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Core Group Skills for Facilitators.
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Although facilitators work primarily with groups, those groups are comprised of individuals. A good facilitator needs strong expertise in working with individuals as well as groups. The following list includes skills that would be very useful for a facilitator to have.
Definition of FACILITATOR Someone or something that facilitates something especially : someone who helps to bring about an outcome (such as learning, productivity, or communication) by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, or supervision the workshop's facilitator kept discussion flowing smoothly. • Facilitating well can make all the difference for the participants to feel safe enough in an event or not. Facilitation means to make “easier” the tasks of group. It is a skill and an art.
How to Prepare to Facilitate It is always important for you to be personally prepared for facilitation. This is true whether you are an external or internal consultant. In most cases, you are by yourself as the facilitator, while your group members look to you to guide them through a successful group activity. Depending on the goals of your group and the nature of its members, the experience of facilitation can range from fun and fulfilling to challenging and lonely. The following guidelines will help you to personally prepare for facilitation in any situation. • Always know the goals, structures and membership of the group. An important systems principle is that structures determine behaviors, which determine events. The behaviors and events in your group will be determined, in large part, by the structures – plans, roles, policies and procedures – in your group. • Know what “centers” you – what calms you down before facilitating a meeting. Different people “get centered” by different means. For example, do you meditate, take a walk, or memorize an opening to the meeting? Think about successful meetings that you have facilitated in the past. What worked to keep you centered? • Remember how you successfully deal with feedback and conflict. Remember your typical reactions to feedback and conflict and how you have learned to successfully manage those reactions. • Use your emotional intelligence (EI). Remember how you recognize and name uncomfortable feelings and how you have learned to successfully manage those emotions. • Have an opening – something to say when you start the group meeting. Always know what you are going to say for the first minute of the meeting. Your sense of purpose and direction will be contagious to group members. For example, memorize a certain opening to the meeting or tell a joke. Adapted from “Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development” – to obtain the entire book, select “Publications” at http://www.authenticityconsulting.com
Tips for Effective Group Facilitation To facilitate effectively, you need to know both how to get a group started, and then how to manage the discussions. Tip 1 • Start with building trust, before you move into the curriculum or sensitive issues and ask more open-ended questions. • Tell about you! What qualifies to be facilitating this subject matter. • Make it fun through introduction or an ice breaker This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
TIP 2 Call on the group at large, not an individual. Pose your question to everyone, then as you look around, select the person or persons you want to call on. This way, everyone stays engaged, and no one is put on the spot. The facilitator could encourage participants to answer and respond to each other’s ideas and questions. Of course the facilitator ensures that the group is on-task and on-time, but dialogue between learners (rather than between facilitator and participants) can help learning. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
TIP 3 Use the silence. Once you have asked a question, don’t jump in with your own answer. Let the group have time to think and respond. • Silence is a difficult thing when we are facilitating. However, people need time to think of what they want to say, whether they want to share and what questions they have. • Invite learners to engage with the content and each other, giving them time to explore and make sense of the topic for themselves.
TIP 4 Ask participants to write down their ideas or questions that doesn't pertain to the subject matter. This is especially helpful with a quiet group, when time is short or when emotions are high. • Have paper or note cards handy • Use of the big wall posted note/flipchart: Name it the Parking Lot, In WRAP it is called the Garden
TIP 5 Ask for a volunteer to write comments or answers on a flipchart. This will keep you from having to turn away from the group to write, allowing you to keep the group engaged, or to keep an eye on a talkative group. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
TIP 6 Incorporate physical movement. Have individuals move into small groups, walk up to the front of the room to post their ideas, or stand beside a flipchart to deliver their findings to the large group. Use games and puzzles that get them physically engaged. Adult toys. coloring books, fidget toys This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
TIP 7 1 Example of a Group Agreement • Make sure everyone can contribute • *more talkative people: show a little restraint • *quieter people: your contributions are very welcome • Only one person speaks at a time • *put up your hand if you want to speak • Respect each others' opinions even / especially if you don’t • agree with them • 4. Participate! • Confidentiality - some things shouldn't be repeated outside • of this training. • Be conscious of time - help stick to it, or negotiate for more • Mobile phones off to minimize disruptions • Start and come back from break on time • I support myself by standing if needed • I will support myself by asking questions if I don’t understand Group agreements are a useful tool for getting your event off to the right start and keeping it on track. Utilize an agreement to discuss cross-talking or side conversation at the beginning of the training. Support agreement: We can not control others - How would you support yourself in being apart of this training? Comfort agreement: Tells the group what it takes for you to be comfortable in this group setting. Manage side conversations. Make steady eye contact with those who tend to chat or use silence until the room becomes quiet. By using these “silent” techniques, you can usually maintain control without having to say anything.
TIP 8 Be flexible. The most critical thing to remember about facilitating is to be flexible. • Be prepared to make changes to the room configuration, curriculum, work with or without slides. • Break a large group down into smaller ones for discussion. Give complete directions first, then disperse into breakout groups. • If directions are complicated, write them on a flipchart, along with the time to reconvene. • To signal small groups to return to the large group, dim the lights or sound a timer. Have Back–up tools in your Facilitator’s tool box!!! If any thing can go wrong, It Will!
Tip 9 • Disagreement can be a sign of independent thinking and can lead to better solutions in the long run. • When conflict arises, try to disagree with the statement rather than with the person. If the emotional temperature gets too hot, you might suggest a short break before continuing. • Ask the group for suggests or if anyone wants to answer this that may have had a similar experience (remember the facilitator does not have to all the answers. (Draw on the expertise in the room). Don’t shy away from conflict.
TIP 10 Words such as “please” and “thank you” and inclusive terms like “Let’s look at our next agenda item” or “Shall we check for consensus now?” foster a climate of respect and cooperation. Use courteous language.
Extra TIPS • Educators have determined that most adults, adolescents, and children learn best by experiencing a blend of activities that promote the three learning domains: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. Use your co-facilitator. If you are lucky enough to have someone you are co-facilitating with, use that person. Discuss how you can best support each other and work as a team. Check in with each other if either of you get unsure what to do with a comment or the direction the group seems to be going. Call a break Adult Learning As an instructor/facilitator, you should have a basic understanding of how adults learn. Adult learners bring experiences and self-awareness to learning that younger learners do not. *To understand adult learning, you should understand learning domains, learning styles, and how and why adults learn. • In education, learning modalities (also known as learning styles) are defined as the ways in which students use their senses throughout the learning process to acquire new skills. There are four main modalities that educators often consider:
As a Facilitator, Beyond teaching your subject, we can inspire confidence and passion in another human beings. That kind of Facilitation changes lives. Whether you are highly experienced or brand-new to classroom training or facilitation, you have probably discovered your own tips to encourage participation and manage group dynamics. If you are willing please share. • I’m open for any questions.
