When working with groups, how do you ensure satisfaction?
This is a great question that came out of our Coaching 101 classes this week, specifically looking at Facilitation vs. Lecture. Whether you are working with a group of people to educate them as a teacher, or as a coach who is working with clients in a group setting, it’s important to approach it from a coach approach, as a facilitator.
Benefits of facilitation over lecturing
For many years the standard way to learn or to work with groups was through lecture. Think of a traditional classroom, students facing the blackboard towards the instructor. There are many benefits to look at facilitation over lecturing.
1) Participants Gain More Information
Even if you are the most knowledgeable person in that room, maybe you are the teacher, or the coach, know that you are not the only person who has information. By letting other people share their information, to facilitate a discussion and interaction, you allow other people to offer their insight to everyone else in the room, enriching the experience.
2) It Makes the Interaction More Interesting
Whether it is a workshop or a coaching session, there will likely be people who are talkative and some that are more quiet, maybe even silent during the interaction. Even in thinking about that person who was silent, if they had the opportunity to listen to more than one voice sharing and interacting in that conversation, they’re going to take more from that interaction. The entire experience will be more interesting for everyone.
3) It Encourages Participation
It is especially important when talking about group coaching because you want every person in that group to feel comfortable and safe, being able to share their experience. If a facilitator allows everyone their voice in the group rather than taking the time up all themselves to be the lecturer for that conversation, it will encourage every person to understand that their voice is a very important part that makes this group dynamic work.
The Student Is The Teacher
For centuries, the lecture has been the ruler. That’s because a lot of times learning and information was stagnant, but over the last few decades, information is in the hands of everyone. And even beyond that, every single person has their own experience. So it isn’t just about the coach, it’s about the teacher sharing their experience. It’s about every single person understanding that we only learn by looking at each other and by understanding different points of view which is what coaching is all about, understanding perspectives, reframing perspectives.
Training FAQ
Other questions that were asked in Coaching 101 this week:
- What is the difference between a consultant and a coach?
- If I am a teacher, how can I bring coaching into my classroom?
If you want to learn more about Facilitation vs. Lecturing, I really invite you to come to one of our upcoming Coaching 101 classes where we follow this exact principle of facilitation. Although our trainer is someone who is well versed and can lecture on the topic of coaching and the topics of class, you will find that the experience really values your opinion, your insight as the student. So come along, register for an upcoming class.
