Effective Co-Facilitation Communication

Co-Facilitation
Amungwa A. Nche
HIV/AIDS Unit Retreat
25 Feb-3 March 2013
Entebbe
5/15/2013 1AMUSLIDES/SHADE/250213/ENTEBBE

Co-facilitation Introduced
• Very important segment of effective communication
that enables training/learning.
• When mastered and well used, it creates an
atmosphere that fosters quality training/learning
blessed with richer classroom relationships and
outcomes.
• This presentation will focus on how quality training
and learning should happen for satisfactory
achievement of outcomes.

Learning Objectives
By the end of 40 minutes, retreat participants
will be able to:
• Define co-facilitation, emphasizing its
advantages and disadvantages
• Explain the tips of co-facilitation, bringing out
its dos and don'ts
• Explain the communication strategies of
effective co-facilitation.
.

Session Plan
• INTRODUCTION
• DEFINITION OF CO-FACILITATION
• FORMS OF CO-FACILITATION.
• BENEFITS OF CO-FACILITATION
• BENEIFTS AND INCONVENIENCES OF CO-FACILITATION
• CO-FACILITATION TIPS
• DOS AND DON’T’S OF FACILITATION
• CO-FACILITATION PROCESS
• EFFECTIVE CO-FACILITATION COMMUNICATION
• QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
• RECAPITULATION
• CONCLUSION

Question?
What is co-facilitation?

Co-facilitation defined
Meeting or other group process by two or more
persons in a cooperative, collegial manner to
achieve a given outcome(s). Each
facilitator is capable of assuming the lead
Role. Those not taking the lead role can
support the lead facilitator in various ways.

Question
Can you identify some
forms of co-facilitation?

Forms of co-facilitation
Take turns
Two or more facilitators take turns in the lead role(
e.g., a typical UNMISS training workshop day which is
run by a triad of facilitators)
Assist, taking other roles
Lead facilitator focuses on the main activity. co-
facilitators assist as minute
taker, scribe, timekeeper, vibes watcher, gatekeeper
Teamwork
In TOPE for example a team of three co-facilitators
works together to ensure that the training goes well.
Training
Experienced facilitator works with an apprentice (newly
recruited trainer) to initiate that person into the art of
co-facilitation The role and to enable confidence and
experience gaining.5/15/2013 8AMUSLIDES/SHADE/250213/ENTEBBE

Question
Can you name some
benefits and
inconveniences of co-
facilitation?

Benefits &Inconveniences
Benefits
 Shared workload
Joint planning , M & E &
feedback.
Diversity of experiences/
attributes.
Better stress management.
Letting go
Skill and confidence building.
Backup
Joy
Better outcomes
Inconveniences
Time-consuming.
Co-facilitators can be ‘played
off against each other’.
One co-facilitator may get on
better with the group.
Insecurity feelings
Possible domination by one
facilitator.
Rivalry between co-
facilitators.
May be stressful
Disharmonious skills from
different schools of thought

Question
What would you give as
some tips of a
successful facilitation?

Tips for Successful Co-Facilitation
One Leader(Principal event person or trainer)
To simplify communications, designate one person as the
contact person and leader of the co-facilitation team.
Clarify Roles/Tasks
Co-facilitators should meet well before the meeting to plan
how they will work together. Who will facilitate first? What
tasks will the others perform when not facilitating? How often
will we exchange roles? What unobtrusive signals will we use
to communicate our needs to each other during the activity?
Post Meeting or Activity Evaluation
Get together after the meeting or activity to discuss what went
well and what could be improved in the future.
Spirit of service
Be humble. Pay attention. Serve the group well.5/15/2013 12AMUSLIDES/SHADE/250213/ENTEBBE

Question
What are the dos and
don'ts of co-
facilitation?

