Facilitation as a Core Skill in an AI World – Holding Space, Shaping Change

Facilitation is a craft I enjoy. For years, I practiced it without knowing it had a name, or that an entire body of science supported it.

Through facilitation, I’ve seen visions come to life, tough decisions made, teams brought together, and people move from pain or frustration toward clarity and inspiration. I’ve watched learning land in real time, in the exact context people needed. It’s a privilege to help create space for clarity, peace, and progress.

A friend once lamented, “Most work challenges are people challenges.” which I assume most can agree. Whether you’re a professional facilitator or a team leader, the ability to navigate human dynamics is essential, especially in a future shaped by AI. No matter how advanced technology gets, we’ll still need to work with people. And people come with complexity: emotions, attachments, conflict, repair, and connection. That’s what makes us human — and why facilitation matters.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve facilitated strategy meetings, learning forums, and meaningful conversations. I’ve learned by doing, and by watching great facilitators like So-Young Kang, Martin Tan, and Sharon Mah. Their work continues to shape mine.

In co-facilitating a workshop for a group of doctors with Sharon Mah in 2022, I noticed gaps and felt like I've hit a ceiling -- I was more in performance mode and not learning mode. I thought to myself, time to go sharpen these skills. I signed myself up for these courses (in order of time):

1. Process Facilitation Skills by Ng Choon Seng

2. Critical Facilitation by Kok Heng Leun of Drama Box

3. Facilitation Conversations for Change by Kuik Shiao Yin of Common Ground

4. Facilitating OD Interventions by Jeffrey Ong

I'm thankful to sit at the feet of more teachers, and to be an apprentice -- to learn about both the science and art of facilitation.

• The science -- the principles, the categories, the tools, the flow.

• The art -- knowing when to deviate from your plan, how to address what's emerging, how to engage with what's in the room at the present.

• Just like jazz -- you need to know your chords and chords progressions. You also respond to your fellow musicians and the audience in real time.

Live Jazz at Blue Note Tokyo 2023 - One of the best jazz bars I've been!

In running a 9 month content facilitation project for teams from an investment arm of an insurance company in 2024, these learnings came in more than helpful. The content facilitation evolved to include more process facilitation. My client said to me "Wow, how do you do this? Balancing so many objectives, activities and adjusting in real-time for a positive experience?"

Each of these courses brought rich perspectives and growth. For a start I'll do a quick capture of what I've learnt, what I've applied and what I'm still reflecting on for the 1st course I attended. (The rest will come :) )

1. Process Facilitation Skills by Ng Choon Seng

Overall, I found it really useful to have a one-stop workshop that provided

• Clear principles and structure as you design a facilitation session

• Practices to evaluate what good facilitation looks like

• Types of facilitation activities that you can keep in your toolbox

A big value-add is that I get direct feedback from Choon Seng (who is super duper experienced) and the group on areas I can be stronger in, what I need more practice at, and what I need to be conscious of.

Fellow Learners from Singapore and Philippines

Key highlights of the course:

• Deep diving into facilitating a process (not content)

• Unpacking and clarifying the role of a facilitator

• Examining the core practices and ideal behaviours

• Planning a facilitation process with clear steps and principles

• Gathering a list of tools and methods for a variety of processes

After the course, I found myself more intentional and more conscious in

1. Tapping on the Wisdom of the Crowd : I've noticed I do a lot more 1:1 back and forth responses, and have been more conscious to open up the questions and discussions to have multi-responses across the room

   
   

2. Working on myself: to be effective as a facilitator, I need to keep growing in areas of management, organisational system and development, group development, psychology, conflict resolution, dynamics of change, learning and thinking theory which I continued to pursue! I learnt to be more conscious to use invitational language to include and encourage responses.

   
   

3. Designing the Space: I've been more conscious and confident of leveraging spaces. There was a session where we had a room with whiteboard all around and I had so much fun with that, shifting energy and attention more optimally.

   
   

   

   Space design - shifted to the back of the room for brainstorming post lunch

4. Releasing the Burden: I used to afraid if people leaving the session not taking away as much as I would like, but I realised that it not my burden to carry. Designing the session to match advanced and new learners is key, but at the end of the session, each would take back to which level they are.

5. Optimising the Energy: My facilitation style leans towards high-energy and a fast pace. I've learnt to be more comfortable with silence and matching the right energy to the activity. If it is more contemplative, I now slow down, speak with more of soothing tone. I am also more conscious of planning transitions.

The learning doesn't just stop here. I'm still asking:

• What patterns am I creating with my response?

• How can I get better at designing for dopamine hits to keep things fresh?

• How might I facilitate for possibilities?

  
  

And what about you? Whether or not you call yourself a facilitator, I invite you to pause and consider:

• How are you showing up in the rooms you’re part of?

• What do you need to guide with more clarity, ease, or purpose?

• How are you sharpening your craft and tending to your growth?

Each moment with others holds a quiet invitation ; to listen, to hold, to help something meaningful unfold.