Episode 17: The 45 year group facilitation experiment (and how I'm still learning) with Bob Dick

Listen to this episode from First Time Facilitator on Spotify. Bob Dick is a change agent and facilitator who has been in the business 45 years. He believes that teachers don't teach, learners learn.

Bob Dick is a change agent and facilitator who has been in the business 45 years. He believes that teachers don't teach, learners learn. In this episode we talk about the difference in process and content, the power of action learning, and how he helps his groups transfer learnings from a workshop, back into the real world.

Bob also shares his thoughts on how we can teach leaders the facilitation skills that are rapidly becoming a vital skill.  The most inspiring part? After being in the game for 45 years he still experiments with his facilitation style and approaches. 

What you'll learn in this episode

  • The difference between content and process and how you can effectively manage a group by looking at the process

  • How strategically arranging furniture can change your participants' perceptions of the learning environment

  • Why teachers don't teach, learners learn

  • Strategies to keep learning and improving as a facilitator

  • Why Bob doesn't use technology in his workshops

  • How to deal with conflict within a group

  • Dealing with your nerves before a workshop

  • The importance of vulnerability and authenticity

  • How to turn commitment into action once the workshop is over

About our guest

Bob Dick independent scholar, an educator, facilitator, coach, and change consultant. He has 45 years experience and started an Industrial Psychology for the Department of Labour. He helps people to change their work, learning and life.

Resources mentioned in this episode

Action Research and Action Learning for community and organisational change

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Show transcript

View the full podcast transcript from my conversation with Bob Dick.

Quote of the episode

Bob describes his safety net: "If the process isn’t working, I will drop the content and engage with the participants about why the process isn't working.  I'll invite them to join me in figuring out what process will work better for all of us".

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Episode transcript (Episode 18)

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First Time Facilitator podcast transcript with Bob Dick (Episode 17)