareness and understanding of different points of view. Featuring diagnostic exercises, worksheets, examples, and an extensive listing of resources, The Manager as Facilitator will provide individuals and teams with the tools to promote effective communication, capitalize on diversity, and improve productivity.

Judy Whichard is President of Consulting Associates, an educational consulting firm specializing in diversity. She is a former international banker, inner city teacher, high school principal, and assistant professor at Colorado State University. She is coauthor of Knowledge Nomads and the Nervously Employed, as well as many articles on presentations on facilitation, educational policy and reform, training, and diversity.

Nathalie L. Kees is Associate Professor in the Counseling and Career Development Program, Colorado State University, where she teaches courses in counseling, diversity, and educational psychology. A Licensed Professional Counselor, she also runs a private practice and has served as a group facilitator, trainer, and consultant to school districts, universities, government agencies, non-profits, and businesses. She has published dozens of articles in such publications as the Journal of Counseling and Development and the Journal for Specialists in Group Work, and has served on a variety of task forces promoting diversity.