You’re considering hiring a team facilitation expert. What are the benefits of having one on staff?

1 What is team facilitation?

Team facilitation is the process of designing and leading group activities that enable participants to share ideas, solve problems, make decisions, and learn from each other. A team facilitator is someone who has the skills, knowledge, and tools to plan, prepare, and execute effective team sessions, whether they are online or in-person. A team facilitator is not a manager, a trainer, or a coach, but rather a neutral and supportive guide who helps the team achieve its desired outcomes.

2 Why hire a team facilitation expert?

Hiring a team facilitation expert can be beneficial for your organization in several ways. They can improve team communication and collaboration by creating a safe and inclusive space for team members to express their opinions, listen to each other, and build trust and rapport. Additionally, they can enhance team creativity and innovation by stimulating brainstorming, ideation, and prototyping. Furthermore, they can increase team productivity and performance by helping the team clarify goals, roles, and expectations, plan tasks, measure results, and celebrate achievements.

4 How to work with a team facilitation expert?

Once you have found a team facilitation expert, it is important to define the scope and objectives of the team session. You should communicate clearly about the purpose, goals, and expected outcomes of the team session, as well as the time, budget, and resources available. Additionally, you should provide background and context about the team, such as its history, culture, dynamics, strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities. Furthermore, you should co-create an agenda and design for the team session that includes activities, methods, tools, and materials to be used. Lastly, you should support the implementation and follow-up of the team session by providing feedback, guidance, and assistance during the session. Afterward, review the outcomes, actions, and learnings to ensure their implementation and sustainability.

5 What are the challenges of team facilitation?

Team facilitation can be a challenge, and when hiring a team facilitation expert, you might encounter some difficulties. Finding the right fit for your organization's culture, values, and vision might be difficult. Additionally, managing the expectations and resistance of team members who are skeptical or have different opinions or agendas can be challenging. Lastly, it can be hard to evaluate the impact and value of the team facilitation expert's work, as the results may not be immediate or tangible.

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?