In this episode, Aileen Miziolek speaks with renowned facilitator and author Roger Schwarz about the critical roles facilitators and consultants play—especially in complex systems like family enterprises. Roger explores how mutual learning, clear boundaries and transparency can elevate the value professionals bring to their clients, offering practical insights and tools for navigating advisory roles with compassion and clarity.

All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Family Enterprise Canada.

Guest bio

Roger M. Schwarz, PhD, is an organizational psychologist and president and CEO of Roger Schwarz & Associates. For more than forty years, he has helped leadership teams and organizations achieve strong performance, solid working relationships, and individual well-being. His work is grounded in the premise that creating fundamental, systemic, and sustainable change requires that individuals, teams, and the larger organization change the mindset that guides their behaviour.

You can learn more about Roger M. Schwarz on LinkedIn and the Roger Schwarz and Associates website.

Key Takeaways

[2:03] Aileen Miziolek welcomes Roger M. Schwarz and asks him to share a little bit about his background.

[4:10] Roger starts off sharing the proper definition of a facilitator, and more importantly, what they cannot be.

[6:28] The facilitator and consultant roles intersect and give rise to different possible titles. For Roger, it boils down to one question: What value do you bring to the client?

[9:31] Roger underscores the more obvious traps of the facilitative consultant with a few examples.

[12:06] The decision of which role to play is fraught with challenges, and the first may be a conversation with your client.

[16:31] Engaging a system without becoming enmeshed is critical. Roger talks about boundaries and becoming a mirror.

[18:38] Roger explains the unilateral control approach and mutual learning.

[21:38] The five core values of mutual learning.

[24:24] Roger shares the chess versus puzzle analogy.

[25:40] Many facilitators and consultants often get stuck. Roger offers that they try the transparency test.

[28:42] The role compassion plays in facilitating.

[31:34] Roger tackles an issue he is passionate about: the use of agendas! Or rather, using the purpose and process method.

[34:31] The purpose and process are established right before a meeting, but not so early as to become the meeting itself!

[37:05] Roger shares the story of a good and a bad facilitation.

[44:02] Roger shares who his books are for as well as some of the services and resources his office provides.

[45:55] Aileen thanks Roger Schwarz for sharing so much of his knowledge, and closes this episode by reminding listeners to rate and subscribe.

If you enjoyed today's episode, you can subscribe to Let's Talk Family Enterprise on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast apps. Please remember to share this episode with family, friends, and colleagues. Share your thoughts with us at [email protected].

Mentioned in this episode

Venesa Vasilakeris from McQuaig.com on building better teams.

Smart Leaders, Smarter Teams: How You and Your Team Get Unstuck to Get Results, by Roger M. Schwarz

The Skilled Facilitator: A Comprehensive Resource for Consultants, Facilitators, Coaches, and Trainers, by Roger M. Schwarz

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