How can you create an engaging facilitation session for participants with varying confidence levels?

Effectively assessing participants is crucial for designing engaging facilitation sessions that cater to varying confidence levels. Surveys and pre-session interviews can gauge prior knowledge, expectations, and comfort zones, allowing you to tailor the session’s pace and complexity. With a diverse group, balance advanced topics with foundational concepts for accessibility and challenge. Understanding learning preferences helps choose the right mix of activities, creating an inclusive environment where all participants feel valued and engaged.

Creating an engaging facilitation session for participants of different confidence levels is all about inclusion and adaptability: Know Your Audience: Start with pre-session surveys to gauge confidence levels. Create a Safe Space: Encourage sharing by setting ground rules for respect and openness. Diversify Methods: Use a mix of individual and group activities to cater to different comfort zones. Encourage Participation: Gently prompt quieter members with direct but open-ended questions. Be Patient: Give participants time to think and respond, showing that all contributions are valued. Remember, the goal is to make everyone feel heard and significant.

I find it helpful to ask pre-survey questions that get to the root of confidence issues including hesitations, concerns, and challenges. For example, "What are the biggest challenges you face when it comes to X topic." This gives you valuable information that you can weave into the design and content of your session. You can also share the results anonymously with the group. For example, you could share a slide that summarises the top 10 challenges that people face when it comes to X topic in your session. This can reassure participants that they are not alone in facing challenges. And it can give the group an opportunity to spark honest open discussion about the factors that impact confidence.

As crucial as gathering information before facilitating, open communication throughout the live engagement is the most informative on how to pace things. I'll often start by sharing a personal experience of feeling "frustrated and checked out," having been on the receiving end of a facilitation that moved too quickly. When I can be vulnerable in this manner, it creates a connection with the audience and permits them to be honest with me when things are feeling misaligned.

In my experience, you can't know your audience's behavior beforehand. So, first, it's not about you or your content. Everything is about the audience or learners. The whole presentation should be designed as audience-centric. Then there's to be lots of moments of practice, discovery and participation by the audience. Periodic reviews keeps them engaged, as they'll be able to relate to the sequence of the presentation. Finally, its the ability of the presenter to continuously gage and sense the energy in the room - and switch gears the moment there's a dip.

Know your audience: I agree that pre-session assessments are crucial to help us understand participants’ confidence level. Also, it is important to communicate that this is about them and that it is a “no judgement zone” and that everyone has something of value to contribute to the session.

Encourage open communication to foster trust. Actively listen to participants' concerns and provide constructive feedback. Implement team-building activities that promote collaboration and understanding among participants. This contributes to a positive learning environment. Always provide regular feedback to reinforce positive behaviour and address concerns. And, consider incorporating team-building exercises that specifically focus on building trust and camaraderie among participants. This fosters a more cohesive and supportive learning environment.

One of the things I have implemented was borrowed from Gwyn Wansbrough of Breakthrough Facilitation. That is creating engagement within the first couple of minutes of the session. Since I have implemented breakouts in the first 5-10 minutes I have noticed much more engagement amongst participants. CEO - Connect, Early and Often.

In order to establish rapport and trust you need to create the conditions where people feel included and safe to contribute without feeling judged or ridiculed (psychological safety). As the facilitator you can engender trust by sharing an appropriate level of vulnerability, sharing your experiences and acknowledging participants' concerns, reservations, and fears. Creating a warm welcome, greeting participants by name, getting all voices in the room early in the session, and giving participant's opportunities to connect are all ways you you can help build trust with and among your group.

In moments when I'm sharing vulnerable and honest with my audience, I can feel the trust and connection in the room deepen; it's almost palpable at times. This especially holds when sharing challenging, real-life moments that people can relate to, such as the time when I got fired or didn't get along with my boss or more personal experiences, such as my diagnosis of cancer many years ago. Authenticity deepens the room's connections and trust and encourages participants to open themselves for growth and expansion.

Using a variety of methods and tools is an effective approach. Recognize that participants have different learning preferences. Some may prefer visual learning, while others might learn best through discussion or hands-on activities. You can keep participants engaged by switching between different activities and tools. For example, you can start with a brief presentation, followed by a group discussion, and then a practical exercise. This keeps the session dynamic and interesting.

It's not about the variety as much as it is about understanding which tools better suit the situation. Diversity - in tools - does not always result in positive outcomes, sometimes it can be confusing or break the flow. If you use diverse methods only because each method appeals to a different audience section, you will have people's interest and engagement go on and off the whole time. Try to create a blended method that ensures that those with low confidence can express their ideas freely and without judgement, and those with more experience will - by design - support the others while not transferring the authority to them. As usual, it's all about the value chain in the room, everyone must get value out of it: design your way for it.

I recently used Butter.us to deliver an in-person workshop because it has so many of the elements you mentioned above. While the software is designed (very well) for online facilitation it was effective in a classroom setting. I had participants using laptops or mobile devices so they could interact in the activities. Curious to know what others use.

Using a variety of methods can be an effective way to engage participants with varying confidence levels by giving them options. However, too many methods and tools can also be overwhelming and distracting. It can have the opposite effect. Ensure that you have created the conditions for participants to feel safe to contribute, that each method or tool connects with the purpose of the session, and that they are appropriate for your specific audience. Participants also need breathing space to think, share ideas, and connect.

