The Importance of Having Facilitation Skills

You may have ended up in situations like these: where you try to do a brainstorming or discussion, but the reality does not always happen as well as you had hoped. The other participants only listened and are disinterested in expressing their opinions. When this happens, it is no wonder that your hours-long discussion only wasted time, nevermind finding any real solution. This is a common situation that can happen on your training session. Which makes for a strong reason that having a facilitator is necessary in training session or even in the professional world.

Why do facilitation skills matter?

In a discussion, there should be no participants that are only playing the role of a spectator. Which is why, you need someone who is able to support everyone on the team to do their best thinking. Someone with the ability to empower the participants to speak up, share their ideas and understand one another’s points of views through a conducive and pleasant environment. By doing so, the discussion can run smoothly and fairly, which could reach a concrete and unanimous decision.

Facilitation is a method that helps every individual to optimally absorb learnings through certain activities, which will help them process their way of thinking, be more brave in expressing their opinions as well as contribute in group discussions.

The facilitator is a figure who takes control and runs the facilitation process in order to make things easier for the other participants on the team. They are responsible for assisting the team to achieve their goals and stimulate the learning process in order to bring the best outcome from everybody, as they work together. Facilitators use process, methods and tools that are in their disposal appropriately and responsibly.

When it comes facilitators, one thing is for sure: they are not a team leader, or even a training expert. They are only people who have the ability to create an atmosphere where everyone is able to express themselves freely and trust that they have a voice which will be heard and respected.

How to develop effective facilitation skill?

Start from creating a learning environment. This will create an atmosphere that is more comfortable and relieve the participants off the pressure of saying or doing the wrong things. Do a little ice breaking exercise to make them relax and blend in with each other.

As a facilitator, you must be able to be neutral. Facilitate each participant with the same amount of understanding and empathy. Listen properly to their experiences, pay attention to how they are expressing their opinions and share ideas with one another. It is important for you to remember, never judge or try to manipulate the participants. Respect whatever they share with you.

Facilitation skill has always been an art, not a science. The more you practice it, the more comfortable you will become with it.

Source:

1. Coral Triangle Centre. (2014). Buku Saku Fasilitator.Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325808975_Buku_Saku_Fasilitator_1st_draft_2014
2. Kamp, M. (2011). Facilitation skills and methods of adult education. Link: https://www.kas.de/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=8159de20-2e04-f18b-002e8cf996146504&groupId=252038
3. McBrown, J. (2018, June 20th). What are facilitation skills and how do you facilitate? Link: https://www.roffeypark.com/learning-and-facilitation/what-are-facilitation-skills-and-how-do-you-facilitate/
4. Rice Knowledge Bank. (2018). Facilitation skills development for extension workers: Learning facilitation skills. Link: http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/capdev/index.php/module-15-facilitation-skillsdevelopment-for-extension-workers/learning-facilitation-skills
5. Smith, M. and Chilcote, M. (2018). What is a facilitator? Essential skills for effective facilitation. Link: https://thetrainingclinic.com/articles/what-is-a-facilitator