Although the term facilitation can be applied to a variety of situations, it usually refers to the process of making decisions and completing projects. A professional facilitator may be in charge of assisting a group in determining how to communicate most effectively and how to complete tasks. Managers and aspiring managers who want to guide departments and teams so that they can work autonomously toward common goals can benefit from facilitation skills training. Other professionals who might benefit from facilitation skills training include social workers, educators, and health specialists.
When facilitation skills are used, all members of a group should feel valued and accountable for shared outcomes. In an ideal world, well-facilitated groups would generate unique and effective ideas; to do so, well-facilitated groups value diversity and respect individual limits and preferences.
To improve his or her performance, an organizational leader might go through facilitation skills training on a regular basis. Many organizations require managers and other leaders to attend seminars to learn about facilitation activities and practices as a matter of course. They might, for example, spend time learning about the comfort levels of various personality types before figuring out how to apply what they’ve learned.
Training in facilitation skills may take place across an entire organization. If a CEO believes that his or her company would run more smoothly if employees were taught to actively value the opinions of their coworkers, he or she might assign all employees to read books on facilitation in everyday business situations. He or she can also arrange for a motivational speaker or management expert to deliver facilitation skills training.
A counselor or social worker is practicing facilitation when he or she assists people in peacefully resolving their problems. Facilitation skills training allows these professionals to earn professional certifications and degrees. Counselors and social workers, like business professionals, may attend continuing education classes on a regular basis to keep their facilitation skills and practices up to date.
Facilitation skills training is considered essential in many high schools and colleges. Students can benefit from courses in appreciating differences and resolving conflicts in a variety of situations. This training, for example, could aid students in negotiating with coworkers and supervisors at work. It may also enable them to deal with issues that arise at home. In short, good facilitation skills training can assist individuals in leading healthier, less stressful lives.