Try to incorporate technology like virtual breakout rooms for smaller group discussions. This allows participants to engage comfortably in smaller settings. It also caters to varying confidence levels. Also, consider using multimedia elements such as videos or interactive presentations. This is so you can appeal to different learning styles and enhance overall participant engagement. To further enhance participant engagement, introduce storytelling as a method. Share relevant anecdotes or case studies to illustrate key points. This provides a more relatable and memorable learning experience. This approach also caters to diverse learning preferences and adds a compelling layer to your facilitation sessions.

The focus in any facilitation session is to keep participants in flow. Progressing in the flow corridor together allow that the individual unlocked potential become shared knowledge.

For virtual sessions. I've created breakout rooms and let people choose which one to go into For in person. My colleagues and I once curated a museum for people to explore topics like a choose-your-own-adventure! It took a lot of creativity, planning and testing

Providing choice and autonomy is a powerful way to move participants from passive observers to active contributors who take ownership of the group process. You can do this through voting, giving the group options through polls, and using open space technology where they propose and lead topics. Providing choice and autonomy is proven to increase self-esteem.

Recognize that confidence is not a fixed trait but rather a spectrum that fluctuates depending on the situation, environment, and individual. Create opportunities for participants to build their confidence gradually, starting with low-stakes activities and progressing to more challenging ones. It helps individuals develop a sense of competence and empowerment. Embrace the diversity of voices within the group, recognizing that each perspective holds value. Encourage participants to listen to one another, fostering cross-pollination of ideas and a more comprehensive understanding of the topic. Overall, facilitation promotes a collaborative and inclusive learning environment.

Support and encouragement are like salt and pepper. They figure in most dishes but that doesn't mean you can put them on icecream. Also, sometimes it's through salt you enhance flavour, sometimes it's through a different way of cooking the ingredients. What I am trying to say is that this salt and pepper shouldn't used by default, think critically about how and when to use them. Boost your attendees' confidence, but make sure it is genuine or those with low confidence will recognise it for what it is and you'll be seen as patronising or being fake. Don't tell them they are doing great, give them the tools to be, and make sure they recognise their value. Surely I'm not suggesting the easiest of paths, but we aren't here for cheap wins.

Offering support and encouragement is a key facilitation skill that helps build confidence and motivation. Ways you can share effective praise are by offering positive feedback, acknowledging contributions from all participants, showing genuine interest in your group members, using specific examples of participants' contributions, actively listening, asking curious questions, and naming participants' strengths.

Suspending judgement is one of the cornerstones of team work and facilitators have a moral obligation to ensure that this situation of confidence and safety is always respected, for example by remembering that there is no 'right and wrong' and that everyone's opinion and view counts and must be brought to light.

People will say and share things we disagree with or remind us of our past experiences. In these moments, staying objective and neutral as a facilitator is essential. Suppose you feel triggered or emotionally charged by something another person said or did. In that case, it's necessary to step away, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that their experience is unique to them, and staying neutral is the only way that you'll be able to provide them with the necessary support.

Support is fundamental in facilitation, and as a person that has delivered training /facilitated sessions for long periods of time face to face and virtually, supporting your participants every step of the way is crucial. Appreciate every input they bring, make them shine in front of the group when they do something extraordinary and highlight their abilities - do this with everyone while remaining transparent and relatable, fostering an environment where critical thinking and imagination to solve problems is rewarded and encouraged, allowing your participants to flourish!

Here's how to create an engaging facilitation session for participants with varying confidence levels: Establish a supportive environment: Ensure that everyone feels safe to express their thoughts without judgment. Diversify participation methods: Use polls, breakout rooms, and direct questions to involve all attendees. Personalize follow-ups: Send tailored messages that reflect on each participant's contributions and progress. Celebrate all contributions: Publicly acknowledge every input, small or large, to encourage ongoing participation. Provide constructive feedback: Focus on strengths while gently guiding on areas for improvement, fostering a growth mindset. Remember, inclusivity is key to empowering all voices.

I like to remind groups that being part of facilitation is an experiment and encourage them to enjoy the process. People will inevitably possess varying levels of confidence. Reminding them that their experiences are neither "right" nor "wrong" gives them permission to play, have fun, explore, and lessen the possibilities of their own internal limiting belief systems from interfering and taking over.

It is easy to create an engaging facilitation session for participants with varying confidence levels. The greatest (& most loved) facilitators, speakers, faculty do this. Walk in their shoes. Start with what THEY know, instead of what you know. It's easy because no info packaging tactics required, the mind naturally hooks on to what it knows. For eg., say in a goal-setting workshop "You know reaching goals is easier said than done (audience mentally nods). You know procrastination isn't always that (nods again). Like, I slept & prayed after a funeral, instead of sending a social media blast. Is that falling back on goals? No". (now they love you) Learners think you read minds, feel you are safe, trustworthy & the right person to lead them.

Ensuring that all have the opportunity to speak and share their knowledge and views is essential to ensure they get the most from the session. In order to support the less confident the use of smaller breakout groups to start can help. I like to start the session with an activity where all will share something to "break the seal" so to speak. How are you arriving today activities with picture cards is always a good starter.