Viper Marketing & Communications Group

Top 10 Facilitation Tips

Author: Jim Hardcastle

Jim has helped organisations and groups communicate more effectively for nearly 20 years. His background in the countryside and rural sectors provide him with a wealth of experience. Fueled by coffee with Post-Its at the ready, he’s here to help .

Remember facilitation is all about helping people discuss an idea and come to some sort of agreement. As a facilitator you don't need to know much about the subject but you do need to know a lot about people. Here are some lessons I've learnt over the years:

1. Get the group moving. Too much sitting around in stuffy rooms will make anyone go to sleep. Sleeping people aren't good at agreeing things. Get them up and going somewhere else for breaks, get them moving to flipcharts at the other end of them room, just get them moving

2. Get to know your group quickly. You've probably only dealt with the 'client' from the group yet you've got to work with all the others for a day. We use the Helium Stick game (email me to find out about this). You just need a quick exercise that reveals a person's character asap

3. Create a level playing field. Take it in turns when you're brainstorming. Everyone must feel they can contribute. Remember, the smallest voice can have the most powerful solution

4. If someone's intimidated by the boss being present they won't contribute. Combine 3 with some subtle jokes at the boss' expense. They won't mind an they'll know why you're doing it

5. Double acts. It's hard work being a facilitator, you've got to be a stage manager, director, producer, script writer and performer all in one day. Get some help. Myself and Neil do a double act. Neil throws in provocative comments from his seat within the group, he gives me time to think and we can lighten the mood by taking the mickey out of each other

6. Post-it's. Write everything on Post-it's so you can move them around. A facilitation day's thought processes should evolve, Post-it's can reflect these changes. if you've written everything on a flipchart sheet nothing can change unless you start drawing more stuff on it and then you'll just make a mess

7. Incentives. We use Maltesers. The power of the reaction to the sight of chocolate never fails to amaze me. Dished out correctly they add a little healthy competition and generate more discussion 

8. Focus on people who have lost interest. Some people won't agree with the direction of discussions or feel they've 'lost' an argument. Focus on them for a bit, make them smile, give them an incentive, get them talking and engaged again

9. Give up on a lost cause. Some people are a lost cause from the start others will dis-engage through the day. Try 8 but don't try for too long. Some people just don't agree with getting external facilitators in, they may have other things on their minds or they may just have a character type that means they hate 'group' days. Don't worry, focus on the ones that get it.

10. Laugh. Fundamental. If people are enjoying themselves they'll be chatty, engaged, helpful and positive. Learn some set jokes, do the double act, take the mickey out of yourself, just make people laugh.

- Posted on Friday 28 May 2010 at 08:08 by Jim Hardcastle

Tags: communication plans (1), effective (4), engaging (3), experience (5), facilitation (14), flipcharts (1), jim hardcastle (33), maltesers (1), post-it's (7)