Team Facilitation
by Laurie Wilhelm
It’s important to have some skills in team facilitation because at some point in your career – even if you usually work alone – you may well be called upon to be a team leader. (Take a minute and check out the teamwork articles on our site.)
Team facilitation can be challenging depending on who is part of the team, the project, and the amount of time you’re given to complete the task. The facilitator has to balance her role between helping and directing the team and taking over it.
To define teamwork, it can be said that it’s a group of two or more people engaged in an activity where together, they share their skills and expertise for the purpose of achieving a set goal. Typically, because of the combined skills and abilities found in a team, the outcome should be superior to that of an individual working on her own. Said another way, “the total is greater than the sum of its individual parts.”
Having good communication skills is essential for team facilitation. Communication in groups is imperative to the success of the team and the better one’s communication skills, the better the group will function.
To assist in team facilitation, besides reading through the teamwork articles on this site, here are some suggestions:
1. Set Clear Goals
You can direct the group only if you know where it is going. In team facilitation you not only have to know the goals but also be able to communicate in groups what the goals are. The team needs to have a clear understanding of their objectives so they can work as a unified group and succeed in the project to which they were assigned.
2. Encourage Members of the Group to Voice Their Ideas and Suggestions
Encouraging communication in groups results in better outcomes. If someone has a good idea and they don’t mention it, it’s an opportunity wasted. Watch how the members are interacting and observe their facial expressions. You can often see by the look on someone’s face if they are thinking of something and want to contribute. Especially for introverts, it’s important to ‘invite’ them to share their suggestions.
3. Seek Input from Everyone
Everyone on the team has been chosen to participate for a reason. Each participant should be given time to speak. This may mean putting forward a specific question and go around the table requesting that everyone comment on it.
4. Decision Making Process
As the person in charge of team facilitation, you need to establish an agreed-upon method of making decisions as a group. This should be set up at the beginning of the group’s engagement so everyone has an understanding of how this will be achieved.
5. Building Relationships within the Group
Sometimes, groups are created by taking certain individuals from various departments and putting them together as a work group. Groups will work together more effectively and be more willing to contribute when the members feel comfortable with the people they’re working with. Creating good working relationships is a must for team facilitation and to ensure a successful working environment.
Team facilitation can be a challenge but it can also be a very rewarding experience. With good communication skills and an understanding of how to get the best out of a team, you can guide them to great achievements.?
