What is facilitation
Facilitation is the ability to design multi-stakeholder processes and guide teams enabling them to achieve their objectives in a participatory way. Facilitators use a set of methodologies widely experienced and consolidated in the practice of contexts characterized by heterogeneous groups, with different skills and interests.
In practice
Facilitation is an activity carried out by a professional with adequate skills and competences in the management of dialogue and deliberation processes in multipart contexts, aimed at:
- increase the involvement of stakeholders in the design of interventions and initiatives;
- stimulate the analysis of a complex problems in a shared and participatory way;
- prevent and transform conflicts within a group, an organization or a specific social and territorial context.
Facilitation is a practice internationally recognized by the IAF (International Association of Facilitators), which certifies and accredits facilitators worldwide. In Italy its use is growing rapidly both in the public and private sector, in particular for processes related to environmental issues.
“The most powerful tool in economics is not money, not even algebra, it is a pencil. Because with a pencil you can redraw the world.”
Kate Raworth
So what does a facilitator exactly do?
The architect
Design the participation process, customizing it according to the needs of the client, preparing each step, also from a logistical point of view, and taking care of the return of what is gradually produced during the work done together, in order to provide organizations with effective and useful participatory tools.
The pilot
Manage and moderate meetings and information flows, helping groups to work together while maintaining a third and neutral role. The focus is not on explaining what to do, but more on suggesting how. Facilitators propose some possible paths to follow, offer tools to stimulate the collective intelligence, are careful to make clear all the steps, verify the achievement of the objectives and measure the impact of the work.
The guide
During the work sessions, facilitators enable the group to explore new perspectives and find collective solutions, focusing on inclusion and establishing a collaborative climate that allows good ideas to emerge. They know how to recognize and value diversity to stimulate creativity and manage any conflicts to lead the group towards the desired results.
Interested in working with me? Fill the form and I will contact you back soon
My skills
As a Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF – Certified Professional Facilitators) I am able to fully meet an internationally recognized skill set and I am committed to observe the IAF’s Declaration of Values and Code of Ethics (International Association of Facilitators).
Among the skills of facilitators certified by the IAF we find:
Create collaborative client relationships
To achieve good results as a CFP I know how to develop consensus on tasks, deliverables, roles & responsibilities, design and customize processes to meet client needs and manage multi-session events effectively.
Plan appropriate group processes
I am able to promote open participation, respecting the culture of the client and the diversity of the participants, also involving all those who have different approaches and different ways of processing information. I also organize space and logistics appropriately to promote the purpose of the meeting, plan the effective use of time and foster an appropriate atmosphere to achieve the goal of all sessions or meetings.
Create and sustain a participatory environment
Thanks to my experience I am able to use several methods, practice active listening, recognize and value diversity, ensuring inclusion. These features allow me to effectively manage conflicts and stimulate group creativity.
Guide group to appropriate and useful outcomes
I have consolidated the ability to lead the group with clear methods, to facilitate the group’s awareness of its tasks and to guide participants towards desired and consensual results until evaluating and communicating the progress achieved by the group.
Build and maintain professional knowledge
The specific training obtained as IAF Certified Professional Facilitator has allowed me to acquire and consolidate the theoretical and practical knowledge of group facilitation processes. Thanks to my experience I know a variety of models and processes useful to help groups generate ideas, solve problems, prioritize and make decisions. In order to maintain my professional knowledge I continue to keep updating myself about techniques for teamwork, and studies related to the field of facilitation.
Model positive professional attitude as a process facilitator
As a certified IAF professional I am constantly committed to practicing self-assessment and self-awareness as well as acting with integrity, according to the IAF Declaration of Values and the IAF Code of Ethics, trying in every project to have confidence in the potential of the group, showing neutrality towards results and maintaining an objective position, not defensive and not judgmental.
