The third and final blog of our series on building relationships and power through tough times has kindly been written by Reem Assil. Reem is an identity and leadership coach, facilitator and was one of the speakers at our ‘Organising Change’ event this summer.
That event provided a space for solidarity, reflection and hope for 70 people from all over the country, organising friends, funders, think and do tanks and local leaders. A vital conversation to help prepare us for the year ahead under a new Labour government.
Credit: reemassil.com
With rich contributions from Marshall Ganz (Harvard University), David Robinson (The Relationships Project), Mel Smith (Grapevine), Husna Mortuza (Joseph Rowntree Foundation) and Reem.
To say Reem Assil is a leadership coach is barely to scratch the surface of all that she is and does. She is, as she says, a ‘multipotentialite’ formed from a ‘mash up’ of identities, interest and experiences – all of which have led to her current path.
We were delighted to have her speak at our Organising Change event. In this third blog from our series she talks eloquently about the kind of leadership called for in these times.
The Power of Facilitative Leadership, by Reem Assil
In today’s complex world, leading community action can often feel chaotic and overwhelming. Both leaders and community members face challenges in keeping group projects moving forward amidst economic, political, and societal pressures. Amidst these realities, Facilitative Leadership emerges as a crucial approach to navigate such turbulent times.
What is Facilitative Leadership?
Facilitative Leadership is about more than just steering a ship through stormy seas; it’s about empowering everyone on board to take the helm when needed. This leadership style is grounded in facilitation skills – being present, creating safe spaces for meaningful connections and listening deeply to diverse perspectives. It emphasises honouring lived experiences and involves everyone in decision-making processes.
Facilitative Leadership finds its place between two well-known leadership styles: authoritative and servant leadership. This positioning allows facilitative leaders to harness the strengths of both approaches while mitigating their potential drawbacks.
Creative Kindness, part of our Connecting for Good Cov ecosystem tackling isolation and marginalisation, crafts kindness in libraries. Sparked by one person’s idea, supported by a core team of others and developing new leaders to grow their free sessions to every library in Coventry.
Authoritative vs. Servant Leadership
Authoritative leadership is often characterised by a top-down approach, where leaders set the vision and direct others to follow. This style is effective in situations requiring quick decision-making and clear direction. However, it can sometimes stifle creativity and lead to disconnection between the leader and their team.
In contrast, servant leadership focuses on serving others first. Servant leaders prioritise the needs of their team members, fostering an environment of trust, empowerment and collaboration.
However, this approach can struggle with decisiveness in situations that require strong guidance.
Facilitative Leadership: The best of both worlds
Facilitative Leadership blends the decisiveness of authoritative leadership with the empathy and empowerment central to servant leadership. As Fran Rees states in The Facilitation Excellence Handbook, facilitative leaders “blend their role of visionary, decisive leader with that of a listening and empowering leader.”
This balance is crucial in today’s rapidly changing environment. Facilitative leaders set clear visions and make decisive choices while involving others in the process. They understand that the best decisions are often informed by a diversity of perspectives, and they actively seek to include these voices.
By holding this delicate balance, facilitative leaders guide their communities with both authority and empathy. They use their positional power to create spaces where others feel empowered to contribute, innovate and take ownership. This approach fosters collaboration and trust, leading to more sustainable and inclusive outcomes.
Survivor Sanctuary Plus, also in Coventry, is a peer-led support group for survivors of any type of abuse in the city’s Trans and Queer community.
Characteristics of a facilitative leader
Empathy: Facilitative leaders are deeply compassionate and grounded in the realities of the communities they serve. They value each individual’s experience as unique and important.
Active listening: They are fierce listeners who actively seek out differing perspectives, enriching the dialogue and helping the community grow stronger.
Objectivity: Facilitative leaders hold space for multiple truths, connecting the dots between various perspectives to help the community see the bigger picture.
Learning in the flow of work: They are agile, viewing imperfections as growth opportunities, adjusting as needed and building the community’s capacity to adapt and thrive.
Greater accountability: Facilitative leaders foster a culture of feedback and accountability, encouraging a sense of responsibility that permeates the community.
The importance of centering collective care
At the heart of facilitative leadership is the practice of centering collective care. This is crucial for two reasons. First, self-actualisation is often achieved through community actualisation, where personal growth contributes to the collective’s strength. Second, balancing the “I” and the “We” protects the community from extremes, such as prioritising individual comfort over communal suffering on one end or self-martyrdom for the cause on the other.
The Fight For Your Right To Party community group is passionate about making Coventry nightlife more inclusive.
Conclusion
Facilitative leadership is not just a strategy for effective community organising; it’s a way to ensure our communities are resilient, inclusive and capable of facing future challenges.
By empowering individuals, fostering empathy and centering collective care, facilitative leaders help us navigate our complex world with grace and strength. As we work together in these challenging times, let’s embrace facilitative leadership to uplift every voice in our communities.
Related reading
Read our deputy CEO Mel Smith’s blog in this series ‘How we organise change in this place at this time’ by clicking this link.
Read ‘The glitter and the glue’ – why our relationships are the single most important thing we can do to change our own lives and the wider world – by David Robinson.
Learn more about our Coventry movement against isolation and marginalisation ‘Connecting for Good Cov’ here.
