top tips for good facilitation

Good facilitation means:

• Making it clear what the team/ delegates will be doing - set out the process
• Agreeing ground rules with participants - how will we work together while we're here?
• Giving each participant the space to contribute, and managing those who want to hog the air-time
• Keeping attention focused on the objectives
• Engaging people in activities that allow them to have informal discussions, as well as round-table ones
• Ensuring that key points are brought out, and that the discussions are captured
• Creating an atmosphere that is serious, because the discussion is serious, but also ensuring that it's light-hearted enough for people to feel they're enjoying it, and are therefore contributing
• Restating what people have said,so that they may hear it back
• Continuing to work with the sponsor throughout the event, and advising them if there needs to be a change of approach
• Taking care of the environment drinks, breaks, fresh air
• Discussing implications of the debate with the sponsor, and looking at any follow-up activities they need to implement.

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