Keys to Effective FacilitationKatie Willett

January 20, 2012

Discuss facilitation and the benefits of using a facilitative approach.

Explain keys to successful facilitation.

Demonstrate skills and tools to facilitate effectively.

Session Objectives

Describe the most effective meeting you have attended.

Describe the least effective meeting you have attended.

Setting the bar: What is our goal?

How do you want others to describe the meetings you facilitate?

What results do you hope to accomplish through your meetings?

Clarify Expectations

On the broadest level, facilitation is using knowledge of group dynamics to design and deliver a process to help a group achieve desired results. Planning meetings. Staff meetings. Committee meetings.

What is Facilitation?

Creating a structure that is open and flexible enough to allow for exploration of issues.

Creating a process to invite participants to actively engage in their learning.

Listening and asking questions.

Using a Facilitative Approach to Training

Highlights the needs of the learner.

Assumes the possibility of working with more than one right answer.

Most productive way to engage participants in the learning process.

Why do we Facilitate?

Paradigm Shift for Facilitators

Instead of:

Thinking about having the answers.

Searching for agreement. Speeding up to get the end. Focus on individual thinking. Support the urge to compete. Expecting perfection.

Try this:

Think about having the questions.

Search for input.Slowing down to savor the journey.Benefit from collective thinking.Engage and collaborate.Embrace uncertainty and trust the process.

1. Create a positive learning environment.2. Develop core competencies in process.3. Build around the adult learning model.4. Address different learning styles.5. Develop core competencies in content.

Keys to Effective Facilitation

What was done at the beginning of the session to create a positive

learning environment?It all starts with you!!

Some Responses

Warmly greet you. Plan opening carefully. Use visual aids effectively. Debrief activities. Stay focused on topics. Dress appropriately. Listen attentively. Make people feel valued.

Respond gracefully. Encourage participation. Room set-up. Learning names. Open body language. Use experiential activities

to allow you to create your own learning moments.

1. Create a positive learning environment.2. Develop core competencies in process techniques.3. Build around the adult learning model.4. Address different learning styles.5. Develop core competencies in content development.

Keys to Effective Facilitation

Develop Core Competencies

How you work with the group.

What you cover.

Process

Content

Whole Brain Activity

Content: Know the big picture and the details;

know the flow. Give clear and complete instructions. Design the session to affirm the

wisdom of the group. Tie pop-ups to the purpose of the

segment to reinforce learning. Identify at least one additional

learning point when closing.

Process: Ask open-ended questions. Listen and paraphrase comments. Encourage questions and

conversation. Confront unacceptable behavior. Use time and space intentionally. Use soft eye contact and

participant names.

Create a climate that supports learning. Use impactful questions. Listen thoughtfully. Manage the time and space. Fly under a neutral flag. Orchestrate the audience drama. Assume responsibility for participant’s learning.

Competencies

1. Starting the conversation. Manage the environment and initiating conversation.

2. Organizing the flow.3. Broadening participation.4. Helping individuals make their points.5. Managing divergent perspectives.6. Reaching agreement.7. Question and answer techniques.

Some Basic Techniques

What does communicating with confidence look like to you?

Communicating with Confidence

Communicating with Confidence

Collect your data. Who is your audience? What do they want to learn? What do they need to learn? Write your objectives. Anticipate questions.

Plan

Know your audience. Know your content points. Memorize your opening comments. Three phase delivery. Prepare your close. Create your opening.

Preparation Sets the Stage

Three ToolsVoice. Gestures and Posture.Structure.

Practice

Variety matters.Volume-project so that everyone can hear you!Pitch-use your voice to highlight key ideas.Pace.Accentuate key words with tone, volume and pitch.Pause frequently to take a deep breath, so you can project with confidence.Pronounce consonants and finish words. Voice the vowels.

Voice

Stand up straight. Breathe deeply and control air flow with diaphragm. Aim your voices at someone at increasing distances

throughout the room. Empty your pockets.

Posture

Stand in balanced manner. Use hands in moderation. Keep gestures above waist and focused on message. Empty pockets before you start. Let hands rest at side periodically.

Harnessing Energy through Gesture Control

Start big – Make an impression. Use a quote, headline, story.

Be organized. Speak with “Plain English”. Use pictures to make your point. Round statistics up, over two thirds, not 66.7 %.

Structure

State the idea you want others to consider. Relate the idea to a previous statement or event. Support idea with evidence or data. Integrate by asking for support.

Impact Strategy

Use of language. Set up the right environment. Focused eye contact.

Personalize for your Participants

Focused eye contact is key.Look around the room before you start speaking.Focus eyes on one person and then start speaking.Hold eyes on one person until you have completed a thought. (4 to 6 seconds)Rotate position of people with whom you connect visually.

Connecting with your Audience

What can a facilitator do to persuade participants to shift their view?

Persuade

Be credible. Use real facts and data. Channel nervousness.

Visualize a successful session.

Persuade

1. Create a positive learning environment.2. Develop core competencies in process.3. Build around the adult learning model.4. Address different learning styles.5. Develop core competencies in content.

Keys to Effective Facilitation

Adult Learning Theory. Why is it relevant to us?

Malcolm Knowles

Before Learning Starts, Adults Ask

1. Create a positive learning environment.2. Develop core competencies in process.3. Build around the adult learning model.4. Address different learning styles.5. Develop core competencies in content.

Keys to Effective Facilitation

How do you learn best? Kinesthetic.

Visual.

Auditory.

Different Learning Styles

How will you incorporate these principles into your meeting designs or training?

1.Adult Learning Theory.2.Learning style differences.

Personal Focus

1. Create a positive learning environment.2. Develop core competencies in process.3. Build around the adult learning model.4. Address different learning styles.5. Develop core competencies in content.

Keys to Effective Facilitation

Building the Content

process content

How will you get started?

ADDIE Model

Start here

Assess and Analyze

Questions to Ask

Who is the audience? What do they need to learn? What do they hope to learn? What is the purpose of the

session?

Tools to Use

Surveys. Questions. Focus groups.

Start with the objectives. Keep in mind:

Adult Learning Theory. Learning styles. Time blocking.

Design interactive ways to explore the topic.

Design and Develop

Icebreaker. Opening--Objectives, Agenda, Ground Rules. Content.

Make it active. Consider learning styles. Create segues.

Close with commitment.

Key Elements

Keep objectives in mind. Develop solid useful content. Create a logical flow. Keep Adult Learning Theory in mind. Create visuals and materials that support learning . Use a variety of activities to engage.

Effective Designs

PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE!

Focus on content and process. Build around the adult learning model. Address different learning styles. Create a positive learning environment.

Implement and Facilitate

ADDIE Model

Through participation in this training, participants will be prepared to:Explain facilitation and the benefits of using a facilitative approach.

Discuss keys to successful facilitation.

Apply skills and tools learned to facilitate effectively.

In Review

Questions?

Close with Commitment