Best Facilitation Practices
Carefully assess the needs of the members
Probe sensitively into people's feelings
Create an open and trusting atmosphere
Help people understand why they’re there
View yourself as servant of the group's needs
Make members the center of attention
Speak in simple and direct language
Work hard to stay neutral
Display energy and appropriate levels of assertiveness
Champion ideas not personally favored
Treat all participants as equals
Stay flexible and ready to change direction if necessary
Make notes that reflect what participants mean
Listen intently to understand totally what is being said
Periodically summarize a complex array of ideas so that they form a coherent summary
Know how to use a wide range of discussion tools
Make sure every session ends with clear steps for the next meeting
Ensure that participants feel ownership for what has been achieved
End on a positive and optimistic note
(Ingrid Bens, Facilitating with Ease! San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 2000.)
