In Praise of Facilitators

Human-led learning facilitation is not just a ‘nice to have’ it’s a vital part of the employee learning experience.

Facilitation allows questions, in real-time to be answered or pondered.

When challenged, a good facilitator will push back when they know the answer is right and they’ll also concede when they don’t know the answer.? They’ll use the questions to open up discussions and enrich the experience through collaboration and discovery.? They’ll use the questions to inform content changes and update the programme.

Facilitation gives us a human connection in a world dominated by automated systems.

That facilitator will have spent hours practising the content, revising activities to suit the next group and shaping the experience to their delivery style. All, while keeping true to the learning required.

Facilitators will run the same workshop/webinar/experience over and over, keeping it fresh and energised for the latest set of attendees.

The same thing, over and over and over, never letting the incoming group feel like it isn’t the first time this has been run or that it isn't being run just for them.

Facilitation is exhausting (in the best way).

It’s a combination of performance, presentation and improvisation. It can involve cajoling, entertaining, mediating and teaching an audience.

Facilitators will often deliver for 5/6 hours a day.

On their feet (or screens), constantly ‘on’ and aware of the needs of the group.

Facilitators are the colleague-facing heroes of the team L&D.

Often taking criticism (whether right or wrongly levelled) about the wider People Team from disgruntled colleagues.?They can end up being, educator, therapist and confidante.

I’ll close as I opened, facilitation is not just a ‘nice to have’ it’s a vital part of the employee learning experience.

Here’s to all the facilitators!

#learninganddevelopment #facilitation #peopleandculture