Maggie Dugan: Confessions of a Facilitator

Location at time of writing: Paris, France and Barcelona, Spain

At II since... the start, 10 years!

I’m the founder of Inclusive Innovation, and a facilitator for 30 years. My passion is to gather people in rooms — sometimes in Africa, sometimes in Asia, sometimes closer to home — and help them find ways to collaborate together. Over the years, I’ve stumbled, learned, and laughed (at myself) a lot. Here are a few confessions from that journey.

“I didn't expect facilitation to teach me…”

When I first stepped into facilitation, I imagined myself at the front of the room sharing knowledge about creativity, teaching tools, and modeling how to think differently. I quickly realized the role is something else entirely. Facilitation is about creating the framework for others to discover their own potential, building trust within the group, and offering just enough structure for collaboration to thrive. It taught me to listen more deeply, and to step aside when the group finds its own momentum. In the end, it’s less about being the sage on the stage, and more about being the guide by the side.

“In my part of the world…”

In Spain and France, sharing a meal is one of the most reliable ways to bring people together. Around the table, conversations stretch, disagreements soften, and decisions often emerge naturally. In France, lively debate is really part of the culture: ideas are challenged, arguments sharpened, and the clash of perspectives is seen as a path to clarity rather than conflict. In Spain, by contrast, the rhythm of life teaches the value of the pause – think siesta or late-night gatherings – a reminder that stepping back, resting, or simply letting time do its work can be just as important as pressing forward.

“One time, everything went sideways…”

At a workshop, after a day and a half of creative activities, it came time to make decisions. Three senior managers immediately began dominating the conversation, and I watched as people who had been active all along retreated into silence. One table in particular shut down completely — their body language said it all. I realized the real issue wasn’t which solution to choose, but how hierarchy was shaping the team’s dynamics.

Earlier, I’d used an activity with signs in each corner (agree completely → agree somewhat → disagree somewhat → disagree completely) as a lighthearted icebreaker. I repurposed it, asking participants to anonymously write either their preferred solution or their feelings about how the decision was unfolding. I collected and read these aloud, and invited everyone to place themselves physically in front of the signs according to their level of agreement. By the end, every voice had been heard — and the three managers understood they needed to step back. A different, more balanced conversation followed.

What I learned: if you don’t test the temperature of hierarchy early on and address it directly, even the best decision-making tools won’t lead to solutions people truly own or have energy to implement.

“My weirdest / most wonderful tool is…”

Music. Not exactly revolutionary, but in a professional workshop it can feel almost mischievous. I’ll play something upbeat as people arrive, to loosen the room and set a welcoming tone. Breaks get an instant energy boost with a good track, and for reflection I’ll slip in soft instrumentals (Brian Eno’s Ambient: Music for Airports is my go-to). It never fails: music shifts the mood, drops defenses, and helps people feel more human together.

“If I could change one thing about how we work together on this planet…”

I’d change the pace. We rush to answers, outcomes and outputs. Workshops that once unfolded over five days with ample time for trust to grow, ideas to evolve, and connections to deepen, are now compressed into two days  — or three hours. In that rush, we often confuse efficiency with effectiveness, and we lose the chance to sit with complexity. If we slowed down to listen more generously, linger in the questions, allowed incubation to do its work — we might discover that what emerges is not just quicker agreements, but genuine collaboration. Real transformation doesn’t come from speed; it comes from giving people, ideas, and relationships the time they need to take root.

“Pass It On”

Nominate the next II team member and ask them one burning question you have for them!

   

I nominate Alisa Govender. My question:  What’s one facilitation habit you secretly wish you could unlearn?

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About The Series:

Confessions of a Facilitator is an interview series that will travel around the world, visiting II team members across the globe. It has one clear aim; to explore the messy, magical, and radical ways our community of facilitators practices collaboration across boundaries... so that others might be inspired to do the same.