Facilitation, in a business context, is “the process of helping groups, or individuals, to learn, find a solution, or reach a consensus, without imposing or dictating an outcome. Facilitation works to empower individuals or groups to learn for themselves or find their own answers to problems without control or manipulation. Facilitators need good process and communication skills, including listening, questioning, and reflecting. Facilitation is used in a variety of contexts including training, experiential learning, conflict resolution, and negotiation.” – The BNet Dictionary

A facilitator is an individual whose role is to help to manage a process of information exchange. While an expert's" role is to offer advice, the facilitator's role is to help with how the discussion is proceeding.
In short, the facilitator's responsibility is to address the journey, rather than the destination.

Some competencies of an effective facilitator:

• distinguishes process from content
• manages the client relationship and prepares thoroughly
• uses time and space intentionally
• is skilled in evoking participation and creativity
• practiced in honouring the group and affirming its wisdom
• capable of maintaining objectivity
• skilled in reading the underlying dynamics of the group
• releases blocks to the process
• adapts to the changing situation
• assumes (or shares) responsibility for the group journey
• demonstrates professionalism, self-confidence and authenticity

CoachMatching has a pool of excellent facilitators who hold the above competencies and characteristics. We are skilled at getting a group to create, understand and buy-in to a course of actions or decision.

Our facilitators work with a variety of styles and techniques and we match the appropriate facilitation style and facilitator to the organisation. However, the common theme in the work we do is focused on learning, communication, process, skills development and engagement.

Benefits of Facilitation:

• Meeting time is used efficiently. Meeting time is expensive, so this is a high priority
• A skilled facilitator helps to focus the energy and thoughts of meeting participants and helps groups to understand and move forward on important issues
• A group learns new ways of working together. This is especially useful for new groups
• The group learns more about itself. This increase in consciousness enables the group to work together more easily
• A group that works well together can produce results that surpass even the best efforts of an individual
• The higher the level of participation, the greater the productivity
• The group members deepen their connections with each other. They become more cohesive
• Participants recognize that they are all responsible for supporting and implementing the group's decisions
• The group evolves into an integrated team as each member has an opportunity to contribute.