Co-facilitation is a powerful approach that promotes collaboration, engagement, and positive outcomes in group activities.
When multiple facilitators work together, they bring diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences to create a dynamic and productive environment.
Whether you’re co-facilitating a meeting, workshop, or training session, here are some best practices to ensure a successful co-facilitation experience:
1. Establish Clear Roles and Responsibilities: Begin by discussing and defining each co-facilitator’s roles and responsibilities.
Identify who will lead specific sections, manage timekeeping, facilitate discussions, handle logistics, or provide support.
Clear role allocation helps prevent confusion and ensures a smooth facilitation process.
2. Communicate and Collaborate: Open and continuous communication is crucial for effective co-facilitation.
Regularly communicate with your co-facilitator(s) before, during, and after the session to discuss goals, agendas, activities, and necessary adjustments.
Encourage open dialogue, active listening, and respect for each other’s ideas and contributions. We frequently hear this from clients looking for training materials.
3. Leverage Each Other’s Strengths: Co-facilitation allows you to tap into each facilitator’s unique strengths and expertise.
Identify each facilitator’s specific skills, knowledge, and experiences and allocate responsibilities accordingly.
By capitalizing on each other’s strengths, you can create a well-rounded facilitation experience.
4. Maintain a Unified Front: While leveraging individual strengths is important, presenting a unified front to participants is equally important.
Co-facilitators should align their approaches, methodologies, and messaging to avoid confusion or contradictions. This cohesion establishes trust, credibility, and consistency for participants.
5. Share the Spotlight: Co-facilitation is a collaboration, not a competition.
Encourage equal participation and ensure both facilitators have ample opportunities to contribute and engage with participants.
Share speaking time, alternate leading activities, and actively involve each other in discussions. This fosters inclusivity and diverse perspectives.
6. Seamless Transitions: Smooth transitions between co-facilitators help maintain the flow and momentum of the session.
Plan and rehearse handovers, introductions, and transitions between different activities or segments.
Ensure that participants are aware of the co-facilitation structure and understand the roles of each facilitator.
7. Flexibility and Adaptability: Co-facilitation requires adaptability to respond to unexpected situations or changes in participants’ needs.
Be prepared to adjust plans on the fly, support each other in handling challenges, and maintain a positive, solution-oriented mindset.
The ability to improvise and adapt creates a supportive and responsive environment.
8. Reflect and Provide Feedback: After the co-facilitation experience, reflect on what worked well and areas for improvement.
Provide constructive feedback to each other, focusing on strengths and areas where you can grow together as facilitators.
Continuous learning and improvement are essential for enhancing co-facilitation skills.
Successful co-facilitation is built on effective communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to creating an engaging and inclusive environment.
Implementing these best practices can help you establish a powerful co-facilitation partnership that maximizes the impact of your sessions.
With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.
