Training facilitators support the development and optimization of training programs to help learners retain and apply new skills. They oversee training methods within an organization as process experts focused on improving training, rather than being subject matter experts. Facilitators are valuable as they moderate discussions and clarify actions to ensure learning objectives are achieved efficiently. Key facilitator roles include setting agendas, guiding discussions, incorporating different learning activities, being empathetic, and motivating participants. Critical skills for facilitators are objectivity, preparedness, clear communication, building a positive culture, time management, and adaptability.

1. Training
Facilitators
The Top 11 Skills and
Roles They Need

2. What are facilitators?
Training facilitators support the development and process of
training programs to help learners more effectively retain and
apply new skills. The role involves overseeing and optimising
training methods within an organisation.

3. What makes them different?
Facilitators are process experts. They’re not an instructor or
lecturer, who are content or subject matter experts. There’ll be
some crossover but for the most part, training facilitators are
more focused on optimising training processes.

4. Why are facilitators valuable?
People recognise the good intent of someone who moderates,
summarises and clarifies group discussions and actions.
A social presence such as a professional facilitator is the
foundation of constructive collaboration, since they ensure that
the learning objectives are achieved in the most optimal way to
not waste human or financial resources.

5. 5 Main
Facilitator Roles

6. Agenda Setting
Thinking about the goals of training sessions and how these
align with business needs, as well as the topics that need to
be addressed to promote those goals.

7. Guidance
It’s easy to get off track in a training session. Guidance
involves ending irrelevant discussions, preventing detours
and nudging people towards thinking in greater detail.

8. Taskmaster
Different people have different learning styles, and a good
facilitator will account for this. This means different
activities will be incorporated into the session like group
work and discussions.

9. Empathy
It’s important to be tuned into how group members are
acting or reacting. It’s not just about playing peacemaker, but
rather making sure emotions don’t get the better of a group.

10. Motivation
Losing momentum isn’t usually a time-viable option for
training related to strategic workforce activities, which is why
being able to understand the different motivators for each
participant is an important skill.

11. How Facilitators
Drive Effective
Workplace Learning

12. Aligning learning objectives with
business goals
Facilitators know how to quantify the impact one has on the
other in a way that learners may not. And to that end, they
can monitor the training process in such a way to maximise
the investments of both learners and organisations.

13. Pushing learners out of their
comfort zones
Some employees may mistake content that challenges their
viewpoint or critical thinking skills for content that is simply
too challenging to complete. Facilitators play a key role in
helping employees discern the intelligent failures from the
preventable.

14. 6 Key
Facilitator Skills

15. Objectivity
The ability to see things objectively means you can change
your perspective, stay composed and make more informed
decisions that capture the essence of the problem at hand.
Put simply, an effective facilitator aims to bring out the best
in others.

16. Preparedness
At a high level, facilitation involves ideation, analysis and
consensus building. Facilitators must be well versed in the
problem at hand and the people involved in making a
decision.

17. Clear Communication
Keeping everyone on the same page, clearly dictating
goals and instructions, and managing conflict are key
communication skills a good training facilitator
should have.

18. Building A Positive Culture
Finding themes in thoughts and a shared interest helps to
create a more inclusive learning culture. It’s about finding
areas for individuals to connect so it becomes an us-vs-the-
problem over an every-man-for-himself situation.

19. Time Management
Managing other people within a time constraint is much
harder than managing your own, which is what defines a high
performing facilitator. They’re able to plan out how long
different stages should take against the total amount of time
learners have to reach an outcome.

20. Adaptability
Being able to switch up is key to being an effective
facilitator. This may mean responding to hostile moods,
changing approaches when a line of enquiry isn’t working,
re-energising the group, or even remaining unfazed by
external factors.

21. You can learn more about this
topic by checking out the full
article:
https://acornlms.com/resources/facilitator-
roles-and-skills