Team building events are some of the most memorable and impactful experiences teams can have, and that’s something I’ve personally witnessed time and time again—teams laughing, learning, bonding, and creating lifelong memories.
As an event facilitator at TeamBonding, I’ve become incredibly passionate about my job. I’ve been an event facilitator for over 20 years, working my way up to Director of Facilitator Training after several years of facilitating.
And I am but one of many professional facilitators at TeamBonding who truly embody the facilitator definition. We have a full team of talented and hardworking facilitators that put on incredible events every day, positively impacting the lives of participants.
Today, I’d like to provide some insight into what facilitators are and what we do.
Event Facilitator Definition
When I share my job title, most people ask me, “what is a facilitator?” Generally speaking, a facilitator is someone who runs an event. They ensure activities run smoothly and everyone has a good time. When it comes to team building events specifically though, the facilitator meaning is slightly different. While I am focused on ensuring the events run smoothly and on-time, I’m more focused on the experience of the participants.
I describe facilitating events as making adults play nicely in the sandbox. My job is to engage participants in a shared learning experience that helps them see their coworkers in a different light. So I need to make sure they’re engaging in the event and working together.
Through my time facilitating events, I’ve only become more passionate about it. I’ve seen the impact these events have on people, and it brings a smile to my face to see teams engaging in these activities.
Some of my favorite events to facilitate are charity events. With programs like Play it Forward and Just Roll With It, I get to be a part of something bigger alongside teams while we give back to those in need. That said, I also love game shows. Though Survey Says may not leave the same impact on the community as charity events, seeing 200 people laughing and having fun definitely feeds a part of my soul.
All in all, event facilitation is really about bringing everything you can to an event to provide an engaging and memorable experience for the participants. It’s not about me; it’s about the participants, their experience, and what they want to get out of the event.
The TeamBonding Facilitation Process
A group of facilitators a Quickfire Olympics event.
Though the facilitation process may seem simple to some, there’s a lot that goes into it before the participants even show up at the event. Before starting, I’d like to mention that the facilitation process is pretty similar regardless of the event. Whether it’s charity team building, game shows, or group events, the basic steps are almost always the same.
Preparation
The first step in facilitating an event is preparation. This step takes up a large chunk of the whole process. Though the event is the fun part, most of my time is spent getting everything ready so the event goes off without a hitch. I and other facilitators consider countless things and make preparations beforehand, thinking about things that never cross the minds of the participants.
First, I get confirmation from the client about the event they want to do. From there, I learn as much as possible about the client, the participants, their goals, and what they want to get out of the event.
After that, I start prepping for the event. That means making adjustments to the program to best suit the clients needs, lining up logistics like transit or refreshments, gathering materials/tools/resources for the event, and more.
Once I have everything prepared, then my focus shifts towards the day of the event. I keep in close contact with the participants and other relevant parties (like the charities) to check for any last-minute changes, that way I can make accommodations to ensure things run smoothly.
This is the point where you need to be adaptable. You can make all the preparations in the world, but life is unpredictable. Things happen, schedules can change, and you need to be able to make those adjustments on the fly.
Eventually though, you’ll reach the day of the event, and that’s where the fun begins. If you’ve done your preparation well, the day of should be a lot less stressful and give you the ability to focus on the moment.
Initial Hesitation
There is always some initial hesitation from participants, and that’s when you really have to embody the facilitator definition. You have no more than three minutes to take command of the room and get everyone in the room to believe in you, the event, and the experience.
You need the participants to understand that you’re not there to teach them; you’re there to provide an experience. You need to build energy and rapport, loosen up the participants, help them get ready, and take charge.
In my opinion, this is one of the most difficult parts of being a facilitator. You only have a small window to make all that happen, and it’s not easy to take charge of a room while energizing and engaging the audience. Being able to read the room is key. A good facilitator can tell when people are feeling shy or detached, and they know the best ways to break the ice—whether that’s through a quick game, jokes, encouraging conversation, or some other method.
Once you’ve made it past the initial hesitation and start the event, things tend to fall into place in my experience. If you’ve done the proper preparations and made it through the hesitation, having a fun and impactful team building experience will be inevitable.
Lasting Impacts
Once the event ends, my job as a facilitator is still ongoing. Facilitators need to ensure that their events were successful and are having lasting impacts, which is why we closely analyze our events post-completion.
The first way I gauge the event’s success is through on-site feedback. Were participants engaged? Were they smiling, laughing, and having a good time? Did they learn new skills, build bonds, and have an impactful experience? A good facilitator can read the room and see the energy and passion during the event. Using that feedback during the event is key to keeping the energy up, and it also provides insight into how successful the event was.
There are other forms of feedback though. Participants often like to thank me and my fellow facilitators/assistants in person after the event, which is always a good sign. Sometimes energy can be hard to read, and those direct thanks can clarify things. Repeat customers are of course a good sign too; if someone comes back for another event, they probably had a good time at the first one. Having customers come back again and again is the best feedback a facilitator can get.
You can also do surveys or feedback forms after the event as well. Though I don’t always use these, they can be a great way to find areas to improve and make your future events even better.
Top Event Facilitation Skills
To wrap things up, I’d like to talk about what it takes to handle the role of a facilitator and embody the facilitator definition. I hire and train new facilitators for TeamBonding, and there are certain qualities that I look for. Here are some of the key facilitation skills I look for in potential candidates:
Work Under Pressure and Be Flexible: Facilitators need to be comfortable working in time sensitive situations where they have to make changes on the fly.
Problem Solving Skills: Being able to quickly solve problems, whether with the event or with participants, is key.
Professional Presentation: Appearances play a big role in how others perceive you, so facilitators need to present themselves professionally.
Public Speaking: Facilitators need the public speaking skills to communicate effectively, control a crowd, and elevate employee connections.
Ability to Lead: The ability to lead and guide participants through an event is essential.
Time Management: Participants only have so much time, and facilitators have to manage time effectively throughout the event.
Organization: During the planning stage in particular, expert organization skills are a necessity.
Reliability and Dependability: Before, during, and after the event, facilitators need to be incredibly reliable and dependable—to organize the event and to ensure things run smoothly.
Enthusiasm, Energy, and Presence: A certain amount of charisma is necessary for a facilitator to really capture the audience’s attention and provide an engaging experience.
Energize Your Events with TeamBonding Facilitators!
In my years at TeamBonding—as a facilitator and as Director of Facilitator Training—I’ve seen just how difficult event facilitation can be. From the earliest planning stages to judging the impact of an event, being a facilitator is a complex and time-consuming process.
But that’s why facilitators like me are here; we help take the load off of the companies hosting teaming building events, so they can focus on enjoying the event and making the most of it.
Energize your events with TeamBonding facilitators. I can confidently say that our facilitators are the best of the best, and we can help you put on an event your employees will never forget. So take a look at our events and get in touch with us today to start planning your next event!
Think you have what it takes to become a TeamBonding facilitator? Apply today!
