Being a great facilitator is about more than leading a meeting, workshop, or discussion. It’s about creating an environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to contribute their best ideas and thoughts. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, here are a few key tips to help you become a true facilitator extraordinaire.
One of the biggest challenges of facilitation is keeping the meeting on track and focused. To combat this, it’s essential to have a clear and achievable goal for the meeting and ensure everyone is aware of it. Start by including the meeting goal and information in the meeting notes or calendar invite. At the beginning of the meeting, read the goal out loud to all participants. Take a few minutes at the end of the discussion to revisit the goal. Don’t forget to prepare a closure statement and identify any next steps.
In a remote environment, it’s especially important to set expectations for everyone to be aware of the rules of engagement. Make sure everyone knows what activities you will be focusing on and what their expected participation will be. Go over "house rules" such as keeping cameras on, limiting multitasking, etc. Ensure the “house rules” are visible throughout the meeting, an easy reference to help ensure that everyone is fully present and engaged in the discussion.
For in-person events, limiting phone and computer use can be a great way to focus the participants.
Facilitating a meeting can be like navigating a room full of competing personalities. It’s your job as the facilitator to balance the conversation and ensure everyone feels heard. Start by making space for quiet voices. Structure activities and discussions to ensure everyone can speak and provide their opinion. A few tactics:
One of the biggest misconceptions about facilitation is that you must be an expert in the subject matter. In reality, your role as a facilitator is simply to guide the team to an outcome. Be confident and command the room, but show humility when you don't know something. If questions arise that you don't know the answer to, it's perfectly fine to take note of it and follow up later.
Finally, practicing as much as possible is the best way to become a great facilitator. Seek opportunities for facilitation practice whenever possible. Although not required, it is often easier to start with topics you know well. If you can talk freely about a subject with a stranger, it’s likely an excellent topic for you to facilitate a meeting, presentation, or workshop. This is not a prerequisite, facilitators are there to achieve the goals without biasing the outcomes. Remember, the more you practice, the more confident and capable you'll become as a facilitator.
In conclusion, being a great facilitator is about creating an environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to contribute their best ideas and thoughts. By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to becoming a facilitator extraordinaire!
