Live facilitators are what your learning programs are missing

Classroom courses and asynchronous online training have their place in corporate learning. But neither of these approaches impacts your employees like facilitated learning can.

Facilitated learning raises the bar thanks to the introduction of a live facilitator who is there to meet learners’ need for human connection, while encouraging interactive group learning that deepens understanding and skills retention. The result is a more effective application of new skills across the business.

But what exactly is the role of a live facilitator? And how does it differ from a traditional instructor or coach?

The unique role of a live facilitator

Live facilitators guide learning to empower individuals. They lead group activities to make sure everyone is included. They also prompt conversations and ask questions connected to individual roles and team scenarios, to cultivate an exchange of ideas and create a shared learning experience.

This interaction creates a different dynamic from an instructor, whose main goal is to transfer knowledge – typically in a classroom-like setting. In that environment, employees receive information in a relatively passive way, which can limit its impact over the long term.

A coach, meanwhile, focuses on the broader personal and professional development of an individual or specific needs of small groups.

Bridging the gap. Growing engagement

During their sessions, live facilitators provide a mixture of guidance, support, and resources to learners. On a practical level, this removes any barriers to learning. But facilitators also rekindle a crucial human connection between cohorts, so your employees are more engaged with their training.

In facilitated sessions, cohorts learn together – hearing each other’s insights and receiving the same information at the same time. This reinforces the learning of the group as a whole, leading to more consistent application of what they’ve learned.

Enhancing the experience. Raising impact.

A live facilitator ensures your employees are active participants in their training. By steering discussions and group activities, the live facilitator keeps the focus on the cohorts’ collective answers and solutions. This leads to a deeper understanding of how each new skill impacts each employee’s role, so they can apply new skills sooner when on the job.

As an empathetic guide, a facilitator also nurtures learners’ innate curiosity. This is fundamental to better learning. Curiosity acts as a springboard to key workplace skills, including critical thinking, agility, and innovation.

Reading the room. Empowering people.

A live facilitator can react in real time to the dynamic of the room. If energy levels dip, they might inject some humor or offer a fresh way of looking at something. They can also demonstrate the relevance of training by inviting people to share their own workplace experiences. In this way, facilitators help employees connect the dots between their roles and what they’re learning.

Because sessions normally involve between 8 to 10 learners, facilitators can also give everyone involved a voice – not just the most senior or confident. This could be by making space for more introverted learners to express themselves. Or it could be by recognizing the different learning preferences or motivations of members of the group and using these to enhance skill building. And if any learners are struggling, the facilitator can offer them follow-up help, so no one is left behind. This is critical to maintaining momentum and getting the most out of training sessions.

Live facilitators are what your learning programs need

Expert facilitators create a high-value, high-touch interactive learning experience that impacts all types of learners.

By encouraging discussions and challenging everyone to take part, facilitators create a unique connection between what your employees learn and how to effectively apply it as a group. As a result, employees feel empowered in their role and confident within their teams to put their newfound skills to work quicker, ultimately driving growth across the whole business.

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