Session synopsis - Exploring Facilitation

Session Synopsis.

As always sharing the synopsis of the session conducted for the training team of one of the largest investment company.

Facilitation is like an ocean and takes long time to know it well. Hence we came up with the title Exploring Facilitation as the objective was to share a glimpse of how facilitation can be used in learning sessions to make it more fun, engaging, participative and impactful.

Co-facilitator: Sapna Jain

Methodology: FaciliTraining

tools used:, Mood-O-Meter, 3-2-1, stop start continue, ELTD

Processes used: Speed Dating, Caricature, FacStories,?

Back up processes: Flip Flop, Textra

Prologue: The training head reached out with his need that his team does a good job in delivering sessions but those sessions lack engagement and are mostly one way download. This is also because it is largely technical. He wanted a session that would orient them to facilitation and how it can be used to make sessions engaging and impactful.

Diagnosis: I had the first call with the training head to know more about challenges of the team. I used one on one interview & focus group discussion with the vertical heads to identify the training needs and the desired outcomes. We also looked at what is the desired impact that is being looked at after this program.?

Design: The session was designed to introduce group process facilitation to the team and demonstrate how it can be used to deliver learnings. The plan was to keep it simple for the team to understand and implement. The tools, processes and methods that I selected were such that they could be easily replicated without a lot of section re-engineering & and with props that are easy to carry and recreate. I decided to introduce the critical elements??of facilitation like engaging, inclusive, participative, empowering through the process is itself.

Delivery:

Between me and my co facilitator Sapna, we defined our roles. The session began almost an hour late and so we had to recontract with the client sponsor on the expectations and the outcomes. The session began by taking them through the session map and setting up the context. The ways of working were done in a simple way, where in the group called out the actions. We then used picture cards as metaphors inviting the group to respond to the question and used paired share with speed dating for the interaction to take place. During debriefing, in response to a question the concept of how as a facilitator one needs to give up control was discussed besides other concepts around facilitation. Qualities of a facilitator were covered using a blend of caricature and picture cards. During debriefing the client sponsor was invited to give relevant examples of how this process can be used to share domain learning. This was as per the contracting with the client sponsor. We then, did a few activities which the team could use as Ice Breakers or Energisers. A quick jolt activity was used which could be used in sessions around team building. The next process that we used was FacStories where different small groups were given topics which they had to explain using facilitated storytelling. I used closure tools at periodic intervals, one, to demonstrate them and also to ensure the group was going in the right direction. The focus was on the group wisdom harvesting followed by debriefing of the activity and its application.

As the final closure tool, we explored ELTD where each participant came up with 1 experience, learning, take away and discovery which they had during the session.?

What worked:

Crisp clear contracting and recontracting with the client sponsor

Detailed session design with gaps for fluid manoeuvring

A few impromptu activities to drive a point across.

Giving up control of the session.

Allowing chaos to occur and deriving cosmos from the chaos.

Belief in the group wisdom and the learnings about facilitation

Areas to improve upon:

During diagnosis, I??happened to lose out on listening which wasn't giving clarity on the outcomes. Had another call with the client during which outcomes became clearer.

Happy Learning?

Ganesh Dalvi CPF