Transcript Co-Facilitators - Brain Injury Support Group Network

Better Facilitation with a Partner Co-Facilitators
Presented by Craig Sicilia and Penny Condoll
BISGN Coaches
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Penny Condoll
Project Manager and Founder, BEST
BISGN Coach
Brain Injury Support Group Facilitator in Tacoma and
Puyallup
Craig Sicilia
Director, TBI Support Network
BISGN Coach
Brain Injury Support Group Facilitator in Spokane
Janet Novinger: BISGN Training Coordinator
Objectives
• Understand the roles, skills and characteristics
of a great facilitator
• How to find a co-facilitator
• Setting the stage for a successful relationship
• Defining strengths and interests
• Learn tips for Before, During and After the
Meeting
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Defining Facilitation
A facilitator is someone who
helps a group of people
understand their common
objectives and assists them
to plan to achieve them
without taking a particular
position in the discussion.
Wikipedia
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Role of Facilitator
(and Co-Facilitator)
Facilitators provide the process to help a
group:
Discuss an issue
Make a decision
Solve a problem
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Skills of an Effective
Facilitator

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

designs or chooses appropriate
group discussion techniques
asks probing questions
thinks quickly
paraphrases and summarizes

resolves conflict
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uses visual aids effectively
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listens and observes
acknowledges & responds to
emotions

understands people and groups
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energizes group
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Uses humor successfully

knows a variety of techniques for
group discussions, including problemsolving and decision-making
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Characteristics of an
Awesome Co-Facilitator
 Flexible
 Behavior management
 Honest
 Patience and respect
 Able to inspire
 Effective communicator
 Positive attitude
 Leadership & confidence
 Energy
Empathetic
 Self-regulation and/or ability Dependable
to not intantly react
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How to find the right
co-facilitator
• Evaluate the strengths and interests
of your group members
• Tell group your looking for help
• Explain the benefits of being a
facilitator
• Let people try out a task before
agreeing
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Before the Meeting

Schedule ample time for planning
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Take some time to get to know each other and discuss each
other’s style of planning and facilitating
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Avoid making assumptions about one another
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Take time to discuss your views about topics, especially
examine areas of disagreement

Discuss any concerns about potential challenges that
participants may present
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Agree on common goals
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Review each other’s triggers
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Before the Meeting
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Find out whether and when it is okay to interrupt
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Decide how to keep track of time
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Strategize about how to stick to the original outline and how to switch
gears
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Plan ways to give signals to one another

Divide facilitation of activities fairly

Share responsibility equally in preparing and bringing workshop materials
and resources
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Agree to arrive in time to set up and check-in before the meeting begins

Schedule time afterwards to debrief
During the Meeting

Remember to keep a professional demeanor at all times
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Keep communicating with each other throughout the meeting
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Support and validate one another
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During activities that don’t require constant attention, check-in with
one another

Include your co-facilitator even when you are leading an exercise or
discussion, by asking, for example: “Do you have anything to add?”

Use lots of eye contact
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Assert yourself if your co-facilitator is talking too much

Remember that it is okay to make mistakes

Take the initiative to step in if your co-facilitator misses an
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opportunity to address a myth
After the Meeting
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If you can’t meet right after the meeting, schedule a time to
debrief before you leave
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Listen carefully to one another’s self-evaluation before giving
feedback
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Discuss what worked well and examine what did not work
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Brainstorm what could have been done differently
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Use written evaluations as a reference point to talk and assess
your effectiveness as co-facilitators
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After the Meeting
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Name particular behaviors, for example: “When you kept
interrupting me, I felt undermined and frustrated”, or “I got
the impression that some participants were bored”, instead of
“You always interrupt me” or “You were very controlling during
the workshop.”

Realize the importance and potential difficulty of debriefing
a challenging meeting

Make sure to share any clean-up or return of resource
materials
Closing Bow
Thank you for all you do