Facilitation Skills Exemplary Trainers What are the discrete

Facilitation Skills

Exemplary Trainers What are the discrete characteristics and competencies that distinguish exemplary instructors?

Helpful 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 Rainbow Socratic direction HIGH I facilitating n discussion t e brainstorming r a process c monitoring t I o n Contribution to Content LOW teaching demonstrating presenting HIGH

Socratic Direction Examples 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? • Literally means: ‘making things easy’ • A person who helps a group or team to: Ø Achieve results in interactive events Ø By using a range of skills and methods Ø To bring the best out in people as they work together Ø Focus on the process of how

Interpersonal Skills/Basic Facilitation Skills language & communication listening using feedback questioning conflict handling

Facilitator’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