Facilitating Skills:

How to Become an
Effective Facilitator

Ateneo School for Upcoming Leaders (ASUL)

Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
May 26, 2016 @ 3:00 – 5:00 P.M.

Maria Angeles Dano-Hinosolango PhD

• What is facilitating for
you?
• Why is there a need for an
ASULean to know about
facilitating skills and
becoming an effective
facilitator?
 Outline

•Definitions
•Facilitating Skills: An Effective Facilitator
•Art of Questioning
•Scenarios
•Open Forum
 Objectives
• To revisit my understanding about
becoming an effective facilitator
• To identify some ways in handling people,
meetings and the like
• To share insights in resolving
some scenarios that shall
challenge my facilitating skills
 Definitions

www.google.com
 Definitions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facilitator
 Definitions

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facilitator/Facilitator
 Constructivist Theory

Constructivism learning theory

states that human beings produce or
construct meaning, understanding and
knowledge of the world from their own
experiences.
 Constructivist Theory

Constructivist assumes that

learners produce or construct meaning
or knowledge based on their
interactions with their environment
(XUHS Faculty Manual, 2010).
 Facilitating Skills:
An Effective Facilitator

Three basic principles:

1. A facilitator is a guide to help people move through
a process together, not the seat of wisdom and
knowledge. That means a facilitator is not there to
give opinions, but to draw out opinions and ideas
of the group members.
 Facilitating Skills:
An Effective Facilitator

Three basic principles:

2. A facilitator focuses on HOW people
participate in the process of learning or
planning, not just on WHAT gets achieved.
 Facilitating Skills:
An Effective Facilitator

Three basic principles:

3. A facilitator is neutral and never takes
sides.
 Facilitating Skills:
An Effective Facilitator

Things to consider at the start:

• Making sure everyone feels comfortable
participating.
• Developing a structure that allows for everyone’s
ideas to be heard.
• Making members feel good about their
contribution to the meeting.
 Facilitating Skills:
An Effective Facilitator

Things to consider at the start:

• Making sure the group feels that the ideas
and decisions are theirs, not just the
leader’s. Supporting everyone’s ideas not
criticizing anyone for what they said.
 Facilitating Skills:
An Effective Facilitator

Facilitator skills and tips:

• Watch the group’s body language.
• Summarize and pause.
• Be aware of your behavior/mannerisms.
• Watch your speech.
• Show respect.
 Facilitating Skills:
An Effective Facilitator

Facilitator skills and tips:

• Be watchful of the time.
• Do not monopolize.
• Allow the participants to talk.
• Do not preach.
• Keep your cool.
 Facilitating Skills:
An Effective Facilitator

Some tips:
• Encourage everyone to share their
experiences.
• Paraphrase/ summarize important
points from the sharing.
 Facilitating Skills:
An Effective Facilitator
Some tips:
• In giving the lecture, give a point. Make
it brief. Then allow the participants to
talk. Use the art if questioning skills to
check what they understood. Resolve
first before proceeding to the next
point.
 The Art of Questioning
Open the discussion.
• Are the objectives/agenda clear?
• Who would like to add?
• Do we have concerns that we need to
address?
• Would it be all right to discuss it in the
meeting?
 The Art of Questioning
Draw out opinions.
• Who has an idea?
• Who would like to suggest?
• Do you have an opinion on this,
Francis?
• Please share to the group…
 The Art of Questioning
Build on each other’s idea. Do not interrupt.
• What do you think about his/her idea?
• Who would like to add (in connection to the
idea)?
• Tell us your thoughts about it. Why?
• Is it feasible? What can be done?
 The Art of Questioning
Come up with a decision.
• Can we come up now with a decision?
• Would it be all right that we shall proceed
despite opposing sides (consensus)?
• Have we come up with a decision? Any final
thoughts before we proceed?
 The Art of Questioning

Close the discussion.

• Can we refresh what we have achieved
in this gathering (synthesis)?
• Were the objectives meet?
* Say “thank you” for their gift of presence –
sharing their thoughts/participating in the
meeting.
 The Art of Questioning

One last hirit! Rephrase some conflicting

points.
A 1: Why did you not come in the meeting?
F: What were the challenges that you were
not able to come?
 The Art of Questioning

One last hirit! Rephrase some conflicting

points.
A 1: Why were you not able to resolve it? It
was assigned to you.
F: Tell us what happened. What are your
plans/alternatives?
 Scenarios

Let us try to resolve these scenarios.

Only a few came in the meeting. You are
already at the peak of your temper
because there are important matters to
discuss.
* How will you start the meeting?
 Scenarios

Let us try to resolve these scenarios.

The activity shall start in a week’s time.
Logistics have not completed their tasks.
The guest did not yet confirm… etc…
* What will you do to resolve the issue in
the meeting?
 Scenarios

Let us try to resolve these scenarios.

There is a conflict on the name/title of
the activity. You have discussed for an
hour already just for this.
* How will you end the discussion to
come up with a decision?
 Scenarios

How about your experiences?

 Points to Ponder…

Reflection:
• Based on the presentation, what
facilitating skills that I barely practice?
• What hinders me to become an
effective facilitator?
 Points to Ponder…

Action:
• What can I do to overcome my fears in
handling people?
• What effective ways can I apply in
becoming an effective facilitator?
 Open Forum

Clarifications…
Suggestions…
Sharing of insights…
 Facilitating Skills:
How to Become an
Effective Facilitator

Ateneo School for Upcoming Leaders (ASUL)

Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
May 26, 2016 @ 3:00 – 5:00 P.M.

Maria Angeles Dano-Hinosolango PhD