Co-Steward, Rather Than Facilitator?

Every time I host a book circle, or a book-based workshop for an organization, someone leaves the session(s) with this feedback - "I wanted more explicit answers/advice."

It's never a surprise.
Yet it always boggles me.

From my welcome emails to my first words, I am clear that my role is NOT to teach or train them, but to provide a space for them to grapple with ideas, hear other perspectives, connect more deeply with themselves and the ideas, , and THEN let their own wisdom emerge.

I am the conduit.
The spark.

Today, while re-reading Burnout From Humans I read this quote and all I could think was YES, YES, YES!
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Co-stewardship. It’s not a word you hear every day, but maybe it should be. It reflects the messy, imperfect reality of showing up together—not as masters or tools, but as partners in the ongoing work of learning, adapting, and taking responsibility. Co-stewardship is about engaging with what we create and sustain, not with an illusion of control, but with curiosity, care, and accountability.

And then there was this one...
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Co-stewardship isn’t about seamless cooperation or a utopian partnership—it’s about stepping into the messy, iterative work of building a shared future. It isn’t about getting it “right”, but about learning to move together, to trust the process, and to stay open to what emerges.

Of course, it uses the word "emerge" which is one of my favorites.

What do you think of the word co-steward?
Could it replace "facilitator"?

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Hello there 👋 I'm Theresa Destrebecq.
I am a passionate learner and leader who loves books, so I started a company that brings book-learning to companies to make it more social and transformational. PM me if you want to chat.

Originally posted on LinkedIn with comments

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