Starting a Facilitated Session

A facilitated session should begin by outlining the purpose of the discussion, the structure and organization of the session, the role of the facilitator (and support staff), and set the appropriate tone for the engagement.

A round-table approach to introductions is important to set the tone for the facilitation, along with gathering more information about each person in attendance. Virtual tools can be used to leverage participation in this process, such as creating a Word Cloud of individuals’ names. The amount of information required for each participant to provide should be carefully considered.

An engaging way to begin a facilitation is through a group activity, such as an icebreaker. This may include posing questions that have limited connection to a participant’s professional life or topics related to the session. This strategy will help to build greater comfort and increased engagement at the commencement of the session. Examples might include:

• What is your favorite place to travel?
• What is a book, movie, or piece of art that has meaning to you?
• What is something that no one in this room knows about you?