Last Friday, right in the home of the Open Data Lab Jakarta, we got treated to a crash-course on becoming facilitators of the rockstar caliber. We underwent the fun and rigorous training in preparation for the final workshop in our Banda Aceh project, and mostly to harness our communications and presentation skills. The 2-day event was conducted (and facilitated) by the Lab’s project manager, Michael Canares and attended by the resident team members of the Jakarta Lab.
Part of our learnings included knowing the differences between training, facilitating, and “facipulating” (the last a term that means a cross between facilitating and manipulating), the basics of communicating both verbally and non-verbally, discussion methods and much more. We used each other as practice-resources, did mock facilitations and presentations – which included working on our monotones and pitched tones, trying hard not to sway as we stand still and talk, how to not “facipulate”, and other habits we had to break bad from -, and naturally gave feedback both positive and for improvement, and as in the team spirit, in jest.
As added insights and fun for the team, we also did personality assessment tests that helped us realise how compatible our working behaviours and mindsets are, and also what our weaknesses are – so we could highlight and improve on both of course! After all, finding the balance between introverts and extroverts, judgers and perceivers and more personalities could lead to a rock solid, great facilitation style.
With this preparation (and more to come in the future), we anticipate to be effective facilitators and trainers not only for the upcoming final workshop in Banda Aceh, but for all our future projects and engagements—just watch out for us!
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