Let's talk about Facilitating Creative Sessions!

Developing creative facilitation skills is crucial for trainers as it increases participant engagement, develops a positive learning atmosphere, and accommodates different learning styles. Creative facilitation techniques break down complex concepts, encourage innovation and problem-solving, and enhance trainer-participant connection.

Trainers may create memorable learning experiences, encourage critical thinking, and prepare participants for real-world challenges by combining dynamic and interactive methods. These abilities lead to improved learning outcomes, increased knowledge retention, and the capacity to effectively apply learned concepts.

Therefore creative facilitation skills are essential for trainers to engage participants, foster a positive learning environment, and enhance learning outcomes. Here are 5 tips on Facilitating Creative Sessions from SDN Acc. Master Julia Alberga.

5 Tips on Facilitating Creative Sessions!

Tip #1 - Make sure that all the participants will 'land' when arriving at the session.

So incorporate a decent check-in exercise in the beginning, even if it is just a short session.

Tip #2 - Host a (virtual) kick-off session

With longer sessions of a day or more days; host a (virtual) kick-off session, where the participants can ask questions and you give a brief summary of the program.

Tip #3 - Never just 'sit down'

when participants are working on an exercise. Always walk around and be available for your participants. You need to know what people are doing and where they are struggling with. Your facilitation job never just stops by explaining the theory and assignments!

Tip #4 - Make sure that everything that you deliver as a group is visually available in the space where the session is hosted.

So make a Miro/Mural board or have a good and inspiring room where you can hang all the ideas and choices that you made. In this way you are making a 'timeline' of all the work that has been done and the group can reflect on this work and has a good overview of the choices they have been making.

Tip #5 - Use a lot of examples when explaining the theory and assignments.

When you refer to situations where you, as a service designer yourself, performed a certain task, people will much easier understand what needs to be done and you will be more creditable as a facilitator, as you can draw from actual experiences rather than theoretical situations.

And most importantly, have fun!

Interested in learning more about Facilitating creative sessions? Join us on October 16-17, 2023 in the beautiful city of Amsterdam with SDN Acc. Master Julia Alberga for our very first in-person course this year. Learn more about the course on the course page: