REPORT OUTLINE

Objectives

 To be able to understand what is facilitation

 To be able to know the qualities of a good facilitator
 To be able to know the principles and values in facilitation

FACILITATION

Facilitation means working with people. With the aim, of enabling and empowering them.
Effective facilitation is about assisting individuals or groups with their Interactions and
discussions in order to perform a certain task or achieve certain objectives.

Facilitating Community Engagement

A community engagement facilitator provides the methods and means that enable groups and
individuals to craft answers to complex issues facing their community without necessarily being
a subject matter expert.

They must understand the continuum of decision making and change which identifies the best
tool or technique to use depending on the seriousness/significance of the decision/ situation and
the need for the stakeholders – emotionally and mentally – to commit to the decision.

You facilitate numerous meetings and guide them through discussions that help them:

 Develop a common understanding of the root causes of the problem

 Frame the problem in the context of the community
 Develop shared goals and objectives that will address the problem
 Put together and implement projects that will achieve the objectives
 Evaluate the effectiveness of the projects and engagement process.

Facilitation Tools and Techniques Facilitation techniques you can use to improve productivity
and workflow during meetings and events:
1. Brainstorm Brainstorming creates a creative group atmosphere that can often bring about
fresh and unconventional ideas.

2. Set meeting/workshop agendas While team members generally receive agendas before the
meeting starts, review the schedule and objectives again at the beginning of the meeting so
everyone in the group understands its direction. This step is particularly important at the start of
unplanned or spontaneous meetings.

3. Break the ice After the introduction, perform an ice breaker exercise so everyone gets
comfortable in the group.

4. Delegate roles Assign roles to the group members, such as asking someone to record the
meeting’s details or giving someone responsibility for checking the time. Rotate duties from
meeting to meeting so everyone feels involved.

5. Set ground rules Ensure the meeting stays calm and organized by setting rules such as
raising your hand if you want to share an idea.

6. Take breaks Long meetings can cause attendees to lose focus and become fatigued. Take
regular breaks, ideally every 90 minutes during long meetings, to let the group get a drink or
walk around. If you pause a meeting for lunch or a food break, provide healthy refreshments that
stimulate the mind.

7. Provide a toolkit The facilitator should provide the team with tools such as notepads, pens or
pencils so they can take notes and record the meeting’s details. Provide markers and a
whiteboard if you or other attendees are giving a presentation.

8. Use a flip chart Flip charts can provide a visual element to a meeting, particularly when
brainstorming creative ideas. Place the flip chart at the front of the room and stand to the side
while writing or discussing a topic so everyone can see. Write in clear and bold font, preferably
in capital letters. Use different-colored markers or bullet points to break the content into smaller
ideas.

9. Perform meta-planning To engage all attendees, ask them to each share a keyword about the
meeting’s topic or main issue. Collect their ideas, and share them with all participants. This is a
simple way to come to quick conclusions.
10. Engage and manage group dynamics If a meeting involves lots of conversation, separate
into smaller discussion groups so the quietest participants can contribute to the decision-making
process. Give the dominant personalities jobs to keep them focused and to encourage them to
contribute their energy toward productive tasks.

11. Keep the group’s mood upbeat Break up serious discussions with fun, low-stress team-
building or trust-building exercises. These games help keep attendees positive and productive.

12. Monitor group politics If you notice power imbalances and hierarchies developing within a
group, bring the focus back to the discussion through questions, solutions to problems,
summaries and reflections. Keep positively energizing the panel.

13. Be alert By being attentive, you can ensure the proceedings stay on track and the meeting
progresses as planned.

14. Pause and think Once you have established the main theme of the meeting, ask all the
attendees to pause and think about it. Ask them to write down a few thoughts or ideas before the
group begins discussing the topic together.

15. Group review Get the group’s perspective and feedback on the meeting’s proceedings. This
10-minute exercise can help the facilitator understand what went well and what they can change
for future meetings.

16. Make closing notes Clearly document the meeting’s proceedings and outcome, so everyone
understands the concluding details. Summarize the meeting verbally as well as in writing.

An Effective and Sincere Facilitator

 Clarifies the purpose

 Uses processes, methods and tools appropriately and responsibly.
 Creates an atmosphere and opportunity for contribution.
 When participant trust and speak freely and individual boundaries are honored.
 Caters to different style.
 Respect the culture, right and autonomy of the group.
  Understands the needs and the process of group development and effectiveness.
 Listens and reflects back to ensure understanding engender trust
 Encourages participants to challenge the data and not the person
 Practices stewardship of process and impartiality toward content,
 Clarifies data veracity by checking back with participants.
 Elicits greater depth both the data and the interrelationship of the data.
 Acknowledge openly any potential conflict of interest.
 Responds to the group’ through flexibility of format and process
 Manage conflict with sensitivity
 Maintains confidentiality of information
 Invites in other practitioner for situations beyond their expertise and experience
 Takes responsibility and continuous improvement of facilitation skills and knowledge.

Principles and Values of Facilitation

a. Impartiality – the trainer should be neutral and objective and conduct the training an
impartial and non-partisan manner especially in civic education and in political topics
b. Participation – facilitation succeeds when participants are motivated and “enabled to
actively get involved.
c. Inclusiveness – the trainer should be sensitive to the needs of individual participants and
their roles in the group in order to find a way for them to be adequately involved.
d. Respect – trainer must ensure that each participants show each other in mutual respect.
e. Equality – every participant is regarded as having an equal right to contribute influence
and determine the direction of the group.
f. Trust and safety – facilitator must encourage the development of trust and-safety.
Participants need to feel free and comfortable in the group;
g. Listening - means listening to what people are saying and turning into what they are not
saying. This includes being aware of verbal and non- verbal means of communication.
h. preparedness – trainer should be prepared in order to perform to all task well. He
should appear professional and lead example.
 i. Flexibility regardless of all advance preparations and plans the trainer also need to
maintain, a high degree of flexibility.
j. Time keeping- trainer should be punctual and should set the training session for a
reasonable time and observe carefully the dates and time allocated for activities.
k. A good trainer / facilitator does not need to respect the role of the trainer.

Qualities of Good Facilitators

1. Should be patient to explain things carefully and allow participants time to respond at
their own pace.
2. Build cooperation and unity among the group while supporting each person’s right to
diverse opinion.
3. Should be open to criticism and question.
4. Should show energy and enthusiasm for material being covered in the workshop.
5. Must be non-partisan and avoid showing their own personal biases, serving as the one
who can resolve disagreements.

No one is born an expert facilitator. It is important to work on facilitation skills that will help you
become more effective as a facilitator, whether you are working with teams internally or
externally. Consider this facilitation skills checklist the start of your facilitation training.

We have collected below the most important skills that a facilitator needs, divided into two parts
of the facilitation process.
“F acilitatio
n is the art of leading people through processes towards agreed-upon objectives in a
manner that encourages participation, ownership and creativity by all those involved”
Members:

Dipangampong, Abdullah

Bila, Nesrin

Manapar, Benkhalid

Abdulrahman, Johaira

Haron, Jorahem

Piang, Julhaina

Taratingan, Sittie Warida