This document provides guidance for facilitating training sessions. It begins by outlining questions facilitators should ask themselves in preparation, such as describing the purpose and objectives. Six basic facilitation principles are described, such as directing instruction at multiple senses and limiting information. Additional sections cover qualities of effective facilitators, their responsibilities, and techniques to use or avoid. Specific facilitation skills are discussed, including the roles of co-facilitators. The document concludes by describing how to structure a session into three parts: an opening to set the climate, a middle section for delivery, and a closing for summary.

1. FACILITATION STRATEGIES
DT DOBIE
REFRESHER TRAINING FOR WELLNESS
CHAMPIONS
25TH
APRIL 2014
By Sylvia Y. Luchemo
Training Consultant

2. Questions to ask yourself when
preparing for a session:
a) In one sentence, how would you describe the purpose
of an upcoming session you will conduct?
b) What are the objectives for this session?
c) What are two strategies you can use to ensure that
participants are aware of the objectives throughout
the session?

3. Six (6) Basic Facilitation
Principles
1. Direct your instruction at more than once sense at a
time.
2. Limit the amount of information you provide to
participants. Focus on the critical content to facilitate
the information processing.
3. Create messages that capture participants’ attention
and are relevant to their needs. Use examples and
analogies that relate to the participants’ previous
experiences.

4. Principles contd..
4. Organize information you present into meaningful
“bits”. Use strategies which require participants to
link new information with prior knowledge. Use
metaphors, graphs, tables and images to encourage
this process.
5. Provide plenty of opportunities for your participants
to “practice” using new information.

5. Principles contd..
6. Assess the knowledge, ability and motivation of your
audience. If your audience has limited prior
knowledge, organize it into usable “chunks” and
explain concepts using easily understood analogies and
examples. Motivate participants by showing them the
relevance of the information you are sharing and
explain how it will benefit them.

6. QUALITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE
FACILITATOR
 Knowledgeable
 Audible
 Confident
 Sensitive
 Understanding
 Non-judgemental/ open minded
 Creative and innovative
 Observant
 Good listener
 Good communicator
 Good time manager etc…

7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FACILITATORS
 Facilitators are the standard-setters for the discussion.
 Facilitators make the workshop environment a priority.
 Facilitators are mindful of timing issues.
 Facilitators are responsible for articulating the purpose
of the discussion and its significance to the group.
 Facilitators make use of various techniques/tools to
keep the discussion moving.
 Facilitators are responsible for paying attention to
group behaviors.
 Facilitators should be relaxed and have a sense of
humor that makes sure discussions are enjoyable as well
as educational.

8. “Not to DO” list for facilitators
Facilitators should NOT:
 Dominate the group or Impose a solution on the group.
Clarify issues, focus discussions, bring out viewpoints,
synthesize differences, and look for underlying agreements.
 Downplay people’s ideas.
 Push personal agendas and opinions as the “right” answer.
 Say umm, aahh repeatedly.
 Read from a manuscript.
 Tell inappropriate or offensive stories.
 Make up an answer-you never know who is in the room.
 Allow people to bully others in the group.
 Take a stance with one section of the group.
 Tell too much about your personal experience and life.
 Assume the demographics of your group (based on
appearance).

9. “To Do” list for facilitators
Facilitators should:
 Know the material before doing the workshop.
 Exude confidence-be clear, enthusiastic, breath!
 Use humor, stories, and examples that directly relate to
their work.
 Select an appropriate activity that will meet the needs of
your group and have lots of fun energizers/icebreakers on
hand.
 Have lots of visually appealing handouts and flip charts
 Determine needed supplies, room requirements, and chair
setup.
 Think through the exercise and visualize potential problems
and pitfalls- one of the biggest is not allotting enough time
for activities.

10. ‘To Do’ List contd….
 Clearly explain activity directions and be prepared for
questions.
 Observe individual participation and involvement during
exercises.
 Be aware of individuals that may be experiencing
discomfort or who are not participating.
 Follow up the exercise with discussion.
 Processing will reveal the thoughts and feelings never
expressed previously.
 Be available to talk/debrief with participants during break
times and before/after the session.
 Evaluate needs of the group, especially at the end of the
day to see what you can change for the next day.
 Evaluate the experience and write down notes for future
sessions.

11. EFFECTIVE FACILITATION CO-FACILITATION
SKILLS/ TECHNIQUES
 Eye contact
 Good stage management
 Smiling
 Effective questioning techniques
 Use of participatory methods
 Positive verbal and non-verbal
reinforcement
 Paraphrasing & probing
 Use of gestures
 Controlled body mannerisms:
know your weakness
 Use of jokes/ humor, energizers
& ice-breakers; & story telling
 Summarizing
 Sit strategically
 Discuss in advance
 Assist in technical
issues
 Offer assistance
always
 Do not try to out
shine

12. Roles of a Co-facilitator
 Extra eyes and ears
 Help in harvesting questions
 Help in clarifying issues
 Notify timing in advance
 Offer assistance at all times and do not try to out shine
your co-facilitator
 Give feedback after the session
 Offer support when technical queries arise

13. Participatory Methods in Facilitation
 Group discussion
 Experience sharing
 Exercises e.g. value voting,
quick fire, Q&A, trivias,
challenges
 Value voting game
 Debates and quizzes
 Brainstorming
 Wellness/ Peer education
password
 Mini lecture
 Demonstrations e.g. condom
demo
 Songs/ dance/poems/ humour
 Guest speaker
 Codes eg. Picture code
 Role play
 Video discussion
 Gender Time-Table
 Simulation games e.g.
Immune game,
Menstruation game,
Wild/bush fire

14. MANAGING A SESSION EFFECTIVELY
A session is divided into three (3) parts/ sections:
Start/ Climate setting
 Using ice-breakers or energizers
 Introduction of participants and facilitators
 Levelling expectations and objectives
 Introduction of topic (optional at this point)

15. Managing a session contd.
Middle/ Session delivery
This is the meat of the session.
 Introduction of topic
 Utilization of participatory methodologies
 Use of energizers/ jokes/ humour
 Harvesting questions
 Utilization of facilitation skills and co-facilitation
 Clarification of myths and misconceptions by giving
factual information

16. Managing a session contd.
End/ Summary
 Recap for take home messages (through e.g. Q&A)
 Evaluate the session (through e.g. Q&A, written forms)
 Invite participants for one-to-one sessions
 Appreciate participants for coming and participating
 Distribute IEC materials if any
 Inform participants date of next session

17. ASANTEH!!