How can you identify the best facilitators for your conference?

1 Define your goals and criteria

Before you start looking for facilitators, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your conference and what kind of facilitation style and expertise you need. Think about the objectives, themes, formats, and audiences of your conference and how facilitators can support them. For example, do you need facilitators who can handle large groups, complex topics, diverse perspectives, or interactive activities? Do you need facilitators who have specific knowledge, skills, or experience in your field or sector? Do you need facilitators who can adapt to different situations, challenges, or feedback? Write down your goals and criteria and use them as a guide for your search.

2 Explore facilitation networks and communities

One of the best ways to find potential facilitators for your conference is to tap into existing networks and communities of facilitators who share your interests, values, and vision. You can use online platforms, social media, blogs, podcasts, newsletters, or forums to discover and connect with facilitators who are active, visible, and reputable in your field or niche. You can also ask for recommendations from your colleagues, peers, partners, or previous conference organizers who have worked with or hired facilitators before. By exploring facilitation networks and communities, you can get a sense of the facilitators' style, approach, portfolio, and feedback.

3 Contact and interview facilitators

Once you have a shortlist of potential facilitators for your conference, you need to contact them and invite them to an interview. The interview is a crucial step to assess the facilitators' suitability, availability, and compatibility for your conference. You can use the interview to ask them about their background, experience, methods, tools, fees, and expectations. You can also ask them to demonstrate or explain how they would facilitate a specific session or scenario that is relevant to your conference. You can use the interview to establish rapport, trust, and alignment with the facilitators and to address any questions or concerns they may have.

4 Evaluate and select facilitators

After you have interviewed all the potential facilitators for your conference, you need to evaluate and select the ones who meet your goals and criteria and who can deliver the best value and impact for your event. You can use a scoring system, a checklist, or a matrix to compare and rank the facilitators based on their qualifications, performance, fit, and feedback. You can also consult with your team, stakeholders, or advisors to get their input and opinions. Once you have made your decision, you need to communicate it to the facilitators and confirm their availability, agreement, and contract.

6 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?