Facilitator as a team's midwife
Helping giving birth collaboration, understanding and outcomes
A facilitator and a midwife share several commonalities in their roles, even though they operate in vastly different contexts. Here are a few similarities:
Guidance and support: Both provide guidance and support. A facilitator helps a group navigate processes and achieve goals, while a midwife supports a woman through the childbirth process.
Empowerment: They empower individuals. Facilitators empower group members to contribute and collaborate effectively, whereas midwives empower women to have a positive birth experience.
Neutrality and objectivity: Both maintain a neutral and objective stance. Facilitators do not take sides or impose their ideas, similar to how midwives respect the birthing process without imposing unnecessary interventions.
Skill and expertise: Both require specialized skills and expertise to effectively assist others. Facilitators need skills in communication, conflict resolution, and process management, while midwives require medical knowledge and birthing expertise.
Creating safe environments: Both aim to create safe and supportive environments. Facilitators foster a space where participants feel comfortable sharing ideas, and midwives ensure a safe physical and emotional environment for childbirth.
Adaptive approach: They both adapt to the needs of those they are supporting. Facilitators adjust their methods based on the group’s dynamics, and midwives adapt their care to the unique needs of each woman and birth.
Focus on outcomes: Both are outcome-focused. Facilitators strive to help groups achieve their objectives, while midwives aim for a healthy mother and baby as the outcome of childbirth.