Strategic Planning and Performance

Facilitation

Facilitation is the process of enabling groups to work cooperatively and effectively toward a common objective. A skillful facilitator helps the group identify the real goals of the meeting and then, using a variety of techniques, guides and supports the group towards the achievement of the objectives.

Before the Meeting

The key to successful facilitation lies in the facilitator's preparation activities.

These include:

• Understanding the dynamics and challenges of the organization
• Working with the client to identify the goals and objectives of the meeting
• Identifying a working foundation for the process
• Developing methods to facilitate a common commitment
• Creating an optimal format for the meeting
• Identifying the different personality types and learning styles of meeting participants

During the Meeting

The facilitator's job is to optimize the way meeting participants work together toward achieving the goals of the meeting. Here are some key activities an effective facilitator employs during a session:

• Maintain a safe and productive environment that allows participants to work at their creative best
• Maximize group participation
• Instill honesty, integrity and trust within the group
• Create an atmosphere of fun and relaxation
• Guide discussion to keep the meeting on track
• Clarify communication and discussion when necessary
• Raise questions to clarify viewpoints
• Work through conflicts, miscommunication and poor performance
• Challenge fuzzy thinking
• Summarize issues regularly
• Help the group maintain focus on key points
• Find creative solutions to resolving conflict
• Wrap up the meeting with clear action plans
   

After the Meeting

Success of the meeting depends on consistent follow-through. To sustain the momentum developed during the facilitation process, the facilitator works with group leaders to:

• Reinforce the validity of the process
• Assist leaders in the implementation of the action plans developed in the meeting
• Implement effective group task and maintenance behaviours
   
   

 

Proper facilitation creates a foundation for working together successfully.
 

Let’s Start Planning!

 
 
 

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