15 Facilitation Interview Questions and Answers

Facilitation is the process of helping a group of people to work together more effectively. A facilitator is someone who helps a group to achieve its objectives by providing structure and support, but who does not take on a leadership role.

If you’re applying for a job that involves facilitation, you can expect to be asked interview questions about your experience in facilitating groups, as well as your approach to facilitation. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of sample facilitation interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your next job interview.

1. What do you understand by the term facilitation?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of facilitation and how you apply it in your work. You can answer this question by defining the term, explaining what you do as a facilitator and giving an example of when you used your facilitation skills effectively.

Example: “Facilitation is the process of guiding a group toward achieving its goals through active listening, questioning, summarizing and decision-making. I have been facilitating meetings for over five years now, so I am very familiar with the role and know how to use my facilitation skills to help groups make decisions that benefit their organizations.”

2. How would you describe a facilitator?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the role of a facilitator and how it fits into the overall process. Your answer should include a description of what a facilitator does, as well as examples of when you have used this skill in past roles.

Example: “A facilitator’s primary responsibility is to ensure that all parties involved in a discussion feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions. I believe that effective facilitation requires active listening skills, which allow me to fully understand each person’s perspective on a given issue. This allows me to ask questions that help clarify any misunderstandings or points of confusion. It also helps me find common ground between opposing viewpoints.”

3. Can you explain some of the key responsibilities and tasks of a facilitator?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of facilitation and how you would approach certain situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list several key responsibilities and tasks that facilitators typically perform.

Example: “The main responsibility of a facilitator is to ensure that all participants are able to contribute their ideas and opinions during meetings or discussions. This means I need to make sure everyone has an opportunity to speak and that they feel comfortable doing so. Another important task is keeping track of time and making sure we stay on schedule. It’s also important to keep notes during meetings so that we have documentation of what was discussed.”

4. What are the main goals of facilitation?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the purpose of facilitation and how it can help a group achieve its goals. You can answer this question by defining what facilitation is, explaining why it’s important and giving examples of how you’ve used facilitation in past roles.

Example: “The main goal of facilitation is to create a safe space for all members of a group to share their ideas and opinions without fear of judgment or criticism. I believe that when everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts, we’re able to come up with more creative solutions to problems and find better ways to meet our goals.”

5. Can you define the different types of facilitation that exist today?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of facilitation and the different types that exist. You can define each type, explain what they are used for and give examples of when you have used them in the past.

Example: “There are three main types of facilitation that exist today. The first one is traditional facilitation, which involves a facilitator who leads a group through a discussion or problem-solving session. I’ve used this method many times in my previous roles as it’s an effective way to get everyone involved in discussions and ensure that all voices are heard.

The second type is called self-facilitation, where participants take on the role of facilitators themselves. This allows them to learn more about the topic at hand and develop their own skills. I’ve also used this method before, especially if there was a specific skill set we were trying to teach our team members.”

6. What is your understanding of what an effective facilitator does in practice?

This question is a great way to assess your knowledge of facilitation and how you apply it in practice. When answering this question, be sure to include examples from your experience that show the interviewer what an effective facilitator does.

Example: “An effective facilitator should have excellent communication skills, as they are responsible for guiding discussions and ensuring everyone has a chance to speak. They also need to be able to manage conflict well, as disagreements can arise during meetings. Finally, they must be organized and prepared so that they can keep track of all meeting details.”

7. Why do you think it’s important to have a facilitator present at meetings?

This question can help interviewers understand your knowledge of facilitation and how it can benefit a company. Use examples from past experiences to explain why you think this is important, especially if the role you’re interviewing for requires you to facilitate meetings or discussions.

Example: “I believe that having a facilitator present at meetings is extremely beneficial because they can ensure everyone has an opportunity to speak their mind and ask questions. In my last position as a project manager, I was responsible for facilitating weekly team meetings where we discussed our progress on projects and any issues we were facing. During these meetings, I would make sure each member had an opportunity to share what they were working on and provide input on other members’ ideas.”

