Developing Facilitation Skills

1. Developing Facilitation Skills

2. Developing Facilitation Skills • We use facilitation skills to guide and direct key parts of our work. • A facilitator is someone who helps a group meet their goals.

3. Three principles of facilitation Draw out opinions and ideas Focus on HOW, WHAT Never take sides

4. Encourage participation: Check comfort level Allow all ideas to be heard Make members feel good about their contributions Ideas and decisions should be group nominated Be Supportive

5. Why do you need facilitation skills? Good planning Keep members involved Leadership opportunities Increase skills Good communication Resolve conflicts

6. Being a good facilitator includes: Understanding goals Keeping the group and the agenda moving forward Involving everyone Decisions are made democratically

7. Planning a good process Climate Environment Logistics Room Arrangements

8. Common Ground rules One person at a time Raise your hand Listen to others No mocking or attacking Be on time Respect each other

9. The meeting process Start on time Welcome, thank everyone Make introductions Review agenda, objectives, and ground rules Encourage participation Stick to the agenda

10. The meeting process (cont.) Seek commitments Bring closure to each item Summarize results and follow-ups Thank the participants Close the meeting

11. Preventing disruptions Get agreement early Listen and show respect Show respect Learn expectations Stay cool

12. Interventions for disrupters Individual domination Intimidation Tension Someone expressing doubts Side conversations If these fail Last resort