Active facilitator

The verb “to facilitate” comes from Latin. It means to make something easier, but also to preside over a meeting or a conference etc.

A person who facilitates a group is a Facilitator. What does such a person do? A Facilitator helps and enables.

LittleMissLisa understands that a Facilitator should: 

•  SERVE as an example for the group – be the first to show respect for others, nice behaviour and positive attitude. 

 

• CULTIVATE a safe environment for the group members where none feels put down, or is afraid or discouraged to speak.

 

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The basics – respect

Abstractions can be hard to explain

“Respect” is one of those terms that everyone is familiar with, and none asks for closer explanation on it when used. Still, sometimes it is good to know what the other party really thinks by something.

Words are just means to describe the concepts in our brains that may be quite complex composition of feelings, attitudes and other abstract categories. It can be hard with those abstract categories.

Just think of it – it could be easy to explain to an alien or, let us get more realistic here – a child what a “vase” is. It is a very concrete object with purpose of holding water and flowers, can be made of different materials, but is made mostly of glass or ceramics, and can take different forms and sizes, but is always concave since it is supposed to hold water etc. Also, an explanation by visual examples would do.

But explain to a child (or that alien, just for the sake of the example, let us have my imaginary alien involved) what “respect” is. Abstraction requires more complex explanations on different levels.

An attempt to explain

When LittleMissLisa talks about respect,