Facilitators Need Active Resistance

Why it holds the secrets to a great workshop

A few years ago, I ran a two-day team development workshop. I had been “warned” in advance about one of the participants likely being rude and disengaged in the process. “He is always like that.” And he sure was.

He was already disgruntled before we had even started. He frequently shook his head during the first session, spoke in one-word-answers, and his body language was textbook rejecting. He played the predicted part perfectly. Too perfectly.

During the first break, I observed him. He isolated himself, and I joined him with a coffee. We had a simple conversation about his role, his experience, and his situation. He shared unexpectedly openly about himself, almost as if he was waiting for someone to ask. I asked him about previous team development experiences and noted his open and honest answers. We ended the conversation with me thanking him for his openness.

I considered his insights in laying out the day, and he transformed into a different person. The other participants were amazed by his change in behavior. At the end of the two days, he provided one of the most impactful and memorable words about his experience I have heard in any of my workshops. ¹

A participant questions your process, someone voices their frustrations openly, and the group refuses to engage in an exercise completely.

Most facilitators find active resistance a nightmare. Though, it doesn’t have to be. Moreover, active resistance is an excellent yet unintended opportunity to pivot.

Active resistance can have many faces. What they all have in common is that they tell you something about the person or people displaying this behavior. It takes a proactive approach and humble curiosity instead of defensive reactions.

It’s all about being interested in the person behind the behavior in a caring, inviting, and accommodating way and not getting scared off by its seemingly confrontational nature. Behind the hard shell, we can always find a vulnerable spot, which is where the connection begins.

Exploring what is behind the participant’s behavior allows you to work with it, analyze it, and use it to everyone’s advantage. On the other hand, passive or, worse, hidden resistance can lead us straight into a pitfall, and our experience might not match the feedback, leaving us frustrated and stunned.

So, encourage your participants to give active resistance because it’s the most effective way to make changes, follow their needs, and turn the workshop into an excellent experience for everyone.

Enjoy!

Note. There is a fine line between understanding the situation and deep-diving into the root causes of the resistance. The latter is not necessarily in our interest or within the mandate of our role as facilitators.

1. Photo by Etty Fidele on Unsplash