Basics of facilitation

St John Youth Roadshow – 9 July 2016

OUTLINE

A. What is facilitation?

B. Why facilitate not lead?

C. Storytelling (Will)

D. How to prepare

OUTLINE

E. How to guide a discussion

F. Useful techniques

G. Body language and pre-stage preparation (Will)

H. Dealing with hard examples

I. What to do afterwards

What is a facilitator?

What is a facilitator?• A person who helps a group work effectively• A neutral person who helps a group reach a

conclusion or resolve an issue• A person who structures, guides or leads a

discussion or meeting

WHY FACILITATE NOT LEAD?

WHY FACILITATE NOT LEAD?• A teacher or lecturer passes on their knowledge to

their class• A leader guides a team towards achieving a

defined outcome• A facilitator helps a group (or its members) to

share their own ideas or knowledge, or decide on what outcome they want

WILL - STORYTELLING

HOW TO PREPARE

• What do you want to achieve from the meeting?

• Who will you have in the room?

• What are the stages you need to take the room through?

• Opening, discussion, closing

OPENING

DISCUSSION

CLOSING

HOW TO GUIDE DISCUSSION

• Set the tone and agenda from the start

• Steer the group with questions

• Know your timings

• Listen and take (your own) notes

USEFUL TECHNIQUES

• Setting ground rules

• Using both open and closed questions

• Hand signals

• Speakers’ sticks, stacks, and lists

• Decision making processes

WILL – BODY LANGUAGE AND PRE-STAGE PREPARATION

HARD EXAMPLES

HARD EXAMPLES

• People who talk too much

• People who talk too little

• Awkward silences

• Arguments

• People not understanding questions or going off topic

• Triggering and personal experiences

WHAT TO DO AFTERWARDS

• Who has the notes?

• Review the notes!

• Are there any action points?

• What do you need to report back to whom?

• IMPORTANT: What can you learn as a facilitator?

• Seek feedback, reflect

QUESTIONS?