Facilitation SkillsFacilitation Skills

Exemplary TrainersExemplary Trainers

What are the discrete characteristics and competencies that distinguish

exemplary instructors?

Helpful Attitudes & ValuesHelpful Attitudes & Values

• My mind-set won’t help them• Everybody is human, unique with

potential• It’s OK to teach• No one best way• People never argue with their own data• Facilitators can’t win arguments• Silence is OK• Don’t push the river

The Facili-training RainbowThe Facili-training Rainbow

process monitoring

brainstorming

facilitating discussion

Socraticdirection

teaching

demonstrating

presenting

HIGHLOW

HIGH

Contribution to Content

InteractIon

Socratic DirectionSocratic DirectionExamples of Socratic questions include:

Questions of clarification

What do you mean by _______?Let me see if I understand you; do you mean _______ or _______?Could you give me an example?Could you explain that further?

Questions that probe assumptions

You seem to be assuming _______. Do I understand you correctly?All of your reasoning depends on the idea that _______.

Questions that probe reasons and evidence

Why do you think that is true?What are your reasons for saying that?What led you to that belief?

What is a facilitator?What is a facilitator?• Literally means: ‘making things easy’• A person who helps a group or team

to:Achieve results in interactive events

By using a range of skills and methods

To bring the best out in people as they work together

Focus on the process of how

Interpersonal Skills/Basic Interpersonal Skills/Basic Facilitation SkillsFacilitation Skills

listening

questioning

language &

communication

using

feedback

conflict handling

Facilitator’s Role: OverviewFacilitator’s Role: Overview

• cope with uncertainty

• use power of credibility to help address issues

• be calm in times of emotion

• support and counsel others

• be understandable• mobilise energy • surface difficult

issues and help others to do so

• take themselves less seriously

• empathise