How can you build self-awareness as a large group facilitator?

1 Reflect on your experiences

One of the best ways to build self-awareness is to reflect on your past and present experiences as a facilitator. You can do this by keeping a journal, asking for feedback, or using a tool such as the Johari window. By reflecting on your experiences, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses, your values and beliefs, your triggers and biases, and your impact on others. You can also learn from your mistakes and successes, and find areas for improvement and growth.

2 Seek diverse perspectives

Another way to build self-awareness is to seek diverse perspectives from other facilitators, participants, or experts. You can do this by joining a network, a community of practice, or a mentoring program, or by attending workshops, conferences, or courses. By seeking diverse perspectives, you can broaden your horizons, challenge your assumptions, and discover new ideas and approaches. You can also gain insights into how others perceive you and your facilitation style, and how you can better connect and communicate with different audiences.

3 Practice mindfulness

A third way to build self-awareness is to practice mindfulness, which is the state of being fully present and aware of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the moment. You can do this by meditating, breathing, or doing yoga, or by using apps, podcasts, or books that guide you through mindfulness exercises. By practicing mindfulness, you can improve your focus, concentration, and memory, and reduce your stress, anxiety, and negative emotions. You can also become more aware of your body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions, and how they affect your facilitation.

4 Experiment with new methods

A fourth way to build self-awareness is to experiment with new methods, techniques, or tools that suit your goals, objectives, and context. You can do this by researching best practices, case studies, or trends, or by asking for recommendations, suggestions, or tips from other facilitators or experts. By experimenting with new methods, you can test your assumptions, learn new skills, and expand your repertoire. You can also measure your results, evaluate your performance, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?