Although the term facilitation can be used in a number of different contexts, it normally refers to the process by which decisions are made and projects completed. A professional facilitator might be responsible for helping a group to determine how it can communicate most effectively and how it should go about completing tasks. One of the most common kinds of facilitation skills training is for managers and aspiring managers who would like to guide departments and teams so that they can work autonomously toward common goals. Social workers, educators, and health specialists are other examples of professionals who might benefit from facilitation skills training.
When facilitation skills are put to use, all members of a group should feel that their ideas are valued and that they are responsible for shared outcomes. Ideally, groups that are properly facilitated should generate unique and effective ideas; to accomplish this, properly facilitated groups value diversity and respect individual limits and preferences.
An organizational leader might undergo facilitation skills training regularly to improve his or her performance. As a matter of act, many organizations require managers and other leaders to attend seminars where they learn about facilitation activities and practices. For example, they might spend time learning about comfort levels of different personality types then figuring out how to leverage this knowledge.
Facilitation skills training also might occur throughout a whole organization. If a corporate executive, for example, feels that his or her company might function better if employees are taught to actively value the opinions of their colleagues, he or she might order all workers to read books about facilitation in everyday business contexts. He or she also can schedule facilitation skills training delivered by a motivational speaker or management expert.
Whenever a counselor or social work professional helps individuals to peacefully resolve their problems, he or she is practicing facilitation. These professionals take facilitation skills training that enables them to earn professional certifications and degrees. Like business professionals, counselors and social workers also might engage in continuing education consistently to update facilitation skills and practices.
Many high schools and colleges consider facilitation skills training critical to their core education. Courses in appreciating differences and resolving conflicts can help students in a number of different scenarios. For example, this training might help students negotiate with colleagues and supervisors at work. It also can enable them to deal with problems that might occur at home. In short, good facilitation skills training can help individuals to lead healthier lives with lower degrees of stress.