Facilitation

WHAT IS FACILITATION?

• Literally means 'to make something easy'
• Provides and environment which encourages and nourishes appropriate learning and the development of skills and behaviours
• Makes people/groups more competent, more powerful and more in control of their own destinies
• Helps the group to learn must be the single-minded aim
• The facilitator does not need to have 'knowledge' of the issue
• The skills of a good facilitator appear 'invisible'
• Helps the group mobilise the resources
• Does not take sides (remains neutral)
• Creates a 'space' for things to happen
• Allows everyone’s ideas to be expressed
• Helps the group 'name the elephant'...  (speak the unspoken)
• Helps expose the iceberg (below the waterline)  often  'feelings'

The service provided by us as Facilitators is:-

• Non-judgemental/Neutral
• Self-aware
• Not 'involved' with the group and so are trusted
• Encourages disclosure
• Listens to ALL members of he group
• Not affected by status/gender/others preconceptions
• Wanting to understand
• Willing to be divergent rather than convergent when required
• Keeps all points of view out in the open
• Keeps track of all the issues, especially those which have not been pursued
• Creates the right blend of challenge and support for group members
• Creates the right climate for the group to share/discuss anything helpful
• Creates a 'warm' climate where weakness and failure can be discussed and people can ask for help
• Helps staff develop personal insight as well as insight into others
• Help staff develop emotional resilience
• Confronts blockages and helps members find their way around them
• Draws attention to and helps manage processes.  Makes it ok to express feelings as well as facts
• Works flexibly across a range of styles/approaches/techniques
• Makes members of the group feel that they belong, are valuable and should be there