“resolving issues”
As a facilitator and advisor to nonprofits, my clients rely on my communications skills daily to move their organizations forward. The training I received through the Process Communication Model (PCM) has taken those skills to a new level! Through PCM I am able to speak to every person in the room in a way that resonates with them and allows them to participate in resolving the issues at hand. The time spent with Next Element has been invaluable.
Ranlyn Tilley Hill, JD
President
Benevolent Vision, Los Angeles CA
Counsel to Nonprofits
Moving Outside the Comfort Zone
“Moving Outside Your Comfort Zone,” is a familiar term in the world of experiential facilitating and consulting. Whether it is being on an adventure course or facilitating an important discussion, things begin to change the longer we are outside our comfort zone. There is a shift that takes place in all of us when we begin to experience discomfort or stress. Stress is neither good nor bad, It is HOW we respond (cope) to stress that makes it a positive or negative experience.
One of the challenges facilitators and trainers face is knowing at what point coping with stress, in your participants or in yourself, has turned into nonproductive distress behaviors. Distress behaviors often create the potential for harm to self and others. The transition from stress to distress is a crossroads for the facilitator and participants. Both paths lead towards getting a need met, however one route is healthier than the other.
The healthy route is when we see our self and our participants connecting with and motivating each other, open to outcomes and able to see the potential of each others’ strengths, ideas, and even humor. The unhealthy choice happens when distress begins to take over and non-productive behaviors show evidence that people are attempting to get needs met in negative ways. Storming, mis-communication, blaming, inability to see potential in each others’ ideas, and conflicting perceptions on desired outcomes are exhibited.
Trainers and facilitators who connect and motivate through words, gestures, postures, tones and facial expressions create healthier learning environments where participant needs can being met through healthy communication. This process of communication creates an environment where comfort zones are stretched, stretch zones are made safer, and conflict can lead to creative solutions. Healthy risk-taking is explored and groups tend to safety with each other while working through group conflict.
Process Communication Model (PCM) training for facilitators and consultants teaches how to recognize and respond to words, tones, postures, gestures, and facial expressions that precisely compliment the receiver in a manner that engages and motivates. At Next Element we practice this approach in facilitating and train other professionals to do the same. -JR