4. The Purpose
What is facilitation?
How can I use it to enhance my
training sessions?
And will it work?
Are there other facilitative strategies
that can work?
Glad you asked!
6. Facilitation vs…
Consulting:
I’m not telling you what to do. I’m guiding you in figuring out
what you should be doing.
Instructing:
I’m not necessarily a subject matter expert of your content.
Presenting:
I’m not selling anything.
7. Facilitation + Training?
Helping achieve specific outcomes using
participant-centered methods.
Regularly evaluate the process in real time.
Are familiar with the organizational culture
and context.
Stimulate dialogue and interaction between
participants.
9. Strategies for Instructors
The Hook:
Quick Quiz:
3-5 Questions that get the students thinking about what they’re
about to learn. Scenario based? Open answers?
Questions:
Designed to get a physical response. “How many here…” “Did
you know that…”
Visualization:
Paint them a picture that invokes empathy.
10. Strategies for Instructors
The Introduction:
Sell yourself:
They already know you’re an instructor.
Prove yourself:
Explain why you’re a credible resource for them.
Have fun at your expense:
Share a story about your experience that illustrates how this
training could have helped you at one time.
11. Strategies for Instructors
Community Expectations:
Set the ground rules:
Behaviors expected of everyone set by
everyone.
Set the expectations:
Active attention.
No cell phones except during breaks.
If you’re tired – stand up.
12. Strategies for Instructors
Ice Breakers:
Establishing common ground:
Creates a positive group dynamic.
Bankable attention to students:
You get to know the participants and therefore enhance their
connection to you.
Common Ice Breakers:
Ten things we have in common.
One Word.
The Little Known Fact (Introductory Ice Breaker)
13. Why will this work?
Building buy-in from the beginning.
Building confidence in instructor
competence.
Builds participation from all in
attendance.
Gives everyone a reason to stay
focused.
15. Classroom Management
Two Styles:
Dominance
Crystal clear about goals, expectations and behavior
Assertive body language
Deliberate verbal language
Cooperative
Personal, authentic interest in students
Easily slipping into informal roles before/after class
Greetings by name
Find your sweet spot.
16. Difficult People?
Categories:
The Rambler
Talktalktalktalk
The Know-it-All
Don’t worry about teaching him anything…
The Show-off
Better than you in every way. Just accept it.
Refuse the urge to pass the labels!!!
Slants your communication with them
Others can pick up on this.
Be firm in your ground rules
Do not be shy in pointing out bad behavior.
The definition of facilitate is "to make easy" or "ease a process." What a facilitator does is plan, guide and manage a group event to ensure that the group's objectives are met effectively, with clear thinking, good participation and full buy-in from everyone who is involved. To accomplish this you must remain objective and be mindful of keeping a neutral stance to focus purely on the group process. Your key responsibility as a facilitator is to create this group process and an environment in which it can flourish, and so help the group reach a successful decision, solution or conclusion.
Help the group achieve specific outcomes through the use of active, participatory, participant-centered methods.
Regularly evaluate the process in real time, and can measure how well the participants achieved the stated outcomes at the end of the process.
have made themselves familiar with the organizational culture and context in which they are working, and ensure the processes “fit” that culture.
stimulate dialogue and interaction between participants, not just between themselves and the participants
So now we know exactly what facilitation is and how it differs with training. We also know how and where facilitation and training meet. Let’s take a look at some facilitation strategies that we can use to increase participation.
