On the vertical axis we look at the subject matter strength. On the
horizontal axis is plotted process skills. Consideration should be
given to balancing the styles of both the facilitator and the partici-
pants. When they are not synchro nized, either subject matter ex-
pertise or process skills may become annoying. It is not as important
where you are on the quadrant as it is to balance your style with
those of the participants.
There are many styles involved in how we process information.
Michael Quinn Patton talks about sending students to a county com-
missioner’s meeting to learn how the politicians process information.
Do they use logic? Do they use storytelling? Do they like the dialectic
model? Are they “big picture” or “little picture” people? His mes-
sage: adapt your style of delivery to get what you want (Patton).
R. J. Hildreth, retired director of the Farm Foundation, when
teaching FCL volunteers about public testimony, suggested balanc-
ing the emotional (normative) and the logical (positive) as a process
of presenting information to decision makers (Hildreth).
Adaptability of facilitators’ styles with that of participants is the
way to of getting from stuckness to working together on solutions to
issues and problems.
REFERENCES*
Freidman, Edwin. “Shaping Our Future.” Paper presented at a symposium, St. Louis, MO, Aug. 1993.
Gray, Barbara. Collaborating: Finding Common GroundforMultiparty Problems. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
Publishers, 1989.
Greene, Jennifer, Alan J. Hahn and Carla Waterman. Innovative Public Policy Education Projects Cluster Evalua-
tion. Grand Rapids, MI: W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Nov. 1992.
Hershey, Paul, and Kenneth H. Blanchard. Management of Organizational Behavior: Utilizing Human Resources.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1977.
Hildreth, R. J. “The Role of Knowledge in Making Policy.” Paper presented at the Third Regional Family Com-
munity Leadership Training, Portland, OR, March, 1984.
Patton, Michael Quinn. “Creating the Future for Extension. ” Presentation at the National Association of Extension
Home Economists Convention, Pittsburgh, PA, 1988.
Smith, O. E. Looking Ahead: Context for Planning and Strategy for the Agricultural Sciences. College of Agri-
cultural Sciences Paper, Oregon State University, Winter, 1990.
The Ohio Center for Action on Coalition Development. Building Coalitions. A reference manual. Columbus, OH:
The Ohio State University, 1992.
*For all three paper sections.
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