8. Can you explain what active listening means? When should you use it as a facilitator?

Active listening is a skill that many facilitators need to have. It’s important for them to be able to listen carefully and actively to the people they’re facilitating so they can understand their needs, concerns and ideas. When answering this question, it can be helpful to define active listening and give an example of when you used it in your previous role.

Example: “Active listening means paying close attention to what someone says and how they say it. I use active listening when I’m facilitating meetings or group discussions because it helps me make sure everyone has a chance to speak and share their thoughts.”

9. Are there any specific skills a good facilitator needs to be successful?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills necessary for this role. You can answer with a list of specific skills and how they help you be successful in your facilitation work.

Example: “A good facilitator needs to be able to listen, communicate clearly and remain calm under pressure. These are all important skills because I need to make sure everyone has an opportunity to speak, I need to ensure my communication style doesn’t offend anyone and I need to keep myself from getting stressed out when things get heated.”

10. Can you give me some examples of when you’ve used facilitation techniques in real life?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your facilitation skills and how you’ve used them in the past. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific examples of when you used facidation techniques and what they helped you achieve.

Example: “In my last role as a project manager, I had to facilitate many meetings with different stakeholders. In one meeting, we were discussing our budget and how much money we could spend on certain aspects of the project. One stakeholder wanted to use all of the funds on marketing while another wanted to use all of the funds on development. I asked each stakeholder why they felt that way and then discussed ways we could find a balance between both sides. We eventually found a compromise where we spent half of the funds on marketing and half on development.”

11. Do you need to have special training or qualifications to become a facilitator? If yes, then how can you get them?

This question is a good way to assess the candidate’s knowledge of what it takes to become a facilitator. It also shows how much they want to be one, as they are already looking into training and qualifications.

Example: “No, you don’t need any special training or qualifications to become a facilitator. However, I am currently taking an online course on facilitation skills that will help me learn more about this role. The course has been very helpful so far, and I’m excited to continue learning.”

12. What kind of challenges might you face while facilitating a meeting?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you might handle challenges in the workplace. Use your answer to highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to different situations.

Example: “I’ve facilitated many meetings with a large group of people, so I’m used to working with a variety of personalities. However, there are always some individuals who don’t want to participate or speak up during a meeting. In these cases, I try to encourage them by asking questions that require more than one-word answers. This helps me get everyone involved and ensures we’re all on the same page.”

13. What do you think about online facilitation tools like Slack vs traditional ones like email? Which one do you prefer?

This question is a great way to see how you feel about the current technological landscape and whether or not it’s something that would be beneficial for your future employer. It also gives insight into what kind of facilitator you are, as some people prefer more traditional methods while others enjoy using new technology.

Example: “I think both have their pros and cons. I personally prefer Slack because it allows me to communicate with everyone in the group at once without having to send individual emails. However, email has its benefits too, like being able to respond to someone privately if needed. Overall, I think it depends on the situation.”

14. What is your opinion on dealing with difficult people during meetings? Does this require special facilitation skills?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. It also gives the interviewer insight into how you handle stressful situations. Your answer should include a specific example of how you handled this situation in the past, as well as what steps you took to resolve it.

Example: “I find that difficult people are often challenging because they feel unheard or misunderstood. I try to make sure everyone has their voice during meetings by asking questions and actively listening to ensure everyone feels comfortable speaking up. If someone seems particularly upset or agitated, I will ask them if there’s anything I can do to help them feel more comfortable.”

15. Can you explain what brainstorming is? How often do you use it as a facilitator?

Brainstorming is a common facilitation skill that involves encouraging group members to share ideas and opinions. This question can help an interviewer understand your knowledge of facilitation skills and how you apply them in the workplace. In your answer, try to define brainstorming and explain why it’s important for effective meetings.

Example: “Brainstorming is when a group of people come together to generate new ideas or solutions to problems. I use brainstorming often as a facilitator because it helps me encourage team members to share their thoughts and opinions about topics we’re discussing. Brainstorming also allows us to identify any challenges we may face so we can find creative ways to solve them.”