Preparation- This calls for a closer look at our set of
values (for professional facilitators): What are our motivations for handling a certain group? Are we genuinely interested in facilitating growth in others or simply attaining a certain status and the benefits that go with it? If asked to conduct training for the workers of a company, where does our loyalty lie? With the company interested in the increase of the workers’ productivity or with the workers themselves – to help them become aware of their needs as well as of the needs of others or both? Preparation (for neophyte facilitators): A paramount condition is the responsibility to be aware not only of one’s strengths, but also of one’s limitations: There is a need to submit oneself to numerous experiences of process analysis and administrative aspects of a program. One must also move into various experiences of co-facilitating before taking on lead roles. Use of techniques – The design of the learning modules and of the whole program must respond directly to the perceived and expressed needs of the group. It would be totally unethical and irresponsible to put a group through a program simply because the facilitator is expertly familiar with it or have elegantly packaged it, without considering the learning objectives expressed by the group. Conducting SLE’s Participants are encouraged to express their feelings, thoughts, values and needs. As facilitators, we are morally obliged to receive these expressions in confidence. We may not, under any circumstances impose our own set of beliefs on the participants. We may not edit, negate, ignore, or manipulate data evoked from the participants in the course of an SLE. The experiential learning cycle must not be abridged, for this would shortchange the group of a complete learning experience. Assessment of competency Awareness of the degree of our effectivity as trainers is essential (e.g., use of a feedback mechanism) We keep abreast of developments in our field by reading and studying.
The professional fee
While the professional fee for the program should be determined by the professionalism of the team that designs and runs the program, a 2nd determining factor should be the ability of the client group to pay the fee. Ongoing personal growth It is imperative that group facilitators pursue personal growth since one of the most important training components is “humanness” or pagkatao. Our personhood is on the frontline, transparently and constantly making presentations to one group after another. Hence, it is important that we seize every opportunity to become healthier, better-grounded, and more nourishing personalities.