- An appraisal, assessment, or analysis for the purpose of understanding the timeliness of the issue and the readiness of conveners, sponsors, and stakeholders to engage and work together, even through potentially difficult moments.
- Understanding of the negotiation “terrain,” i.e., the negotiation history of the parties; possible focal points or targets of negotiation; potential trade zones; the issues (single or multiple) and how they may link to each other; deadlines; individual stakeholder BATNAs (“best alternative to a negotiated agreement”); respective layers of decision making within stakeholder constituencies; preferred communication styles for conveying and receiving information; identification of potential “undercover mediators.”
- Rules of engagement acceptable to all.
- Private and confidential meetings with everyone. (Sooner is usually better than later and more check-ins are better than only once.)
- PESTLE information (political, economic, social, technical, legal, and environmental) provides a factual foundation and context.
- Facilitator’s own independence. (See, for example, Keystone’s Statement of Independence)
- Lots of high quality communication: questions, listening, continuous learning.
- Willingness to confront the mess by going steadily towards the tensions and core dilemmas that seem to be troubling people.
- Building a level of interpersonal trust in the room.
Log In
Please log in below to comment and contribute to the Collaborative Leaders Network.
Join the Collaborative Leaders Network
Members of the Collaborative Leaders Network (CLN) come from all walks of life. We are leaders of businesses and organizations, we are practitioners, and we are community members. What connects us is our belief that collaborative leadership and practices are necessary for solving the complex problems we face in Hawaii. There is no cost to joining CLN, nor any obligation to participate. Membership entitles you to contribute your own ideas and experiences to the site, receive updates, and engage with other collaborative leaders who are finding ways to shape Hawaii for the better.
Forgot Your Password?
Simply enter your email address below, and a new password will be generated and emailed to you.
About Strategies
This section features a step-by-step description of six different approaches to problem solving and includes tools, vignettes, and checklists useful to practicing facilitators.