What are the essential materials for a facilitation kit?

A co-facilitator ?? It is hard work holding the container when facilitating on your own. There's so much to pay attention to: time, engagement of participants, content, the next break, etc. etc. The most valuable tool I've found when facilitating is a co-facilitator.

My comment here would be to think beyond the usual flip charts and markers. Of course, you need the basics - but then ask yourself, 'How can I add unique value to this experience?' These will be different for everyone. You may consider items that provide comfort, like stress balls. For inspiration, throw in a thought-provoking book (or a choice of books) or a deck of creative prompt cards (for things like values or conversation starters). You might consider puzzles or challenges. Don’t forget a bell or applause button to celebrate wins and support gamification. A Bluetooth speaker for music makes a world of difference on arrival and alleviates awkward silences. This is an opportunity to do something different!

If we are talking about markers - Neuland are the best. No bleed through from these which is important if you are going to respect your space’s walls and tables. Plus they are refillable. While initially they are an investment, they will last you and potentially save some headaches that other makers may cause from bleed through.

If you want your audience to engage, then you need to show how well prepared and excited you are for the session. The preparation part definitely is about what do you have in your facilitation kit. It could be as basic as the pen, marker, notebook or if you are planning some activities then material for those and some attractive post-it notes.

Pack some curiosity. It takes up very little room but expands on opening. It limits the opportunities for the advice monster* to stowaway too. *Michael Bungay Stanier

Save some money by investing in a sticky wall (thin parachute like fabric serged around the outside) that is sprayed with remount-able adhesive spray. All types of regular paper will stick. From my experience stay away from construction paper - it does not remove cleanly. Once session is done fold the wall sticky sides together and pull it out for the next session. People will begin to know when there are sticky walls it will be a fun and engaging session!

You'll want to consider is color combinations when using sticky dots often used for voting. For instance, blue dots on blue stickies will be hard to see. It may be easier to stick to one or 2 colors of dots (like red and green) and ensure they'll be visible on all your stickies/paper.

Blue or green painters tape is generally painted wall friendly, meaning it won’t pull paint off the wall. 3-M command strips also come in handy and generally painted wall friendly. When dealing with carpeted walls some T-pins in your kit may be useful to have.

Washi tape and/or painters tape works great and comes off walls easily. Stattys also work well as they stick to almost anything via static electricity instead of glue and are recyclable too.

Cards and tokens are an important option, but should be planned in their use beforehand. The workshop or session should be planned so that you know which game or activity you'd like to use based on the outcomes you've agreed with the host. By all means have a few of these as 'just in case' for use in general activities such as dot voting, or affinity mapping, that might emerge as an alternative in some sessions. However, do so carefully with an outcome in mind.

Un jeu de paires ou de 7 familles pour permettre aux groupes de se former, pour favoriser les échanges avec des personnes que l’on ne conna?t pas.

Time management is a critical aspect of any successful facilitation. Timers allow facilitators to allocate appropriate time for each agenda item. By setting time limits, facilitators can ensure that discussions remain focused, participants have equal opportunities to contribute, and objectives are achieved within the allocated timeframe. Timers also help create structure and maintain a sense of urgency. The visual and auditory cues provided by timers keep participants aware of the remaining time, encouraging them to stay on track and make the most of the allotted time. This structured approach fosters productivity and prevents discussions from veering off-topic, ensuring that the facilitation process remains efficient and effective.

You've all sees the 'go bag' that investigators use in your favourite TV show. Each facilitator should have something similar that is always ready for travel in your normal run of things. This will have pens, stickies, some washi tape, scissors and maybe the 3M glue stick that turns other paper into sticky notes too. You will also need a bigger bag, or suitcase for larger, or longer sessions. The size will vary according to the type of sessions you normally run. I find I need one with wheels if/when I'm using various games, or Lego bricks.

The best facilitation kit includes curiousity and improvisation skills. Imagine you have none of the above, and you invite participants to spend 10 minutes to get what they can find from their desks, you have just created a motivated and implicated team...

While all of the items mentioned above are essential, another key essential is to tie game activities to each of the training modules. People tend to recall what they either participate in or whatever was fun for them. So, what I always do is add one simple game to the end of each module to ensure that the learning outcome can sit well with the trainees.

I never enter a facilitation experience without a speaker playing music. It sets the vibe as soon as ppl walk into the room. Music instantly connects us!

All of the supplies mentioned above are typically used for in-person facilitation, but many sessions are conducted virtually and require an online platform to simulate the in-person experience. Collaboration tools like Miro, Mural, Jamboard, or Zoom's whiteboard function feature the equivalents of sticky notes and voting dots, while adding timers, emojis, music, and other digital elements that mimic and enhance the physical tools used for in-person meetings. Some facilitators have begun to use digital platforms for in-person meetings too, because they eliminate the need to lug around supplies, offer the ability to save and download the session's work, and demonstrate the facilitator's commitment to sustainability.