Facilitation Basics (ASTD Training Basics)

As you can see, there is a lot to being a good facilitator. It is so much more than just knowing the content or being able to present. To really make learning happen takes genuine skill. That point raises the question of how organizations select facilitators to guide the learning. You may be in a situation where you must select facilitators from within your organization or from a vendor organization. What factors should you look at?

First, you may need to do some research. You want facilitators who are content experts but who are also credible to your audience. Not all subject matter experts (SMEs) have the same credibility with your target audience. So, ask a few questions of potential learners about facilitator candidates and get a feel for what facilitator credibility means to them. For some learners, it’s experience; for others, it’s education; and for still others, it’s something else.

Next, if you have the opportunity, you want to see the potential facilitators in action. You want to observe how they develop the learning environment, their communication and presentation/facilitation skills, how well they implement various learning activities, and how proficient they are in the use of media.

Sometimes you’ll need to use someone from outside, perhaps a contractor/ consultant or someone from a vendor organization. When you use someone who is an external source, you must add to your assessment items such questions as:

• Is there compatibility of cultures?

• Will the facilitator candidates abide by your code of ethics and policies?

• Can they meet your delivery schedule?

• Can they demonstrate success within your industry and with your type of audience?

• Are the facilitators dedicated to your organization?

• Will they sign a nondisclosure agreement?

• Is it a cost-effective solution?

• Do the facilitators have subject matter expertise?

• Will they be credible to your audience?

• Do they know your organization and can they make linkages of the content to your organization?

• Are they skilled facilitators?