When I facilitate any workshop, one of the first order of business, after rapport has been enhanced with the participants, is discovering expectations. I have found investing time in discovering participants’ expectations is to ‘begin with the end in mind’. As a facilitator, I am responsible to strengthen the skills, attitude and knowledge of those who have entrusted their time with me. Bringing out the expectations for either a one, two or three day workshop produces value and benefit for the participants. I begin from the initial hour of the workshop to model the rest of the invested time towards fulfilling these expectations.
During the last workshop that I facilitated, the first participant who walked into the room, came up to me and asked why is it a two day workshop rather than just one day. I asked her what is it that she wanted the outcome of these two day be for her. She went through a list of areas for improvement she would like to see set in motion towards skill development.
At the end of the workshop, she approached me and thanked me for not defending with the merits of the two-day workshop but opening her mind towards what would be her return on investment for the two days by stating her expectations. She mentioned that this brought focus to what she can do and how she can benefit during the workshop.
People Development is an art of bring out the best in people. To do so, my three decades in coaching, consulting and facilitating has taught me some simple reminders.
- Set Expectations
- Open the mind to positives
- Concentrate on people orientation rather than process driven
- Recognize and appreciate every improvement that participants make
- Enjoy and have a good time
