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 • Seek commitments • Bring closure to each item • Summarize results and follow-ups • Thank the participants • Close the meeting

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

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