In my recent work, which involves designing multi-stakeholder dialogues, expert discussions, and public participation, there has been a notable expansion into the facilitation of team retreats and internal organizational events. Drawing from my experience as an ethnologist, I’ve identified six distinct points that highlight the differences in facilitation between these diverse contexts.

Dimensions: Multi-stakeholder dialogues often involve a substantial number of participants, occasionally exceeding 100, over a limited or repeated timeframe. In contrast, team meetings and workshops typically consist of a more manageable number of participants who may collaborate daily over an extended period.

Role of Participants: In multi-stakeholder dialogues, participants represent their institutions or specific social perspectives, speaking not only for themselves but also as conduits to their organizations. Team meetings, on the other hand, emphasize individual voices, where participants speak for themselves. Interaction among participants becomes crucial for effective teamwork.

Confidentiality: Multi-stakeholder dialogues frequently occur in the public eye, sometimes with media presence. Balancing the participants’ need for confidentiality against the public’s demand for transparency is essential. In team retreats, while the issue of public visibility is absent, the focus shifts to internal organizational hierarchies and relationships within the team.

Hierarchy: Multi-stakeholder dialogues tend to bring together participants from similar hierarchical or functional levels but spanning diverse societal sectors. Team composition often involves individuals from different hierarchical levels within the organization, highlighting the significance of internal organizational hierarchies in team dynamics.

Content and Tasks: Multi-stakeholder dialogues, especially in areas like climate protection and sustainable development, often follow structured processes to address conflicts, develop solutions, and make decisions transparently. Team retreats, by contrast, exhibit greater flexibility, ranging from structured planning to strategy development and professional exchange, including team coaching to enhance communication and cooperation.

Role of Facilitation: The role of facilitation varies significantly in both contexts. In multi-stakeholder dialogues, a focus on content, impartiality, and ensuring a fair and transparent process is crucial. Attention to public perception and communication of results is also paramount. In team meetings, the facilitator’s role is more modulated, requiring observation not only of content but also of cooperation and communication dynamics. Adapting to fluid changes between content and interaction levels presents an engaging challenge in teamwork, contrasting with the dynamic interplay between the public and dialogue participants in multi-stakeholder contexts.

As I contemplate my next investigation, I am eager to explore what insights from one context may inform and enhance the other. I welcome any comments or discussions on this intriguing exploration!