ABCD-Training-of-Trainers-Tools-July-2013

Appreciative questions can include:
• What are you most proud of?
• What has the community achieved together?
• What are the strengths of the community?
• What have been some of the success stories in relation to community safety?
• Who are some of the local heroes? What makes them special?
The ‘life giving forces’ are unlocked through the simple act of appreciative inquiry and can become
important forces to energize and sustain a development process.
Scribing/Documentation
Have enough material ready to visually document the discussions and main outcomes of the
training(e.g. marker pens, flipchart, cards, pens and notepads). Scribing is a skill in itself and can be an
effective way of:
• recording workshop/ event proceedings
• capturing important points raised as a reminder to the group
• reinforcing learning visually
• documenting decisions
• providing references for recap and grounding sessions
The scribe may be the facilitator. This is usually easier if the facilitator can multi-task and listen and
facilitate at the same time. It can also be another person.
Only key words should be written up in a way that is clearly legible to the group rather than long
sentences. Colour cards can be useful to summarize key points and track processes through visual
organization and colour coding.
Self-Preparation
Self-preparation is very important so that those guiding the process are able to critically reflect on
themselves and their attitudes. A humble attitude and willingness to learn can be beneficial in process
facilitation as the facilitator is likely to establish a natural rapport and alignment with a group.
Confidence is an important attribute in facilitation in terms of a capacity to be expressive, assertive and
contain a process without being shy to guide the group. However, this does not mean that the facilitator
needs to be overbearing or arrogant. Facilitators should rather feel free to bring their full self into the
group and to be upfront about their own strengths and experiences. If there is an aspect of the process
that is beyond the facilitator’s field of expertise, then the facilitator should be honest about this
limitation and rather source a guest speaker to give specialist input.
It is this kind of authenticity that actually builds good relationships between a facilitator and a group,
without undermining the facilitator’s authority as the designer of a process.
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