Not reinventing the wheel, but oiling the cogs

Generate Coaching Partnership's Emma Haughton discusses why it is better to refine than reinvent, and the importance of effective facilitation when attempting to maximise group potential.

I’ve been a freelance facilitator and trainer for some time now. My training and qualifications have followed and supported my growing interest in the creativity and immense potential of groups. To develop this aspect of my work, I’ve added to my skill set with an array of specialised training, practised ‘on the job’, learned through self-reflection and supervision, and fed my curiosity and knowledge with books, live and virtual talks and discussions with colleagues. What I know is that there is an art to working with groups – whether that’s facilitating an away day, coaching a team, teaching a class, or delivering training. 

A group, or team, is more than the sum of its parts: it has a life, a wisdom even, of its own and, when skilfully ‘tapped’, this system can work beautifully for the individuals within it. It is nuanced work, that requires us group practitioners to be alert, aware, responsive, reflexive and, at times, courageous, leading the group with confidence. We need to be prepared to learn ourselves, to let go of fixed ways of working, for example, methods that suit US but not the group we’re with. 

In 2016 my colleague and friend Rivca Rubin designed a workshop in response to growing need amongst her peers (myself included) for a bespoke workshop that could focus on the more nuanced qualities and skills, the art of working with teams and groups. We are all trained, qualified, practising group workers; what we needed was a dedicated space to refine that didn’t ask us to reinvent the wheel, but created the opportunity to grow in confidence and courage to do the difficult work we do. The Refinery in Manchester was created by Rivca: it was 2 days to truly ‘oil the cogs’ and was a turning point for me in my own confidence and clarity in the work I wanted to do (and am now doing) with groups and teams.

A year on, and I’m co-delivering The Refinery in Brighton later this month. If you work as a facilitator, trainer, teacher, or otherwise with groups and teams, and you need some stretch and challenge in your craft, then please join us. It is short notice, I know, but if you can clear the diary for those two days then here’s an added incentive; Chamber members can enjoy 30% off by entering the code: CHAMBER.

Click here to book 

I hope to see some of you there

Thanks to Emma for writing this blog. 

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk