Here's how you can resolve conflicts in the facilitation process for better outcomes.

Good old conflict - one of my favourite topics for facilitation! Avoid conflict by fostering open dialogue and understanding among parties. We use specific facilitation techniques to ensure clear communication, identify underlying issues, and work towards mutually beneficial solutions. This approach emphasises creating a safe environment for honest discussions, helping parties to collaboratively resolve conflicts while maintaining positive relationships.

One thing i have found helpful is to lay down ground rules immediately after we have introduced ourselves to each other. I find that this helps us understand one another and my expectation of them through the learning process. For example, i always set a rule that all participants must respect their colleagues views in class as we all see through different lenses and can learn from one another. So there are no foolish questions and there are no wrong opinions.

These pre-emptive actions are absolutely necessary. I like to call them shared commitments and extend this through a clearly written agenda, program outcomes or learning objectives. Shared commitments promote buy-in and engagement, prompting participants to be fully present from the start. The introduction to any meeting or event sets the tone for the entire experience, so instead of simply informing the group of what's to come you are actually preparing the group for transformation and collaboration.

The skills a Facilitator can practice here include curiosity, holding paradox, and naming/summarizing for the group. A Facilitator should prompt for a balanced discussion and not provoke in one way or another unless the direction were clearly stated earlier in the objectives. Where I see facilitators miss on this one is in a tendency and pre-occupation with testing the group and checking for 'right-ness' which actually only lends itself to lower levels of learning and engagement.

In other words, give space for all participants and people to express their needs. Allow everyone to be heard and seen. Make time for this. A surface level question requires a count of 7 for someone to respond. So expressions from the depths might need a minute or two to formulate. For a complex topic, you can allow a few minutes of personal time to self-reflect and write in a journal before sharing and discussing within the group.

Tabling the discussion or issue for another time is also an option. So consider at this step whether or not the group is ready for resolution. Rushing to action may trigger more conflict and could feel forced.