Facilitation Tips – Free Document

Facilitation Tips

Some guidelines for managing successful discussions:

• Smile

• Use friendly, open body language

• Be approachable – use people’s names

• Show that you value them as individuals

• Have an open mind – encourage them to do the same

• Let ideas that come out ’belong’ to the group

• Recognise who wants to speak next – keep looking at the group

• Try to get general agreement before you start

• Inject a viewpoint if ideas run dry

• Use humour – but be careful of distracting or alienating people, avoid sarcasm as this is nearly always destructive

• Keep it enjoyable

• Present yourself in a way that is appropriate to the subject matter – don’t smile or laugh when something serious or sad is the topic

Some things to avoid doing when managing discussions:

• Being aggressive

• Being passive

• Stating own strong opinions excessively

• Showing personal bias or prejudice

• Not listening – closed body language

• Not involving everyone – talking to one person or a ‘select group’

• Doing all the talking

• Letting the discussion run away from the objective or point

• No structure or summary on conclusion of the discussion

• Not encouraging ideas

• Allowing people to talk at the same time

• Not being personally prepared

A Facilitator uses the following techniques to engage with people:

Demonstrating Leadership – letting the group know who’s in charge

Creating an Open Environment – inviting people to be a part of the group

Encouraging Connections – helping people get acquainted and connected

Building Group Rapport – facilitating a sense of teamwork and unity

Defining Group Identity – establishing the group purpose and personality

A Facilitator uses the following techniques to involve people:

Inviting Participation and Interaction – prompting action, contact, and dialogue

Bouncing Back to the Group – shifting focus away from the leader

Recognizing Commonalities & Promoting Consensus – finding common ground

Supporting Cooperation & Group Cohesion – fostering group unity

Experimenting with New Behaviour – encouraging members to try new thing