Hatchlings Eagles and Ducks overview

Hi everyone!

This is a little prep for the North Atlantic Chapter of LREDA Spring Mtg workshop on facilitation skills.

It will not be Facilitation Skills 101, which would include useful tips like  
USE BLOCK LETTERS ON THE BIG PAPER

This will be Facilitation Skills 101B, like,
What do I do when the teacher interrupts Orientation and says in front of everyone that "signing this safety document is demeaning and says that you (the DRE) don't trust us"?
Or, What options are there when half the room want to know WHAT, and the other half want to know WHY?

At our Winter retreat, Rev. Martha Niebanck blessed us with a couple of models that some found useful as frameworks for our work with adults.

I will be using one of these as our working model for this workshop. It’s a great way to think about the comparative levels of fulfillment and skill in those with whom we work.

A highly skilled, highly fulfilled volunteer would be an Eagle. High in fulfillment, high in the skills of community, caring and thoughtful, we always want these as our REC Chairs.



A Hatchling would likely be a relative newcomer who has lots of excitement or fulfillment, but maybe not so much skill. We may experience them as the super excited person who plans an activity without ever consulting the DRE, or the person who wants to be a youth advisor because they love deep sharing...

A Wounded Eagle has high skill, but isn't particularly fulfilled. This may be because they are having a hard life, or we've burned them out (see above: REC Chair.)

The last group, those who have low fulfillment and low skill (at the work of community), are Ducks. We often experience them as quacking and pecking. And Quacking. And Pecking.

This workshop will provide some exploration (fun) of facilitating in situations where we have Hatchlings, Eagles, Wounded Eagles, and Ducks. We will have some hands on practice. If there is anything in particular you'd like used as a case study or role play, tell me some stories from your own experience by email before the workshop. Address to your left.
Alternatively, think carefully about how you will share in a way that will protect the privacy of your congregation, (many of us know way too many people in our UU world).  Also, consider ahead of time what details are essential to the story.

It is not necessary to have had the experience at the Winter retreat. We will be focusing on using particular facilitation techniques for encouragement and intervention, and you all have experience with encouraging and intervening.
Some topics we may cover:

Dealing with Hostile or Disruptive People/Ducks
I put that first, 'cause really, isn't that the first fear most of us have?  Of the public direct attack?

Bringing out the shy or dormant hatchling/person  
without scaring them completely back into their shells

Encouraging creativity and new ideas from all, and re-framing overly challenging ideas
What to do when ducks quack.

Getting back on track - Re-direction and re-focus -
When the barn yard has no fence and everyone is going off in directions.

Building on what they already know -
"Rely Upon the Wisdom in the Room" isn't just a saying.

Maintaining or regaining a non-defensive posture -
There are no turtles or ostriches in this analogy.  As leaders, we have a responsibility to stay present.