#6 - Craig Freshley: Bridging divides - The art of neutral facilitation in politically charged conversations

Craig Freshley is an expert in neutral facilitation and guiding good group decisions. He shares his experiences with Make-Shift Coffee Houses, designed to bridge divides between differing political views. He gives criteria and techniques for engaging diverse perspectives and creating a welcoming and safe conversation space. He emphasises the importance of a neutral venue, welcoming live music, and providing a set of ground rules. He describes the neutral facilitator as a 'referee' who ensures equitable participation. Additionally, Craig explains how he encourages involvement from underrepresented groups and addresses power imbalances in conversations and decision-making. Transcript.

Chapters

 00:00 The Story of Make-shift Coffee Houses     
04:58 Facilitating Makeshift Coffee Houses     
07:35 Engaging Diverse Perspectives in Discussions
09:40 The Role of Music and Environment in Facilitation
12:14 Moderating Conversations: Techniques and Strategies
14:29 Inclusivity and Encouraging Participation
15:00 Neutral Facilitation in Decision-Making   
17:13 Challenges in Stakeholder Engagement
19:49 The Importance of Ground Rules
21:47 Final Thoughts on Levelling the Playing Field

More info

• Website Craig Freshley


• Makeshift Coffee House


• Book: Together We Decide: An Essential Guide For Making Good Group Decisions