You're a Large Group Facilitation professional. How do you keep your skills sharp and up-to-date?

1 Learn from others

One of the best ways to improve your facilitation skills is to learn from other experienced and diverse facilitators. You can do this by attending workshops, webinars, conferences, or courses that offer practical and relevant insights and techniques for large group facilitation. You can also join online or offline communities of practice, where you can exchange ideas, feedback, and resources with other facilitators. You can also seek mentorship or coaching from a facilitator you admire or respect, who can offer you personalized guidance and support.

2 Experiment with new tools

Another way to enhance your facilitation skills is to experiment with new tools and methods that can help you create more engaging, interactive, and collaborative sessions. You can explore different online platforms, apps, or software that can help you manage, communicate, and visualize your sessions. You can also try out different facilitation frameworks, models, or approaches that can help you structure, plan, and evaluate your sessions. You can also use different creative techniques, such as games, simulations, storytelling, or graphic facilitation, to spark curiosity, innovation, and dialogue among your participants.

3 Reflect on your practice

A third way to boost your facilitation skills is to reflect on your practice and learn from your successes and challenges. You can do this by keeping a journal, a portfolio, or a blog, where you can document your facilitation experiences, insights, and lessons learned. You can also ask for feedback from your clients, participants, or peers, who can give you valuable perspectives and suggestions for improvement. You can also conduct self-assessments, using tools such as surveys, checklists, or rubrics, to measure your progress and identify your strengths and areas for development.

4 Update your knowledge

A fourth way to polish your facilitation skills is to update your knowledge and stay informed about the latest trends, issues, and best practices in large group facilitation. You can do this by reading books, articles, blogs, or newsletters that cover relevant topics and insights for facilitators. You can also listen to podcasts, watch videos, or follow social media accounts that feature experts, practitioners, or thought leaders in large group facilitation. You can also participate in research, studies, or projects that contribute to the advancement of the field and the profession.

5 Take care of yourself

A fifth way to maintain your facilitation skills is to take care of yourself and your well-being as a facilitator. You can do this by managing your stress, energy, and emotions, especially when dealing with complex or challenging situations or groups. You can also practice self-care, such as getting enough rest, exercise, nutrition, and relaxation, to keep yourself healthy and balanced. You can also cultivate a positive mindset, attitude, and outlook, that can help you cope with uncertainty, ambiguity, and change, and embrace learning and growth opportunities.

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?