Facilitation Skill

Key Attributes

Tips

Attending

-Facing trainees

-Maintaining appropriate eye contact

-Moving toward the participants

-Avoiding behavior that distracts

-Continually scan the group to keep a pulse on the atmosphere.

-Nod affirmatively, when appropriate.

-Circle the room during exercises.

-Use natural facial expressions.

Observing

-Observe behavior

-Determine feelings or reaction to training session/environment

-Take action based on observations/determinations

-Address behaviors with appropriate reaction, including the following:

-take a break

-speed up

-tell a story to exemplify the lesson

-ask participants about point of

confusion and provide clarification

Listening

-Listen to words being expressed

-Paraphrase what was said to convey understanding

-Try to understand both the content and meaning.

-Be aware of common internal (extraneous thoughts, worries, or other experiences) and external distractions (environmental distractions).

Questioning

-Use “open” questions to elicit discussion and participation

-Use “closed” questions to confirm

understanding of information

-Revisit your skills of asking, handling answers and responding to questions.

-Ask clear questions; do not use “tricky” questions.

-Use questions to stimulate participants and group discussion (if appropriate).