I received an email this week which has spurred me on to start offering a weekly group facilitation tip as part of my blog. These tips will be useful for anyone who is undertaking any sort of group facilitation, whether it is coaching, training or retreat work. I hope that you enjoy and continue to take away some golden nuggets.
Group Facilitation Tip #1 - Create the Environment
Copyright 2007 - Jennifer Britton
The environment you hold your group programs in can have an incredible impact on the group's experience. Take a moment and think about your most powerful learning experience -- what was the setting of this? Now take a moment and think about one of the most disasterous learning experiences you have had -- how did the environment play into this?
What's the environment you want to create for your program? Take a few mintues and write this down.
The actual location of a program will have a powerful impact on the participant's experience. This blog post and others will explore different aspects of creating the environment for your group program. Today we'll focus on the primary area of room, or location set-up.
If you are holding your program indoors....
* What is the room set up like? How does this match your program's objectives?
* Can tables/chairs/furniture be moved as your program progresses to allow for small group work/large group work/individual work?
* Is there natural lighting? Even having one window available can make a difference.
* What's the room temperature like? How is it controlled?
* Is there sufficient room for the number of participants?
* Is there space to lay out resources, books, information about upcoming programs?
* If you are offering snacks, water or other beverages, where are these located?
If you are holding your program outdoors....
* How can you make use of the entire surroundings? Prehaps you can run exercises in different areas.
* What's your back-up plan in case of a change in weather?
* Where is shade available? Sunlight available? (Having run programs in the tropics for many years I am quite sensitive to finding the shady areas!)
* What will the balance be between indoors and outdoors work.
These are just a few considerations when looking at running your next group program. Take some time to envision what the environment will be like for your participants -- what is the space you want to create?
With best wishes,
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton, CPCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized.com
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Email: jennifer[at]potentialsrealized[dot]com
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960
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