Trust Department

A novice facilitator panics easily. When something doesn't appear to work, he or she concludes that the sky is falling. Within seconds, this facilitator rushes with an alternative, only to get caught in a vicious circle.

An experienced facilitator refuses to panic. When something doesn't appear to work, he or she concludes that it is still cooking. This facilitator waits patiently until things fall in place and the activity flows smoothly.

Two pieces of advice to help you leap from the novice to the expert state:

Trust the team. Most teams are self-correcting systems. For example, they will bring the disruptive members under control without your having to throw a temper tantrum.
Trust the process. Focus on the overall results and not on the temporary glitches. Sooner or later, the bad things will be swamped by the good things.

Remember the upside-down strategy: Don't do something, just stand there. And keep your mouth shut!

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