Facilitating Breakthrough audiobook cover - How to Remove Obstacles, Bridge Differences, and Move Forward Together

Facilitating Breakthrough

How to Remove Obstacles, Bridge Differences, and Move Forward Together

Adam Kahane

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Categories:
Management & LeadershipCommunication Skills

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Facilitating Breakthrough
Transformative Facilitation+
Removing Obstacles+
Humility and Serving+
Stepping Inside and Outside+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 5
According to Adam Kahane, what is the core approach of 'transformative facilitation'?
  • A. Exclusively using a bottom-up approach to empower the group over the leader.
  • B. Alternating back and forth between top-down and bottom-up approaches until everyone feels heard.
  • C. Replacing the appointed leader with a neutral third party to make all final decisions.
  • D. Enforcing strict vertical facilitation so the group follows the strategies of the recognized expert.
Question 2 of 5
What key strategy did the author use to remove obstacles during the post-Apartheid workshop in South Africa?
  • A. He separated the opposing factions into different rooms to prevent immediate conflict.
  • B. He strictly enforced a top-down hierarchy where only the most senior leaders could speak.
  • C. He established an egalitarian environment by having participants share rooms, eat, and play volleyball together.
  • D. He removed all scheduled breaks so the group could focus entirely on political negotiations.
Question 3 of 5
How does the author compare a facilitator's role to that of an orchestra conductor?
  • A. Both must dictate the exact actions of the group to ensure a flawless performance.
  • B. Both act as the primary creators of the final product, shaping the group's raw talent.
  • C. Both need to step outside the group completely and avoid influencing the pace of the work.
  • D. Both serve the group and accompany them, rather than acting as heroic leaders.
Question 4 of 5
What important lesson did the author learn from his initial failure with the First Nations communities in Manitoba?
  • A. Facilitators must push through participant resistance to maintain their authority.
  • B. Facilitators must recognize 'step inside' and acknowledge their own historical and social position relative to the group.
  • C. Strict time limits, like using a bell, are universally effective and should be enforced regardless of cultural context.
  • D. Horizontal facilitation is entirely ineffective when dealing with deeply rooted historical trauma.
Question 5 of 5
What exercise does the author recommend to help participants understand their dual roles in a given problem?
  • A. Writing two essays: one as an external observer blaming others, and one as an internal participant taking personal responsibility.
  • B. Engaging in a structured debate where they must argue their opponent's political viewpoints.
  • C. Creating a shared list of historical grievances and systematically crossing off the ones they are willing to forgive.
  • D. Taking turns acting as the group's 'coach' and 'player' during a simulated team-building game.

Facilitating Breakthrough — Full Chapter Overview

Facilitating Breakthrough Summary & Overview

Facilitating Breakthrough (2021) dives into how people can go about solving their most intractable problems. By using an approach honed over decades, you can learn how to remove obstacles from conflicts and make progress toward resolution.

Who Should Listen to Facilitating Breakthrough?

  • Facilitators, managers, and mediators 
  • Anyone looking for new ways to resolve intractable situations
  • People interested in the art of problem-solving

About the Author: Adam Kahane

Adam Kahane co-founded Reos Partners, where he works as a Director. He has over 30 years of experience in helping businesses, government, and civil society solve seemingly unsolvable problems. He is the author of four bestselling books, including Solving Tough Problems: An Open Way of Talking, Listening, and Creating New Realities.

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