In Facilitating Collaboration: Notes on Facilitation for Experienced Collaborators by Brandon Klein, a reworked version of Dan Newman’s original, Klein very much delivers on the brief, highlighting the value of effective facilitation. Drawing on his experience as a renowned facilitator, Klein not only complements the original book but also emphasizes the power of better facilitation in delivering improved decision-making.

The book’s main theme is that facilitation isn’t limited to “the event” itself; rather, effective facilitation extends far beyond it. Klein demonstrates throughout that successful collaboration relies on intelligent design and structure to foster an environment for success before, during, and after the actual event.

Through a blend of theory, practical application, and case studies, Klein illustrates the considerations, challenges, and successes to be seen, understood, and achieved from effective facilitation.

As a Scrum Master/Agile Lead, while I may not be the book’s primary target audience, Klein’s storytelling prompted me to rethink my facilitation approach. The recurring message that “one size does not fit all” reinforced the importance of thorough research and a deep understanding of the goals behind a meeting, event or workshop.

A particular passage resonated with me about challenges faced in facilitation, about when deep in granular technical detail and presenting solutions in our teams there are critical moments as a facilitator where you need to decide when intervention is needed…

“This is a critical moment for a facilitator. Let the discussion continue? Interrupt the flow? Re-direct? Solicit input from others? In these emergent, creative moments, the stakes are extremely high and the facilitator’s bias should be to do nothing; to listen, to give that assurance that people feel listened to, but to do nothing. These discussions follow an energy curve – shaped like a bell curve. Our job is to remove the barriers that stand in the way of the apex reaching its potential and to recognize when the apex has been reached and how the marginal value of each additional comment begins its decline”. 

“It is exactly at this moment that the facilitator’s intervention has the potential to add value”

So why should you read this book?

Facilitating Collaboration offers a real insight into the full facilitation journey. While it’s geared toward advanced facilitators, its value can benefit a broader audience, including facilitators, coaches, and leaders.

Publisher: Value Web

Author: Brandon Klein

Publication Date: July 4, 2018

Length: 164 pages

The ABC Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️