1. The trainer as facilitator
Key competencies

2. What is facilitation?
Facilitation is concerned with encouraging open dialogue among individuals with different perspectives so that diverse assumptions and options may be explored.
Hogan (2002: 10)

3. What is a facilitator?
= a person who has the role of helping participants to learn in an experiential group.
Heron (1989:11)

4. If you want to be a good facilitator:
don’t change the wording of a participant;
don’t look tired;
don’t get distracted;
don’t judge comments of the group, liking some ideas better than others;
don’t manipulate people and behaviours;
don’t monopolise conversation;
don’t take sides on issues or people;
don’t become closed to group suggestions;
don’t try to have all the answers.
Discuss whether you agree or disagree with the above statements.

5. A facilitator must be able to:
Read not only individuals, but interaction between individuals.
Perceive and understand the subtleties of group dynamics.
Notice what is NOT said as well as what is said.

6. Why facilitation? New ideas surface.
Groups may come up with more creative responses.
It enables people to hear other people’s viewpoints.

7. Another definition for facilitation
= the empowerment of individuals to achieve for themselves.
(Bentley, 1994: 27)

8. One final quote:
Becoming a facilitator requires managing and/or letting go of one’s ego.
(Hogan, 2002: 31)