Facilitation is a skill most useful for people who want to help others achieve their goals. Within companies, this applies mostly to people managers and human resources managers. If you are one or the other, this is the place to check if you’re up for the task.
As a facilitator, you are an enabler of progress: You provide guidance and support without influencing the direction the individual or group is taking and without making decisions for them. In this regard, facilitation isn’t unlike mediation – but in facilitation you don’t help people to resolve conflicts but to achieve a specific goal.
Is that what you’re trying to do? Great, let’s do the quiz:
Part 1: Does it even make sense for you to be a facilitator?
Let’s first make sure you really want and need to be one, shall we? Take a look at the following four questions:
• Does your team or an employee in your company have a good idea for a new product or service – or the improvement of an existing one?
• Has someone identified a very specific problem and already has thought of a few possible solutions?
• Do you want to help others enjoy their work more?
• Do you want to help others be more successful?
If you answered YES to the last two questions and either of the first two, we can safely assume that it makes sense for you to be a facilitator, and we can proceed to part 2.
Part 2: Do you have what it takes to be a good facilitator?
Read the following 16 statements. Make sure you understand the meaning of each statement before you score yourself along a scale of 1 (Never) and 10 (Always). If you want to be on the safe side, ask a close colleague of yours to review your evaluation.
Are you ready? Lovely – here are the statements:
1. At meetings and during teamwork, I am able to stay in the present and to focus on the group process.
2. I sense if everyone (including myself) is physically comfortable.
3. I am aware of my own emotions and of the emotional expressions of the people around me.
4. I know how to make neutral observations – without judgement, without interpretations.
5. I’m good at summarizing things comprehensibly and succinctly.
6. I am aware of my motives when I contribute my thoughts, questions, and suggestions.
7. I can see the group’s place in its journey and respect their own pace.
8. I don’t take emotional reactions personally.
9. I’m good at connecting with others.
10. I can be both at the same time: challenging and supportive.
11. I know how to help the group reflect on the meaning of their experiences.
12. I am aware that ambiguity can be a good thing – if used right.
13. I’m good at giving constructive feedback.
14. I have experience in resolving conflicts in a constructive manner.
15. I have a clear understanding of the learning process of both myself and others.
16. I understand that this process isn’t about me but about the group.
Your results
Now, before you do the adding up, make sure you’ve been completely honest with yourself: neither too generous nor to hard. If you’re satisfied with your self-assessment, check your scores with the respective comments:
Less than 40
OK, let’s get right to it: Below 40 isn’t a good score. It can mean two things:
1. Facilitation simply isn’t your cup of tea. Maybe there are other areas in your professional field where you can contribute your personal strengths?
2. You really need to be good at this. Then you should know that there will be a steep learning curve waiting for you. But if you really set your mind to it, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t succeed.
Between 41 and 80
Your score is okay – but nothing to be too proud of. If you’re sure you want and need to be a facilitator, look at the statements where you gave yourself a 6 or less. Those are the areas you want to work on.
Between 81 and 120
This is quite a good score. There are probably just a few weak skills you want to improve on: Check the statements with the lowest scores and come up with your individual improvement plan for those skills.
Between 121 and 160
Congratulations, you have what it takes to be a facilitator! Now all you need is practice – and a good methodology. Good luck!
If you would like to read more about the topic of facilitation, then download the Premium eBook How to influence organisational change by Dr Sally Watson and Maggie Shannon.
Also, have a look at our website bookboon.com where you’ll find many more Premium eBooks to become more efficient and effective at your place of work.
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