Vital Facilitation Skills for Diplomas Now Teams

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Vital Facilitation Skills for Diplomas Now
Teams Gary Chapman
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Objectives

• As a result of this brief workshop, participants
  will be able to
• Differentiate between consultation and
  facilitation
• Understand the role of a facilitator
• Review how one might best prepare for a
  facilitated session
• Learn some basic facilitation techniques and
  practice them in small groups

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Our Agenda

• Laying the Foundation
• The Role and Core Competencies of an Effective
  Facilitator
• Basic Facilitation Skills and Techniques
• Practice

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Introduction

• Please state your first name and the one type of
  meeting or audience with which you work with most
  regularly
• Think of meetings you have been in that were
  effective. Whats one thing that made them
  effective?
• Think of meetings you have been in that were
  ineffective. Whats one thing that made them
  ineffective?

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Consulting vs. Facilitation
Consulting Facilitation
Analysis by expert Analysis by client
Not neutral Neutral
The consultant offers content in the form of expert advice The facilitator invites expertise and exchange in the form of process
May be involved in implementation Client responsible for implementation
Recommendations for action by consultant Recommendation for action by client
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What is a Facilitated Session?

• A facilitated session is a highly structured
  event or meeting in which the facilitator guides
  the participant through a series of pre-defined
  steps to arrive at a result that is created,
  understood, and accepted by all participants

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When is Facilitation Appropriate?
Appropriate Not Appropriate
When understanding and genuine buy-in are needed from a group to achieve success Some critical elements An important issue or question has been detected or can be surfaced, the solution to which is not readily apparent The group has the capacity to understand and discuss the issue and various solutions When there is nothing to create. When the situation (or related information) is too complex or too confidential for the group to understand. When the participants are not open to creating and accepting a solution. When time does not permit a facilitated approach.
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Role of Facilitators
Role To Be The
Guide participants through a series of agreed upon steps Do not dictate the solution Use their understanding of the process steps and of group dynamics- to help the group achieve the desired results, given the unique needs and characteristics of the participants or their organization Motivator Guide Norm Developer Questioner Bridge-builder Peacemaker Task-master Praise Giver Time Keeper
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The Five Ps of Preparation

• Purpose
• What is the purpose of the session?
• Product
• What outputs or deliverables do we want to
  create?
• Participants
• Who should participate?
• Probable Issues
• What key issues are likely to arise?
• Process
• What process should we follow?

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Core Facilitation Competencies

• Process Sensitivity
• Plan, follow, trust
• Energy Monitor
• Encourage participation, ask questions
• Environmental Control
• Create climate, protect ideas, remain neutral
• Behavior Modeler
• Presence, their meeting not yours

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Generating Participation

• Around the table Brainstorming / Popcorning
• Slip writing Post-It
• Think, write, then share Brain Writing Pool
• Sub-groups World Cafe
• Open-ended questions Responsive Questions