Working with What’s in the Room
A Reflection by Nina Rogers
Our nervous systems were not built to hold the amount of information we receive on a daily basis. This shows up for people as pressure, burnout, overload, uncertainty and overwhelm.
This also means that when we are with a team delivering a session, the plan we co-produced might need to change. Sometimes the group only knows what it needs when they come together in a space and start talking. Suddenly, the original plan feels unattainable or less relevant than what is present for people on the day.
When this happens, we pivot. We check in with the group about what people need and where they think the best value is. Often that highlights that we can’t move forward with our plan until we address the present issue or a specific topic. We might re-contract in the moment.
Understanding the emotion in the room is part of good facilitation. It is about knowing when to dig into a particular sticky point, sensing that the group is stuck, and recognising that if we proceed with the plan, we will lose the group. Something bigger or more important is often happening underneath the surface, and how we manage that in the moment matters.
We work with compassion at our heart. We know relationships matter, and we have the courage to move, to change, to shape and reshape as we go. This is working with the context, not ignoring it.
This happens all the time. In a recent workshop I was delivering, I was aware that there was a heaviness in the room. If I could feel it, I was sure others might too. With curiosity and openness, I named what I was experiencing and asked if others felt that way. They did. It allowed the group to share what was present for them. It wasn’t comfortable, but it was powerful.
When we have the courage to step away from a plan to work with what is real, present and relevant, we give permission to the group to do the same.
As a facilitator, I welcome these moments. Moments where the energy shifts, where honesty is shared, where people can name their reality, their emotions, and the thing that is stopping them engaging with the session. I welcome them because this is where meaningful work can happen.
I can adapt, slow down, reassess and sense check. The group can too.
Off-the-shelf training doesn’t work in complex times. It can feel like box ticking or ignoring what is present. If we proceed with the plan regardless, we miss the connection to what is alive in our clients.
We can hold the space for whatever comes up. We can sit in the complexity and the messiness. We can acknowledge, recognise and reconnect to purpose.
Often clients can get lost in the chaos, feel overwhelmed and overburdened. We are here to hold that, to move with it, to navigate through it, to hold up a mirror, to bring objectivity and to challenge.
We care about our clients, the work they do and where they want to go.
Working alongside a client is always tailored, from our initial meeting and co-design process through every element of delivery. Because people, teams and organisations are not linear. We are human and complex.
This way of working is reflected in what our clients tell us. In our latest client survey, organisations highlighted the importance of a tailored, relational approach. They spoke about the value of thoughtful facilitation, space for honest conversation, and working with consultants who can adapt in the moment rather than relying on off-the-shelf solutions.
We are pleased that this values-led way of working continues to resonate with the organisations we support. More reflections are available in the full report here https://www.animateconsulting.co.uk/news/our-client-survey-2025-results-are-out