Neutrality: The Core Principle Distinguishing Effective Facilitation.
If I had to describe the characteristics of facilitation in one word, it would be neutrality.
This is because it is the most critical word that distinguishes facilitation its methodological characteristics from other specialized fields. Therefore, the key to determining whether an activity is facilitation or not must also be found in place of neutrality in it. In dealing with others in a group setting, there are many ways through which people attempt to make improvements causes. They can praise, scold, teach, counsel, or give advice.
Facilitation’s Essential Trait: The Art of Neutral Questioning”
The facilitator mainly asks questions. But not just asking questions anyhow, asking questions to others with a neutral attitude. Because the facilitator interacts with a group, asking questions with a neutral attitude also means that when receiving answers to his questions from participants, the facilitator’s role is to welcome them all, not dismissing any, and record them neutrally, without agreeing or disagreeing with them. This attitude and process open the minds of
participants and creates an atmosphere in which fair dialogue is possible. If the facilitator clearly records the answers of participants, it helps them look at what they say, follow closely and find their own solution to the problem (improvement) they were trying to solve.
Staying Neutral in Facilitation is Harder Than It Seems, but it’s a must
Being neutral or remaining so seems like it should be easy because it is a passive activity that does not require for the facilitator to express their opinion. But when we actually try it, we find out that it is easier said than done. It is though. We would want to express our opinion. And if one of the participants says something we don’t like, we are tempted to criticize, judge, or show disapproving expressions. Before we knew it, we would have expressed our own opinion. We may even show tendencies to subtly guide participants so that they can follow what we think the wise answer is. This becomes manipulation, not facilitation. People are inherently inhabited by a desire to do well for and by themselves. People also have a desire to utilize their potential to the fullest for these ends. The neutrality of the facilitator plays a role in helping participants express their thoughts and abilities well.