I recently completed the ICA Associates’ Group Facilitation/Focused Conversation course.

It was very fun and enlightening, but most important to me was the fact that much of what we learned I had been applying in some way or could have been applying in everyday situations.

Now I understand that a lot of people say “yeah this would be great” after workshops of this nature and never apply them (mostly because it would look odd or silly, or people would not follow along with the procedures), but I found that these workshops can be applied no matter who you are working with or what you are doing. I think it is possible for these practices to be applied (though slightly modified) without anyone knowing you are applying them! This holds true for face-to-face situations as well as during virtual interaction.

Without giving everything away, one of the many exercises we undertook involved brainstorming and categorizing. In the past I have simply taken a look at the various issues which are brought forth when I’m required to mediate tensions and taken those without much thought as to their root. My line of thinking was something similar to: “If I solve these problems we can get past this issue and move on,” however without getting to the actual root of the problem I suppose that I have never really solved anything. For those tricky issues which seem to constantly reoccur, perhaps the problem is that in dealing with the here and now, we forget to take a moment to reflect on the underlying causes. The solution to this is simple.

Take a few moments to gather and write down all of the issues that are being presented by each individual/group. Ask yourself the question that they are facing (phrase it in as a ‘what’ question, “what are the best qualities…” “what is the best way…”) then group similar traits in pairs. If you are looking for qualities, then group similar qualities in pairs, etc. Make a few different pairs, then start adding more to each pair, anything that seems to fit in well with them. If you do not fully understand a point, ask for clarification – it is vital that you know and understand each and every point. Once you have finished sorting everything, look at the common theme among each grouping, give it an appropriate title, and you have the underlying causes to the issues.

After this it’s simply a process of presenting solutions to these that also address the here and now.

This is just one, vaguely described (it’s missing a deal of very helpful steps, information, and methods so as to not give everything away) practical application of what ICA is teaching people on a daily basis.

ICA Canada offers public (inexpensive or free) training periodically. I’ll be sure to keep in touch and update everyone as to when these are running.

A branch of the ICA (ICA Associates) also offers training to organizations/corporations at a fee. I’m sure that if this appeals to you in any way, it will benefit your organization/corporation/group. There’s no harm in going through a workshop (they aren’t too time consuming) and seeing if further courses would be beneficial. I’m certain they will help, but to each their own. http://ica-associates.ca