The document discusses basic facilitation skills. It explains that a facilitator leads discussions but does not provide answers, instead acting as a tour guide. Effective facilitation relies on skills like active listening, summarizing, and recognizing progress. Facilitation differs from training in that the facilitator asks questions to develop involvement while presenters primarily answer questions. Tips are provided for facilitating discussions, communicating effectively, and handling difficult team members.

1. BASIC
FACILITATION
SKILLS
Rashid Mwinyi

2. Responsibilities of a Facilitator
How Facilitation Differs from Training and
Presenting
Suggestion for Facilitators
Effective Communication Skills for Facilitators
Handling Difficult Team Members

3. The facilitator leads
The facilitator is knowledgeable enough
The facilitator is not an answer provider, but rather a
tour guide
The facilitator promotes the concept of “safe space”.
Opinions
It is vital that you have some “probing questions” ready

4.  Community
 Observation
 Flexibility
 Patience
 Connections
 Balance
 Affirmation
 Silence
 Challenge

5. HOW FACILITATION DIFFERS FROM
TRAINING AND PRESENTING
Instructor is a catalyst for
learning.
Presenter primarily answers
rather than asks questions.
Questions are used to develop
individual involvement in the
group.

6.  Be aware of the physical environment and how it can influence
group behaviour.
 Orient group to the timeframe and task at the beginning of each
session.
 Explain the product that is expected.
 Develop group ground rules, or norms for operating, and use them.
 If you don’t have a co-facilitator, select someone to write key points
on the flipchart.
 Choose a decision making method BEFORE you need it. Suggest
some options that the group could use to get them thinking.

8.  Active Listening
 Modelling
 Summarising
 Focusing attention and Pacing
 Recognising Progress
 Waiting or silence
 Scanning/Observing
 Inclusion

9. Should never verbally scold or embarrass the individual
in front of the group or even privately.
Your first opportunity to correct troublesome behaviour
should be during the meeting
A second option is to talk with the person candidly about
the behaviour in private.
A third option is to use the team's informal leaders−those
members most respected for their knowledge and
experience.

10. 1. The Mummy: This person will not freely participate in
discussions. The motivation might be indifference, an
inferiority complex, confusion about the issues or process, or a
feeling of superiority.
2. The Windbag: This individual comments too frequently and
tends to dominate discussions. He or she also tends to be the
first to speak on each issue.
3. The Rambler: This individual will often get off track in his
remarks, misses the point, or uses far-fetched examples to
make a point.
4. The Homesteader: A person who takes an initial position and
is highly reluctant to budge or consider other viable
alternatives.