Creating Effective Facilitation Plans for Capacity Building

CHA/CHIP SupportLaurie Call

1

Participants will be able to…

Apply a tool for development of effective facilitation plans

Describe methods for building partner capacity for effective facilitation

Match facilitation tools and techniques with client needs

Learning Objectives

2

3

Rationale and Challenge

Rationale

• 81% of survey respondents reported serving in a facilitator role with CHA/CHIP work

• Skill and techniques applicable in many areas of our work and essential to good CHA/CHIP.

• The best facilitation comes from strong facilitation plans.• Increasing our facilitation toolbox through observing, hearing

about, learning about different techniques keeps us fresh and expands our capacity.

4

Typical Facilitation Roles in CHA/ CHIP Work

5

Understanding client needs to develop facilitation plans

1. What are the objectives of this meeting?

2. What does the group want the end product to be?

3. At what stage is the group in group development?

4. How much time do we have?5. Others?

6

And…

1. What’s the history of the group and their work?2. Why does the group feel a need for a facilitator?3. How does this meeting fit in the context of

overall goals?4. What can you tell me about leadership,

members, group dynamics etc.?5. What do you hope that happen as a result of

this meeting?6. Verify any assumptions you may have.

6

7

Stages of Group Development

Bruce Tuckman, 1965

7

8

Stages of Group Development

9

The 5 P’s of Preparation

Michael Wilkinson, 2004.The Secrets of Facilitation

9

10

The Facilitator’s Best Tool….Questions

• The ability of the group to respond to a question is significantly affected by the quality of the question the facilitator asks.– The first thing we want to talk about are inputs. What are

the inputs to the scheduling process?or

– If you were about to develop the clinic staffing schedules, what information would you have to have close by?

• When you draw a vivid image, participants can almost literally see the answers and can begin responding right away.

– Start with an image building phrase such as “Think about…”, “Imagine..”, “If…” and “Consider…”

10Michael Wilkinson, 2004.The Secrets of Facilitation

An Effective Facilitator…

• listens and observes• uses visual aids effectively• records ideas legibly• asks probing questions• thinks quickly• acknowledges and responds to

emotions• paraphrases• summarizes• resolves conflict

• uses humor effectively• knows a variety of

techniques for group discussions, including problem-solving and decision-making

• designs or chooses appropriate group discussion techniques

• understands people and groups, and

• energizes the group.

12

Considerations when Developing Facilitation Plans

When Designing Processes

5 Levels of Involvement

Lower Time Commitment

Higher Time Commitment

Consider theLevel of Involvement

Needed

Determine/ Design the Activity

Determine Time Estimate

Adapted from: Community at Work 2007, Sam Kaner, Facilitators Guide to Participatory Decision Making, 2nd Ed. 13

Good Reminder…

Tools for Developing Effective Facilitation Plans

ORID information on the following slides is: Adapted from: ToP® Group Facilitation Methods: Focused Conversation©The Institute of Cultural Affairs, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2000

Designing an Effective Agenda

Community at Work 2007, Sam Kaner, Facilitators Guide to Participatory Decision Making, 2nd Ed. 15

Agenda Design Template

Adapted from: 2008 Ingrid Bens Facilitation at a Glance. 16

17

ORID Focused Discussions

What is ORID?•Series of questions that guide group conversation.•Allows a facilitator to provide an environment for collective thinking to take place within a limited time-frameWhen to use ORID…•Need meaningful dialogue•To broaden a group’s perspectives•To elicit clear ideas and conclusions•To allow the entire group to participate

Adapted from: ToP® Group Facilitation Methods: Focused Conversation©The Institute of Cultural Affairs, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2000

18

Common Uses

• Collect data and ideas• Discuss tough issues• Reflect on important issues or events• Work as a group on presentations or reports• Reflect on accomplishments or failures, giving an

opportunity for learning• Focus multiple interests on a particular topic or issue• Increase understanding of “givens” in a situation• Explore levels of consensus that may already exist within

the group• Avoid heated arguments by providing thoughtful dialogue• Move any discussion to a productive endAdapted from: ToP® Group Facilitation Methods: Focused Conversation

©The Institute of Cultural Affairs, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2000

19

ORID Focused Discussions

20

ORID Discussion – See handout

21

22

ORID Facilitation Preparation Format

MPHI Tool

23Facilitation – Consensus Workshop PlanMPHI Tool

24

Facilitation – Consensus Workshop PlanMPHI Tool

25

Building Client Facilitation Skills/ Capacity

• Ideas?

Laurie Call

Center for Community Capacity DevelopmentIllinois Public Heath InstituteLaurie.call@iphionline.org312.850.4744 or 217.679.2827

Contact Information

26