What can facilitation do? — A Katrine Kent Q&A

As part of the research for #FacPower I had the opportunity to talk facilitation with Katrine Kent. We met at Prolog Coffee in Copenhagen. Here’s an excerpt from our conversation:

// What can facilitation do?

It can bring out the best in people — and the context people are in — when it relates to a vision, goal or other desired outcome.

Katrine Kent

You could say it is a frame — or perhaps call it a scaffolding. It is something you can lean against. It is something that can help you grab ideas — and help the ideas move into insights, and hopefully into action. It can give ideas body (and feet) so to speak...

// Why are you a facilitator?

Because I want to change the world and help people — but do it on their terms. I believe there is so much good in people and organisations — that can be helped to flourish.

// How can others help you? (Some who like to help are ironically afraid to ask for help themselves).

Prolog Coffee Copenhagen

I also need help and I also need feedback, that’s for sure. I need that to stay grounded. Of course I do things for others, but when I do, it also helps me: I learn. About people. About groups. about solving challenges.

How do I get the help and feedback? Through sparring with others, either 1:1 — or in groups.

// If there were three things people could read, listen or watch — what would they be?

1. Read more literature: It helps us understand what it means to be human. An example: I just read Kafka on the Beach. Very interesting — and gets into lots of useful questions. And last summer I read the Neapolitan Trilogy — and it covers all aspects of the human condition: society, relattionships, love, identity, structure, poverty — and lots more…
2. Get out more: Into to nature or into silence. Sometimes you figure out things when you don’t have lots of interaction…
3. Get involved: Seek out places where you can take part in society. It doesn’t matter so much whether it is the local sports club, a political movement or something third. It is a question of getting to the point where you can say “here I have some influence, here I can help things move”. Dare to act.

You can find Katrine Kent on LinkedIn and learn more about her work at potentialehuset.dk