What Characteristics Should You Look for in Team Building Facilitators

Team building activities can be both a fun and rewarding experience at the same time. It can resolve conflicts within the organization, create better relationships among participants, and even open to sharing ideas. 

That is if your team building event is headed by a good facilitator. But how do you know? 

Well, you need to look for the greatest qualities in an event facilitator. 

In this post, we will discuss the characteristics that you should look for in a good team building facilitator. You will also know what makes a right person for the job stand out. 

Makes an effort to know the people involved

An excellent facilitator does not just walk in a room without having any inkling who he will be talking to or interacting with. Even having a slight idea about the people that are involved will be helpful. 

Have these people known each other for a long period? Are they workmates? By making the necessary effort to know the people who are in the room, the facilitator can craft an excellent plan for a positive team building outcome. 

Knows how to create a friendly environment

It is the facilitator’s primary responsibility to ensure that everyone gets acquainted with one another, and is comfortable when around each other. 

When participants are not in an environment that is awkward, judged, threatened, or different, they are able to function more productively. That’s why, in every team building event, it is crucial that everyone is comfortable with their colleagues or their team members. 

As a result, it is easier for them to move and freely express themselves.

Promotes inclusivity

A participant does not have to feel different or left out just because they have a different nationality or is the quiet one in the group. A great facilitator ensures that everyone is participating and joining in the fun. 

The facilitator must know how to arrange everyone into groups, in such a way that everyone is within eye-level of each other and in a full circle. No one’s facing their back on anyone. 

By doing it this way, it shows every member has equal footing with everyone else. There are no seniors, no admins, and no outcasts. Just part of one group that works for a common goal. 

Effective facilitators know highly efficient ways to involve everyone. They either ask an input of an observer to give insights on a specific activity or create activities that are enjoyable and relevant.

Gives a clear set of instructions

An effective facilitator sets a clear set of guidelines and instructions that everyone is meant to follow. For instance, the time wherein everyone is meant to take a short break should be clear to everyone. To be able to focus more on activities, smartphones should be kept away. That is to ensure that there is a smooth transition of events. 

Clear instructions also make it easy for groups to accomplish a task. It makes it easier for the facilitator to fulfill the outcome that they are looking for. It is essential that a particular activity is broken down into steps, and then clearly explains what the end goal will look like. 

Has a sense of humor

Humor makes a challenging event, like a team building activity, a lot easier to embrace. Having a big laugh can easily break a tense moment in the group, even giving everyone a burst of energy when they need it. 

The most effective facilitator knows how to appreciate life’s ironies, can laugh at himself with ease, and share humor with everyone, which enhances the overall experience. 

Knows how to keep the group’s energy high

At one point, everyone in the event may feel tired, hungry, or even sleepy. It is the facilitator’s job to ensure that everyone stays awake and enthusiastic. One must be energetic enough to influence everyone’s energy. Sometimes, a little mood booster is already enough. 

These people must know how to feel what the crowd is feeling, and can easily shift the negative energy into a positive one. 

An excellent speaker and listener

An effective facilitator must be sincere and a highly capable public speaker. He should be able to speak and think on his feet, and at the same time, know how to engage people. Whether the content is scripted or impromptu. 

One must also know how to sense feelings of people even through acute conversations, from their choice of words, as well as their tone. An excellent facilitator practices “active listening.” 

Allows meaningful conversation 

Creating quality and productive interactions with one another is the key to a successful team building activity.

At times, members of the group may need to address a couple of issues that cause certain conflicts from arising. An effective facilitator acknowledges that conflict and necessary, but fighting over an issue is not. 

This person accepts that there will be a diversity of perspectives, but has the focus to draw out and then explore disagreements. 

Over to You

To fully become a highly effective communicator in team building events, it takes time, practice, and a lot of experience. Luckily, there are a lot of talented and excellent facilitators out there, which will make your company’s team building event a success. 

So, if you are planning out an event, it is crucial to research, ask questions, and ask for a reference to find the perfect facilitator. Doing so makes a significant difference in the overall quality and impact of your upcoming team building activity.