What role can or should a team leader play in facilitating resolution to problems by the team itself?

Answer 1

Facilitative leadership is different from how we traditionally view leaders as the ultimate decision maker, controller/director, or the lone person at the "top" of the organization. The role of facilitator is however an important part of the leadership equation.

While group leaders or facilitators are widely used in organizations today, there are many erroneous perceptions of their role. Some people see them as meeting planners, logistics coordinators, flip chart secretaries, group recorders, sideline coaches, or even scapegoats when meetings or groups don't go well. Unfortunately, we see these misconceptions played out in meeting after meeting in a number of organizations.

The facilitation of Creative Problem Solving is a process-oriented leadership role that guides the interaction and manages the effective deployment of tools, guidelines, language and behavior in order to help people produce new and useful outcomes.

A facilitative leader adds value by managing the distinction between process and content. By taking on the total responsibility for the process issues, the facilitative leader provides the group the freedom to be 100% immersed in the content. This enables the group to work without the worry of what has to happen next. By taking this role the facilitator significantly reduces the chance that groups go off track or experience the barriers to productive teamwork.