Facilitation
Facilitation can enable constructive conversations and enhance cooperation across multiple participants through the use of a neutral, independent facilitator. It is generally less structured than mediation and tailored to meet the specific outcomes each group is seeking to achieve.
Facilitation can take many forms and serve many purposes – from identifying and addressing the causes of friction in a team through to participatory decision-making, problem-solving and working with diverse stakeholders to develop an organisational vision and strategy.
Facilitation can be used for:
- exploring and resolving conflict and dysfunction;
- team building and performance enhancement;
- running workshops, large or small
- engaging stakeholder
- gaining insights and understanding
- idea-generation and problem-solving
- participatory decision-making;
- vision and strategy development; and
- coaching
- supporting learners to acquire, retain, and apply knowledge and skills
These are just some examples, but the possibilities are limitless. The process and outcomes of each facilitation will determined by the purpose of the workshop and the needs of the group.
If used for conflict resolution, facilitation best suits situations where the nature and causes of conflict are unclear or where several people or groups of people and involved.
The facilitator will guide a group process that supports participants to identify underlying issues and work towards a mutual resolution. The facilitator has no role in determining the content discussed or the outcome of the process, but may advise on the most appropriate facilitation process.