Break free from the echo chamber - 10 tips for good facilitation
Facilitating an effective meeting or workshop doesn’t happen by chance. Here’s our ten tips for getting the most out of your session.
Set your objectives: one of the most underrated aspects of good facilitation is setting and documenting session objectives and sharing these well in advance, ensuring everyone arrives ‘on the same page’
Design your session: structuring the session in module format, with a clear agenda and run sheet will keep everyone to task, and to time
Create a safe, inclusive environment: venue choice, seating format, catering and suitable technology is key, as is facilitation tone and style - this should be matched to the client, team dynamic and task at hand
Manage group dynamics: stay tuned to the energy in the room, personalities and power dynamics and intervene diplomatically to address any conflicts or disruptions
Equitable participation: encourage all voices in the room by asking open ended questions, creating space for quieter personalities, and managing the extroverts in the room
Use interactive and visual tools: hearing someone talk at you gets monotonous. Shake things up with a high-quality slide deck, real time scribing and progressive insights and break the group into small activities that foster creativity and collaboration
Build group consensus: progressively build content, feed insights back to the group and create plenty of space for discussion
Real-time session wrap: review discussion and outcomes, highlighting actions and be sure that next steps and responsibilities are clearly defined
Finish on time: sounds simple, but can make or break a session. Don’t over-schedule the group with too many activities or discussion points. Decide in advance which module you can drop without compromising the outcome, if needed
Don’t fear feedback: check in with participants via a feedback loop to support continuous improvement and hone your skills.