Co-creating Facilitated Session Goals and Objectives
Rather than setting objectives in advance (i.e., using the cascading approach), an alternative method to establish clear and constructive objectives for a facilitated session may involve co-creation. This process involves jointly creating the objectives during the commencement of the session and involving the participants in this process. This can be an effective strategy to create buy-in or support for the purpose of the session.
Applying the Delphi Method to Co-Create Goals and Objectives
One of the most useful techniques for co-creating goals and objectives is based on the Delphi Method. A series of steps are presented below to guide this process:
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- Choose a facilitator
- Establish a panel of experts
- Define the problem or topic area
- Provide key questions to gain clarity on the objectives (a survey or discussion may be used)
- Collate and summarize responses looking for common viewpoints
- Provide multiple rounds of questions to achieve consensus
Tips
An external or co-facilitator can be effective for creating an atmosphere of neutral or unbiased facilitation. The individual may bring a fresh perspective and novel questions to guide an enriching discussion.
Adapted from: Linstone, H., & Turoff, M. (2002). The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications (Digital ed.). New Jersey Institute of Technology.
https://web.njit.edu/~turoff/pubs/delphibook/index.html