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Part 3 of a four part series by Kim Clausen & Jonathan Tessier
Making Workshops Work for You
Success Strategy #3: Delivering a Workshop That Makes an Impact I have had many people approach me and inquire into what it takes to be a facilitator. Invariably, when I ask these people to explain what it is about facilitation that interests them, they tell me, with ear-to-ear grins, how cool it would be to stand in front of people and teach. When I hear this all-too-common response, I am often tempted to console these people with a gentle pat on the back before I proceed to burst their rose-colored bubbles. Facilitating a workshop or training program, I tell them, is not about being the "sage on the stage," but instead, about being simply a "guide on the side." So what do you think facilitation is? Do you think it's about standing at the front of the classroom and blessing others with all your knowledge? Do you think it's about being at the helm of the ship, and having all eyes attentively fixed upon you? Do you think it involves lectures that are jam-packed with juicy 'info-nuggets' that will suddenly enrich people's lives the moment they hear them? If you do, your workshops will be, at best, marginally effective. If we can recognize how today's methods of training are shifting from 'teaching' to 'facilitating' then we will also realize that when facilitating a training program, it is less about us and our content, and more about our participants and their learning. Facilitation, therefore, speaks to a 'learner-centered' approach to conducting a training program rather than a 'teacher-driven' one. So what exactly is facilitation? To best explain, we will take a focused look at the behavior involved in successful facilitation. So here goes: Any time you work with and actively engage a group of people in a learner-centered environment, you are being a facilitator rather than just a teacher or trainer. Any time you show respect for others and have a watchful awareness of the many layers of truth in human interaction, you are being a facilitator rather than just a teacher or trainer. And any time you pay attention to the 'social' side of learning and not just the 'learning tasks' of a workshop, you are being a facilitator rather than just a teacher or trainer. In workshops, facilitators manage the learning process as well each and every learner within it. They especially pay attention to group dynamics and the individuals at the center of them. The role of the facilitator demands exceptional interpersonal skills, keen observation abilities, sharp insight, and of course, tact. Facilitators have the knack for effectively drawing people out; balancing participation; and making a space for the more quiet members of a group. It is certainly critical for the facilitator to also have the aptitude for interacting in ways that add to a group's learning rather than take away from it. Like a musical conductor, the facilitator works to bring out the best in each member of the orchestra so that there is a successful group performance. In a training program or workshop, the facilitator can be viewed as the one who helps participants learn from any activity. In short, a facilitator's role is to create a setting where discussion, interaction, and learning take place. This is actually what can make even an average workshop a unique and wonderful learning experience. Mastering the techniques of facilitation can give anyone the ability to lead workshops that ultimately produce positive results. So the bottom line in understanding the facilitator's role is that this person makes the transfer of learning as easy, smooth, and impactful as possible. This is what it takes to lead a training program or workshop of any length. So if you or someone you know is curious about what it takes to be a facilitator then you can tell them this: being a successful facilitator means you have the ability to engage participants in the learning process; ask probing questions that deepen learning; listen intently to what's being said and not being said; provide appropriate feedback that encourages participants to engage in the learning process; direct and support learners in ways that work for them; manage discussions and encourage their continuation; and possess the capacity to build positive relationships. It sounds a lot like coaching doesn't it? And if that's what interests you about facilitating a training program, then by all means, step right up! Be sure to catch us next time as we will discuss the 4th Success Strategy for Using Workshops to Grow Your Business, Having a Follow Up Plan. About our experts: Kim Clausen is the President of Ready2Go Marketing Solutions and is a professionally trained coach who has more than 20 years of marketing and business development experience. Jonathan Tessier is a successful training manager, professional coach, and award-winning instructional designer who has more than 10 years of experience developing and delivering quality training programs. Ready2Go Marketing Solutions, Inc. creates completely developed, readymade and ready to implement, workshops, teleseminars, speeches and more that you brand as your own to grow your business. Our team has more than 45 years of development and marketing experience, which ensures you quality products that will make growing your business much easier. Register for our FREE telecall - Facilitate Your Workshops with Confidence and Ease, Thursday, February 5th @ 4:00 pm ET. Can't come? Register anyway and get the audio replay. www.FacilitateWithConfidenceAndEase.com Be sure to download our FREE Special Report on How To Fill Your Workshops With Qualified, Ready to Buy Participants! Go to www.MarketWithConfidenceAndEase.com CONTACT US: For more information, check us out at www.Ready2GoMarketingSolutions.com, or call us at 303-465-0454. Feedback is welcome at ExpertSeries@choice-online.com Visit choice, the magazine of professional coaching Website
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