Should Community Manager Consider a Facilitation Training?

As a community manager, I always aim to provide the best support and guidance to my community members. But to lead them toward success, I needed to possess a comprehensive set of skills. That’s why a few months ago, I made the decision to enroll in facilitation training. The goal of this program was to equip participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to become certified facilitators. I saw the need for this skill in my community manager’s toolbox, and I felt that getting this certification would benefit not only myself but also the community members that I serve.

As community managers, facilitating brainstorming sessions, workshops, and other group activities is a part of our role. Whether we are working with a community in-person or online, having strong facilitation skills can be a powerful tool for creating a supportive and productive environment for members. And by that, they are more likely to trust the manager and feel confident in their ability to lead the community effectively.

Facilitation is a term that was once applied only to professional facilitators. However, the role and importance of facilitation have evolved in recent years, and it is now seen as a valuable tool for individuals in various roles. No matter you are a community manager, team leader, or simply a member of a group, having strong facilitation skills can improve your ability to collaborate, communicate, and achieve your goals. Isn’t that cool? Especially now, when all those valuable courses and masterclasses are running online and are available for everyone.

What is Facilitation?

Facilitation is the process of assisting a group of people to achieve their goals efficiently and effectively. It involves creating a supportive and inclusive environment where participants can exchange ideas and share their perspectives. A facilitator’s role is to ensure that everyone’s voices are heard and respected. Through the use of various facilitation techniques, the facilitator helps the group to stay on track, maintain a positive atmosphere, and reach their desired outcomes.

Enrolling in a facilitation masterclass is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of the art of facilitation. Through hands-on training, community managers can learn from experienced facilitators and develop their skills in areas such as:

• designing and leading effective brainstorming sessions;
• creating a supportive and productive environment for community members;
• building relationships and fostering collaboration among members;
• generating new ideas and solutions.

As the Community Manager for Codility’s Task Creators Community, I was responsible for finding ways to improve processes and solve issues within the group. To accomplish this, I organized monthly brainstorming sessions with the members of the community.

I started each session by introducing the agenda and setting clear objectives for what we wanted to accomplish. I then facilitated a warm-up activity to get everyone comfortable with each other and ready to participate. But it was always important for me to be aware of more introverted and shy people — the rule here was — don’t force anyone to do anything.
I used various facilitation techniques but dot voting definitely was our favorite.
Through brainstorming, we were able to identify the root causes of the issues and come up with creative solutions. The members of the community were highly engaged and felt valued, which fostered a sense of ownership and buy-in for the ideas generated.
At the end of each session, I made sure to summarize the key takeaways and next steps, so that everyone left with a clear understanding of what had been accomplished and what still needed to be done. I truly loved the fact that community members were really active and always open to taking responsibility to manage the action points we were creating.
By providing structure and guidance, I was able to lead the group toward a more productive and collaborative solution-finding process.
And I will be honest — our brainstorming sessions become one of the most fun rituals in the Task Creators Community.

Having a certificate in facilitation can demonstrate to stakeholders, such as community members or employers, that you have a commitment to professional development and a deep understanding of facilitation skills. This can help to build trust, establish credibility, and enhance your reputation as a skilled and effective facilitator.

And I think — having a facilitation certificate can open up new opportunities for professional development and growth, as well as provide a competitive advantage in the job market.