TOP 10 FACILITATION TIPS
1. TRAIN, PRACTICE, AND GROW
Good intentions and common sense are not always enough in becoming a good facilitator; make sure you have a solid initial training and never stop improving through practice, feedback and supervision.
2. ENRICH DIALOGUE THROUGH CO-FACILITATION
Group dialogue is always rich and its dynamics are always complex; having a second facilitator ensures information doesn’t get lost and the group is fully supported; it also ensures the diversity of the group is reflected by the facilitators, to some extent.
3. CULTIVATE YOUR PASSION
Dialogue is both a science and an art; and one never ceases to learn how to be a great facilitator. Keep seeking facilitation opportunities and debriefing with peers on improving your practice!
4. CULTIVATE YOUR CURIOSITY
Think of the dialogue group as a way to get real information about your participants’ realities. As an experienced facilitator, you will find times when you hear things that will trigger you. Try to turn your judgment into curiosity, pushing you to explore the underlying emotions behind certain opinions.
5. BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR NEUTRAL AND MULTIPARTIAL STANCE
Neutrality doesn’t exist but in dialogue, it just means refraining from being a participant, in order to not become the center of the discussion. It doesn’t mean being blind to power dynamics but, on the contrary, being very attentive to them in order to ensure full inclusion of the participants.
6. KNOW YOURSELF
In order to maintain your multipartiality and ability to support the group, it is important to know your own blindspots and triggers. What makes it hard for you to listen or understand a point of view? How comfortable are you with conflict and strong emotions?
7. STUDY THE TOPICS
As a facilitator, you generally don’t need to be an expert in the topic discussed by participants but it can be necessary to have some level of knowledge in order to be literate and avoid getting lost in the conversations.
8. ACTIVATE YOU FACILITATION SKILLS
Actively facilitate with foundational tools to achieve group goals: listen actively, mirror, summarize, observe group processes, ask good questions, encourage group ownership, enhance self-awareness, and promote critical thinking.
9. FOLLOW THE GROUP’S NATURAL PROGRESSION
For instance, starting with trust building activities, addressing difficult topics, understanding where differences come from and building a common vision before engaging in joint action. Don’t rush into agreement on difficult topics.
10. FIND VALUE IN SMALL WINS AND SHARED PROGRESS
Understand that not all conversations are cathartic and not all participants get transformed. Sometimes a conversation where there is good listening is already a satisfying achievement. Also, don’t feel like you own the conversation and give the group the responsibility to progress.