Facilitating Communicating
(October 2-14, 2005)
By Alexandra Cuyegkeng
 |
| Alexandra
Cuyegkeng |
On our last day at the Theodor-Heuss Academy, we were asked to
evaluate the “Moderation and Training for Local Staff” workshop.
There were the usual positive remarks on the moderators’ techniques
in leading the sessions as well as the negative comments on the
tightly-packed schedule. The most recurring recommendation was
for a follow-up workshop to check the understanding of skills
learned. Despite the receptiveness of Director Dehnert, I doubted
another seminar on moderation and communication for local staff
would take place, let alone that I would be sent again. We all
returned home with memories of Gummersbach, with friendships gained
and with lessons learned.
Little did I know that the International Academy for Leadership
(IAF) would not only seriously consider this suggestion, but would
also reconceptualize it and have me in mind. Due to the success
of the “Moderation and Training for Local Staff” workshop in Gummersbach
from 2-14 October 2005, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF)
Regional Office, in cooperation with IAF, decided to have the
same seminar in Pattaya, Thailand from 3-13 February, 2006. The
FNF Regional Office invited Dr. Stefan Melnick to moderate and
repeat what he taught in Germany. They also chose me to co-moderate
with him. This was better than having a second facilitation workshop
in Germany. Not only would I get to ensure my understanding of
the skills I learned, but I would also be working closely with
my former facilitator in designing the sessions. This chance to
moderate in Thailand gave me the opportunity to think back on
the things I learned in Germany.
There were several things that stood out during my training in
Gummersbach. The first was the topic on presentations. Each of
us had five minutes to report in front of a camera our chosen
topics. Watching a video of yourself presenting gave you excellent
insight into how you came across to the audience. It allowed you
to assess your voice, facial expressions and body language. I
learned that non-verbal communication, or how you project yourself,
can actually be more important than what you say. People remember
your words when they can remember how you said them. I understood
that as much as possible, you need to keep your words simple.
You should instead focus on developing a warm, open, confident
and sincere delivery.
After learning how to present ourselves, we learned how to make
clear, understandable presentations using visual aides. We were
taught the proper way to write with a marker and how to form readable
letters on a flip chart or a card. We were also taught how to
maximize the use of PowerPoint. This is not something you would
have expected to talk about in a seminar on facilitation, but
it was very necessary since moderation is about helping others
get their ideas across. Visual aides are a big help in fostering
dialogue and debate.
I also appreciated the several exercises we did such as the “mirror,”
“alpha-beta culture” and “how do you feel.” They emphasized non-verbal
cues, problems of miscommunication and focusing on your emotions.
These games highlighted the importance of putting participants
at ease in order to encourage honesty and understanding as many
misinterpretations arise from failing to read body signals and
emotions.
Another thing that stayed in my mind was our program excursions
to the museum at the former German border town Helmstedt and the
political sightseeing tour of Berlin. These places made World
War II and Communism very real to me. It made me want to fight
to never let something like that happen again. I admire the Germans
for striving to learn from their history and for never forgetting
what their complacency had let happen. I value how they have taken
concrete steps like adding a provision for political education
in their constitution. This provision is what allows foundations
like the Friedrich Naumann Foundation to exist and teach the values
of liberalism and democracy.
You cannot teach principles if you do not know how to communicate.
The IAF’s seminar on facilitation and communication was very timely
as it ensured that the Foundation’s staff would be well-equipped
to promote our educative work. Recasting the Gummersbach training
in Thailand is equally needed as there are growing democracies
in Asia. FNF’s decision to choose me to co-moderate is very welcome.
Not only will I be an example to my Asian counterparts that you
can transfer best practices learned in Germany to an Asian setting,
but I will also be part of something I highly regard: communication.
I learned a lot from my seminar in Gummersbach. You can be taught
the tools, but communication and moderation are ongoing processes.
They ultimately depend on understanding people and creating spaces
for them to come together.
