Running Head: FACILITATION ARTICLE REFLECTION #1

Dustin K. Grabsch
Facilitation Article Reflection #1
ALEC 616
Dr. Summer Odom

FACILITATION ARTICLE REFLECTION #1

The Basics
The title of the article selected is The Politics of Facilitation. Originally the article was
published in the Journal of Workplace Learning by two authors based in the United Kingdom.
Summary
The aim of facilitation is to establish and maintain an environment in which learning is
created (Kirk & Broussine, 2000). The article moves to discuss that (1) organizations are
political, (2) facilitation is political, and (3) that facilitators are political. Kirk and Broussine
(2000) share their insight and framework to aid facilitators in acting more confidently in the
political system within organizations. There is a dialogue around a facilitators power and how
facilitation can also perpetuate inauthentic ends within an organization if political elements
overtake the facilitator(s).
Cognitive
The article posited not necessarily new information but strengthened my understanding of
the body of literature that surrounds the field of leadership facilitation. For instance, Kirk and
Broussine (2000) cite Heron (1993) as identifying that we suspect that the beliefs, principles or
commitments held by most facilitators would predispose them to work to eliminate, or at least
question, the causes of oppression and dependency in groups and organizations. However,

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despite a facilitators best intentions, facilitation can become part of a system of oppression and
perpetuate of dependent relations with the facilitator becoming the unwitting agents of
manipulation and marginalization (Kirk & Broussine, 2000). This was a more succinct and
effective way of naming a concern I expressed recently in class related to facilitation.
Additionally, the article argues that (1) organizations are political, (2) that facilitation is
political, and (3) that facilitators are political. This knowledge is not new to me, however, the
consideration of these three tenants complicate the further study of facilitation. To recap, Morgan
(1986) writes, by recognizing that organization is intrinsically political, in the sense that ways
must be found to create order and direction among people with potentially diverse and
conflicting interests (p. 142). This is further confounded when you consider that Hardy (1994)
defines politics as the use of power (p. 221). I do appreciate that the authors are conscious in
naming that they are interested in the relationship between those who have power and those who
are powerless. Personally, I believe this is a significant concern to be mindful of in leadership
facilitation. Addressing the second tenant which asserts that facilitation is political, often is the
element that the authors suggest is taboo to admit. The authors again use Heron (1993) to name
the double-edged nature of facilitation. The conflict stems from a facilitator being independent
from power relationships of the organization but also being perceived in aiding leadership to
move a specific agenda forward. Lastly, the literature which confirms the notion that facilitators
are political. Kirk and Broussine (2000) write the difficult question to ask is what part we may
play accidently or intentionally in the controlled violence and tyranny that can pervade
organization life (p. 16). Remembering these role and presence of politics in these three spheres
are important for future practice.
Affective

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I was overjoyed by the articles inclusion of Paulo Freires work as a framework for
consideration in facilitation. Freire (1972) is a liberation theologist often used in education and
explores how powerful it is for individuals to reflect on their own experience so that they can
develop new perceptions about themselves and their work. I personally agree with Freires work
and this article reinforced how one might use facilitation as a liberation strategy. Additionally, I
tend to look through Bolman and Deals Political Frame (1997). In my position at the university,
I am in a hyper-political environment. This article allowed me to consider this framework in the
area of facilitation.
Behavioral/Psychomotor
The greatest consideration for practice the article suggests to facilitators is how one ought
to conscious of the political nature of facilitation. With this consciousness, it is important to
realize how this might affect our work. The article suggests four positions of facilitator
awareness of the political elements of our work as facilitators. These four positions are: (1)
partial awareness (closed), (2) immobilized awareness, (3) manipulated awareness, and (4)
partial awareness (open) (Kirk & Broussine, 2000). When considering these positions I realized
how these effect the work I have performed in previous facilitations. It all comes back to my
initial agreement with the organization/group.
I realized that some groups/organizations I was closed to awareness. I had very little to no
understanding of the group or organization, this helped me move more outside of the political
influence. Ignorant one might say. Ignorance is not always bliss in the minds of Kirk and
Broussine. The authors suggest that this lack of awareness can be harmful to the members who
participate and/or the facilitator (Kirk & Broussine, 2000). Overall, it is important to understand

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the politics at play. Awareness and acknowledgement of this awareness is key to a facilitators
success.

References
Bolman, L. G. & Deal, T. E. (1997). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice and leadership.
San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Inc., Publishers.
Freire, P. (1972). Pedagoy of the oppresses. Penguin, Harmondsworth.
Heron, J. (1993). Group facilitation Theories and model for practice. Korgan Page, London.
Kirk, P. & Broussine, M. (2000). The politics of facilitation. Journal of Workplace Learning, 12
(1), 13 22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13665620010309756