Articles

I remember the day I had to be certified as a virtual facilitator. I was scared.

So scared that I didn’t prepare. No, I didn’t know how to even prepare.

After all, all I had under my belt was just 2 virtual facilitation sessions of focus group discussions. Could I count myself as experienced enough to be certified?

We work, care and make decisions involving other people almost everyday, whether it is at work, with friends, neighbours or our family.

How can we design more inclusive ways of decision making so that our colleagues, friends, volunteers, partners, fellow citizens feel involved, listened to and valued?

Can I be honest?

I’m 26. Yes, maybe I’m your son’s age. Before you quickly click away, wait. I’m not here to sell you the latest app to use for your virtual facilitation. I’m not even sure how to use the latest apps. I’m not here to tell you how you should be using your technology better. I’m here to talk about how maybe, just maybe, in a ‘new’ normal, ‘next’ normal, whatever normal they call it now, there are certain unchangeable principles that still hold. This article is about the principles that still remain, and how certain tweaks can adjust your work to a new environment.

Learning is one of the best things that can happen to you, all throughout life. For children, schools provide some of the education they need. But why are modern schools killing critical thinking? We learn to read, we learn to write, but do we formally learn about how to discern solutions to a complicated problem?

I am Jess, a participant of the SPOT on Facilitation workshop with Facilitators Network Singapore (FNS) on 8-10 December 2021. I’m sharing my experience and learning outcomes gathered during the workshop so that future participants like you who are considering it will be able to have a bird’s eye view of the workshop to make an informed choice. By way of background, I have graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a Double Honours Degree in Law and Economics and have been admitted to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate and Solicitor. I am now an in-company solicitor. I came to know about  SPOT on Facilitation workshop through Mr Prabu Naidu, FNS founder.

What impact have you really made, if you’re talking at the front, to 500 people, beyond making your CV nicer?

Have you ever been in a facilitated discussion where you come out transformed?

Whether you’re working from home or in an office, communication is critical to the success of your organization and its employees. Effective communication plays a key role in building strong, productive teams that work collaboratively toward a common goal.

I remember the first time I stepped into the SPOT on FacilitationTM training by Facilitators Network Singapore (FNS). I thought most would be professional facilitators who worked regularly with focus group discussions, strategic retreats, and board meetings.

I remember the time my previous organisation was planning a work-plan meeting for the next financial year.

As a speaker and trainer, I used to think it was all about me. It was about how well I could craft the story, deliver the content, and make the audience laugh.

If you’ve been working over the past 18 months, you’ve probably been in online meetings. Too many online meetings.