A facilitator is a skilled professional who is engaged to work with a leader to help a team or group accomplish a task—e.g., solve a problem, build team effectiveness, resolve a conflict, or develop a plan. The following tips will help you get the most from your engagement with a facilitator and achieve your goals.
- Desire Outcomes
- Communicate your desire outcomes for the meeting or event
- Context
- Share the agenda for the meeting (beyond the portions the facilitator will be involved in)
- Help the facilitator understand how this meeting and the portions(s) of the meeting they will be facilitating align with larger priorities
- Help the facilitator understand the organizational and industry context that may impact the meeting
- Prior Work of the Group
- Provide as much information about the previous work of the group
- Share positive and negative experiences that may impact the work of the group and their work with a facilitator
- Relevant Information about Participants
- Provide the facilitator with the names, titles and other relevant information about participants
- Share insights about VIPs as well as those who might need extra attention
- Existing Norms
- Share any written and unwritten norms for the group
- Share traditions and unique behaviors of the group
- Introduce the Facilitator
- Introduce the facilitator to the group prior to the meeting and at the meeting
- Help establish the credibility of the facilitator with the group
- Pre-work
- Make sure pre-work is distributed in a timely manner to allow participants to complete it prior to the session
- Make sure participants understand the expectations to complete the pre-work in a timely manner
- Supplies and Equipment
- Make sure the room and equipment are arranged as requested by the facilitator
- Make sure supplies are available
- Arrange for the facilitator to have access to the room at least 30 minutes prior to the session
- Onsite Support
- Make sure someone is available to greet the facilitator and direct them to the meeting venue
- Make sure audio-visual and facilities support staff are accessible to the facilitator before, during and after the session
- Travel Arrangements
- Make sure the facilitator knows the location of the facility where the meeting will be held
- Provide the facilitator with hotel, airline, and ground transportation (as required) information
© 2018, John L. Bennett. All Rights Reserved.