Top 5 Facilitation Skills Everyone Can Use
Pooja Kothari, Esq.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Trainer, Facilitator and Consultant. I help leaders deepen and expand their inclusion efforts, authentically and compassionately. New SHRM-NYC member!
Being a skilled facilitator takes experience but you can use these tips to build up your knowledge along the way:
1. Ground yourself first
Make sure you enter the room with a calming, positive energy. With all eyes and ears on you, your energy will spread. If you’re stressed about aspects of your workshop it will show. Take deep breaths, know you will do a great job, and get in there with calm and positivity!
2. Build the Container
Your group is looking to you to lead them through the meeting, training, or workshop so it is important to let them know what your expectations are for communicating. Are interruptions allowed? Should people raise their hand to participate? How should the group handle disagreement? Putting your expectations out first shows the group they can depend on you as the leader and sets the standard of behavior. Of course, these rules also apply to you.
3. Actively Listen
The job of a facilitator is to listen to the needs of the group. Practice reflecting back the messages you receive from the group. This shows participants that you’re paying attention and reiterating their points is also helpful for those who might have been tuning out at that moment.
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4. The needs of the groups are more important than the needs of any detractor(s)
Not everyone may want to play by your rules. It is your job to always put the group’s needs first, above your own, and above the needs of 1 individual or detractor. If someone is taking up too much space, or being overly disagreeable to the point that they are hindering the purpose of the meeting, training, or workshop, it is your job to make sure the group can move forward despite that person.
“Let’s table the topic for now” or “How about we meet at the break to discuss that more.” Or be even more explicit, “I understand and appreciate your concerns but I do need to move the group to the next point now.”
The group will be grateful that you are leading and not being led.
5. Leave more time than you think to close out the training
You know your agenda, but your participants don’t. So leave time for them to catch up to, ask questions, make comments, and calmly close out your session. An abrupt ending can be destabilizing and unsettling. Instead, leave time to recap your progress. Consider ending with a guided meditation to ground everyone.
For more tips, follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram @BoundlessAwarenessLLC
Movement and Mindfulness breaks for Professionals ????| Keeping 9-5ers Out of Pain ???? | Partnering with Employee Wellbeing Programs | Mind/Body Instructor | Devotional Chant Leader
11 个月I would also add "less is more." In the work you and I do, making a couple of strong points reinforced by examples and exercises is important to strengthen new skills.
Movement and Mindfulness breaks for Professionals ????| Keeping 9-5ers Out of Pain ???? | Partnering with Employee Wellbeing Programs | Mind/Body Instructor | Devotional Chant Leader
11 个月Thanks, Pooja. I like the idea of being the leader, not being led. That is also prioritizing your time and others' to make sure they get the most out of the workshop.