Becoming a Professional Facilitator

BECOMING A
PROFESSIONAL FACILITATOR

Have you thought about facilitating in a more formal role? As a profession? There is definitely a need to well-trained facilitators, especially within ministry and for the broadest needs of consecrated life. There are many different ways to fulfill such a call. Let's explore the varied journeys of professional facilitation.

Definition of a Professional Facilitator

Professional facilitation is the process of guiding a group or team through discussions, decision-making, or problem-solving, ensuring that all voices are heard and that objectives are met. Facilitators employ skills such as active listening, questioning, and conflict resolution to create a collaborative environment that fosters effective communication and teamwork.

Qualities of a Professional Facilitator

A professional facilitator plays a crucial role in guiding groups toward achieving their goals. To be effective, certain key qualities are essential, as exemplified in the following characteristics.

Active Listening
Neutrality
Strong Communication Skills
Adaptability
Empathy
Conflict Resolution Skills
Organizational Skills

Professional facilitators embody these qualities to create an effective and collaborative environment. By honing these skills, facilitators can significantly enhance group interactions, leading to more productive outcomes and a positive experience for all participants.

Quality foundational training

Whether you take this program or go elsewhere, to move into a professional facilitator role takes skill and nurturing. There are important competencies to acquire and it is important to develop your abilities as well as your style. Like any profession, it takes exploration and learning, time, mentoring, and a community of support to grow into a new role.

Certification and professional status

Each phase of this program has been carefully thought out regarding how to create a learning experience using on-demand videos and virtual sessions. Travel is timely and expensive. Because of this, we only have one in-person session for those participating in Phase 3.

Mentoring and internships

This program addresses cultural and contextual areas of facilitation and hosts a diverse group of professional facilitators from around the world to ensure there is diversity of thinking and experience within cultures.

Expanding and Discerning

An important part of the process is to discern the type of facilitator that embraces you - meaning it resonates, comes more naturally, and that you enjoy. Facilitation is one a one-size-fits-all. It is important to see the broader umbrella of facilitation, which captures the myriad of ways one can facilitate.

Team
Facilitation

Chapters

Strategic
Planning

Congregational Assemblies

Committees and Planning Groups

Large Group Processes

Facilitation within Ministry

Process
Facilitation

Small Group
Facilitation