The Hippo Model

02-06-2017

I guess we all know the iceberg-model. Right? No?

Ok, then we have to improvise.

As a facilitator you must be able to embrace improvisation. I must admit I like to do this when I play my saxophone. During office hours I’m getting more and more the hang of this improvisation. Sometimes. That’s one of the reasons why I want to learn to be a better facilitator.

In Uganda we are looking for better facilitators more and more. Not just trainers, but facilitators. And I even would like to work with someone who is able to combine both training and facilitation skills. Such a person is a rare gem in Uganda. Perhaps even worldwide. That is why our fellow agri-agencies TRIAS (Belgium) and WeEffect (Sweden) joined forces:

Our idea is to develop a Pool of Consultants that have exactly these facilitation & training skills. A pool of consultants that we can avail of throughout the year, based on demand. Yet we are certain that the quality that we avail of is of a guaranteed level. A (AgriCord)CERTIFIED level.

We are in process to enhance the skills of these selected consultants to ensure they can:

-facilitate a workshop (both process and content)

-coach selected participants of Leadership Development trainings

Currently we face the challenge of having cooperative managers participating in Leadership Development sessions. In between these sessions, the participants need to be coached. On the spot. Mentored. This is not something anyone can do. Therefore we need to create a Pool of people we can avail of.

Last month we kicked-off by having a session with 9 consultants we see fit to enrol this Pool. The follow-up session is planned end of June 2017. AHA, the German agri-agency, also an Agricord member, is assisting us in developing these sessions.

So far so good. We’ve seen what it takes to guarantee a successful, bush-proof (clip-ons),

well-facilitated workshop.

We’ve also learned there’s more than meets the eye. Or, transforming the iceberg-model to the Ugandan context: the hippo’s body is mostly under the water, hidden. That represents a person’s values, thoughts, feelings and needs. The 20% of the hippo that you see above the water is representing the behaviour of a person.

Go figure…!

More to follow on how to be a better facilitator & trainer in one.

Taco Hoekstra, business advisor East-Africa at Agriterra