Etiquette
Setting Ground Rules
To agree on the ground rules of the training, you can start with setting a few ground rules yourself and ask participants to add to the list.
At the start of a training, mutually determining the ground rules with the participants, can help to build up a safe learning environment. At the same time, it can help you as a facilitator, to refer to these rules if discussions seem to go off subject or out of control.
You can ask:
- What should we, the participants and the trainer, do to make sure that this training will succeed?
- How can we make sure this is a safe & respectful learning environment?
You can have them put their answers on post-its and place them on a flipchart. Go through each rule to make sure they are clear and then agreed to by all the participants. Keep the flipchart with the ground rules visible throughout the training to be able to refer to it when needed.
If you are hosting an online session, here are some rules that RNTC sets out in order to ensure a good training experience for all:
Camera on, mic off
Ensuring camera is on, to ensure engagement and focus is suggested. If connection speeds are bad this can hinder video usage and it is possible to negotiate this with participants. Microphones should be set to mute when not talking.
Raising hands
In the chat function, if participants would like to contribute, they can use the raise hand function.
Meeting chat
Avoiding clutter and frivolities helps ensure the chat function is seen as a training space and not a social space.
Establish device protocol
Inform participants of which devices are needed for the session and which technology will be required ahead of the session. This allows participants to ensure they have the correct devices to ensure seamless learning.
Chatham house rule
Under the Chatham house rule, anyone who comes to a meeting is free to use information from the discussion but is not allowed to reveal who made any comment. It is designed to increase openness of discussion.
Breaks and lunch
Establish the break schedule and when lunches and other meals will be observed. Surface if there are any special considerations.
Photos and screengrabs
Establish if screenshots are appropriate and don’t pose a risk to individuals in the group before taking photographs or screen grabs.
Session recording
Sessions should be recorded for participants who may drop out of the call during the training. The recorded sessions are placed in the drive for a period of 24 – 48 hours to allow participants to catch up missed sessions. The intention of these is not to have a library of sessions but rather to provide revision or catch up material. Recording a session needs to have the consensus of the group.
Encouraging Active Participation
As a facilitator, you want to encourage active participation from all the participants and encourage everyone to share experiences and ideas. Here are some tips on how to facilitate this:
Managing group dynamics and energy
- Groups form, storm, norm and perform.
- Conflict and confusion are always part of a facilitated process
- It needs to be managed by a mix of surfacing, responding, agreeing what cannot be resolved, and offering ways forward.
Constructively challenging
Use questions to respectfully encourage groups to push themselves and stretch their thinking, for example:
- ‘Have you thought of […]?’
- ‘What about […]?’
- ‘How would this look from a different perspective?’
Questioning and active listening
- Promote self-awareness and awareness of others
- Is everyone listening, contributing, understanding, having an equal say?
- Are people connected with the process (group, task)?
- Encourage the group to co-facilitate their own dynamics
Valuing what people are bringing and what is emerging
- Create a context of care, support and trust by appreciating people’s input
- Check in individually and with groups or sub-groups about how they feel about the process and if they are getting out of it what they want and need.
- Avoid putting people on the spot in public.
Threading/summarising/signposting /recapping
- Keeping people focused, reminding them of where they are and where you are headed is a continuous task.
- Link ideas and insights to previous sessions – ‘threading’ relevant ideas together
- Signpost what sessions are coming up and the relevance to the current discussion
- Summarising what people have said is crucial for checking everyone’s understanding: ‘Am I right that […]?’ “As I have heard you […]?’
- Allowing time to reflect on conversations and to share reflections – the group’s and the facilitator’s – is helpful to gain deeper insights
- Allowing time for reflection and processing is vital in skills training.