So, Just What Do You Facilitate?

Referee A Conversation?
By Jeff Jordan

I might get the more experienced Facilitators at the Zeidler Group upset by labeling them referees, but as a facilitator in training or FIT2, that is what it feels like.

Zeidler Group is a group of trained people who teach and practice the continuation of a method of guided conversation, pioneered by a former Mayor of Milwaukee, Frank Zeidler. Zeidler was mayor of the city from 1948-1960. He was the last of the Socialist Mayors for which Milwaukee is well known. Zeidler was notable for his style of leadership. In his administration, transparency and honest communication were his standards.

A devout Christian, he was a member of Redemer Luthern Church. That church is the location of the recently renamed Zeidler Group. This organization promulgates Zeilder's method of facilitating a conversation.

I could take you through my training and learning experience. I could relate the entire creation tale behind the Zeidler Group. It's a great story, but if you go to the website above, you can get all of that and encourage you to do that. I want to share the experience I've had as I work with the experienced facilitators to qualify as a FIT3.

There are no rules in this experience because there is no competition taking place. We are interested in promoting dialog, not debate. What we are doing is providing a venue for everyone to express their thoughts, beliefs, and experiences on a subject. What do you think about the issue? Why do you think that way? What experience did you have to lead you to your belief? 

The guidelines are pretty simple.

• Everyone in the circle talks in turn for up to three minutes. 
• They agree not to speak for groups of people ( Political Party, Religion, sexual orientation, etc.). 
• We ask our participants to speak from their personal experience and reasons for any beliefs or conclusions they have reached regarding the issue. 
• They do not interrupt each other.  

There may be one to three questions. Each one will require we go around the circle listening to each person's response. A circle member can pass on their turn and ask that we come back to them, or they can decide they do not want to speak at all. There is an open conversational period at the end that permits direct questioning and clarification. 

As facilitators, we are referees. We keep time to make sure no one gets no more than three minutes. We take nonattributable notes for the organizer of the event. Most importantly, we make sure everyone stays within the guidelines. It has been my experience that once the circle completes one question round, everybody gets how it works, and there is little need to remind them.

Facilitators are neutral. I can't tell you before after or during a session what I think. It's not about me. It's about you and your thoughts. Therefore, outside of an occasional, "Please finish your sentence. Your time is up," you're not going to hear a lot from me.

I want you to consider that last sentence. In that sentence, because of my role, I am voluntarily giving up not only my right to speak but to shelter my opinion. I'm Irish. That is not easy for us.

Let's take an issue, for example. 
Subject: There are increasing numbers of pedestrian injuries and deaths occurring in the City of Milwaukee streets. 

Question 1 Have you or someone close to you been in an accident, and how has it affected you? 

Question 2. What do you think has to be done to prevent future accidents. 

Question 3. Are you altering your behavior, so you don't cause an accident like this?

I have sat in on discussions of Racism, LGTBT, and Criminal Justice. In the past, the Zilber Group has worked on neighborhood and police discussions. There are open to the public talks scheduled on Milwaukee's Reputation, Homelessness and Eviction, and Milwaukee's Hispanic Prosperity.

If the game is played within the rules, you will never notice the referee.