Dos of Co-Facilitation
Develop own skills
Get support/supervision.
Gather and create relevant
resource materials.
Cover topics of your choice.
Be very familiar with the
characteristics of the target
group
Understand yourself and
practice self control/Listen to
your own body.
Master your task
Be part of the group
processes.
Emotional alertness
Emotional intelligence.
Give attention to speakers.
Use and respond to body
language with integrity and
concern.
Accept responsibility for your
reactions and responses.
Accept your errors and
mistakes.
Be empathic.5/15/2013 14AMUSLIDES/SHADE/250213/ENTEBBE

Don’ts of Co-facilitation
Over-analyze.
Monopolize.
Consume too much
time.
Favor one group .
Allow verbal or physical
violence within the group.
Talk about a person in
the group.
Pretend to be neutral.
Intimidate with
language/jargon .
Bluff – be honest if you
don’t know what to
do, say so and ask for
advice from the group.
Openly blame someone
in the group

The Co-facilitation Procedure
Choose a good co-facilitator
 Plan together(roles and
tasks).
Decide communication
strategies.
Decide on how and when
interrupt one another.
Be flexible (make
nonthreatening, non-
challenging contributions ).
Mutual support(offer
appropriate feedback).
Agree never to side with the
group against your co-
facilitator.
After the session, evaluate
both performances jointly.
Give positive and critical
feedback on how the two
facilitators might improve their
work together.
Plan the next session on the
basis of the previous one.

How would you communicate with
your co-facilitator in the room
during a training activity?

Effective Co-facilitation Communication
The main co-facilitation
communication strategy is face-to-
face distant communication using
signs and symbols agreed upon in
advance by the co-facilitators.

Effective Co-facilitation Communication Tips
 Point one eye with index finger to request the facilitator to watch
you.
 Point index finger directly at presenter to mean ‘it’s OK’.
 Point index finger to presenter, rotating rapidly clockwise to mean
‘speed up’
 Form circle with index finger and thump with other fingers
extended to mean ‘things are OK.
 Hold up two, three, four or five fingers to indicate the 2, 3,4 or 5
minutes are left.
 Draw index finger across the throat as though cutting it to mean
'you are off topic.
 Move hand away from face with palm out to say 'move nearer
microphone or audience’
 Move hands up, palms up to say’ speak louder’ and vice versa to
say ‘speak softly or slowly.
 Touch own nose to mean ‘yes’

Questions
• What is co-facilitation?
• Identify at least two forms of co-facilitation
• Lit at least two forms of co-facilitation?
• Name at least two benefits of Co-facilitation?
• List at least two tips of Co-facilitation?
• Name two each of the dos and don’ts of Co-
facilitation?
• Identify the main strategy of Co-facilitation?

Co-facilitation-Recap
Absolutely necessary for quality training.
Facilitators to agree well in advance on the
principles, methodologies and communication
strategies to enhance success.
Humanistic approach important during interpersonal
relations and reactions in order to pat each others ego.
Integrity, respect and professionalism, core values of the
UN, adaptable to any activity or relationship, to be highly
respected by co-facilitators during event in target
in order for it to be fully and successfully achieved.

Question
What co-facilitation would you
like to take home?

Co-facilitation-Conclusion
Very good strategy to ensure that training goes
Well. Relationship between co-facilitators to be
professionally acceptable for the event’s
outcomes to be satisfactory to the
beneficiaries, co-facilitators themselves and
all stakeholders involved. Failure this wise could
compromise the achievement of set objectives.

References
Amungwa A. Nche(2004),Information, Education and
communication for Behaviour Change in Developing
Countries, Sigma Press, Bamenda,Cameroon
Beatrice Briggs, The Joys and Perils of Co-Facilitation, Available
online, accessed 16/02/2013. www.iifac.org/bonfire
Patricia Prendiville (2004),Developing Facilitation Skills - A
Handbook for Group Facilitators, Combat Poverty Agency 1995,

5/15/2013 25
Thanks So Much for Your Participation
t
AMUSLIDES/SHADE/250213/ENTEBBE

Effective Co-Facilitation Communication

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