Mastering facilitation: Definition and examples

Companies worldwide face challenges with unproductive meetings, often due to poor facilitation skills, which can lead to a cycle of ineffective gatherings. Effective facilitation is a skill that can be developed and is crucial for productive meetings, especially for roles like product managers who frequently engage in diverse exchanges. Good facilitation involves clear meeting design, preparation, mindfulness, setting boundaries, identifying conflicts, and incorporating feedback. Key practices for productive meetings include setting clear goals, encouraging participation, addressing off-topic discussions, and reflecting on session outcomes. Core skills for facilitation include active listening, asking open-ended questions, and reading the room to maintain engagement. These skills help in steering meetings towards achieving their objectives efficiently, thus enhancing productivity and collaboration within teams.