Facilitation (FIDO)

FIDO (a way to improve facilitation)

F = feelings (encourage positive ones about self, others, process, outcomes, etc; help people relate to each other person-to-person)

I = information (needs to be specific, adequate, accurate, relevant, etc; understood and accepted by all involved)

D = decisions (have commitment of all those impacted; develop an action plan - what, who, how, when, etc)

O = outcomes (usually the important outcomes happen afterwards; need to review and modify as required)

(source: Bob Dick, 2019)

Expanding elements of FIDO

Feelings

    - help people to relate to other people, person-to-person

    - ask participants to abandon rank and status temporarily

    - involve participants in the establishing of a common purpose

    - help to ensure that everyone's views are respected

    - if negative feelings become aroused, stop and resolve them

Information

    - at each stage of information exchange, first allow thinking time for people to collect their thoughts

    - in large groups, allow time for sharing in small groups first

    - refine information further in small groups

    - on each issue, hear from everyone who wishes to speak

    - in the large group, enhance listening by giving listeners a relevant task, such as listening for themes, etc

    - record information publicly, and in the words of the participants, on flipcharts/Powerpoints/whiteboards, etc

    - if shared information is not being understood, assume that some of the strategies under 'feelings' need revisiting

    - when meetings are virtual (by phone or Internet), all the above become more important

Decisions

    - this is often where structured process is most valuable

    - if you keep it fun, it will be less stressful and onerous

    - ask people to listen and learn, not debate

    - use voting where appropriate

Outcomes

    - as usually important outcomes will be implemented after the meeting, need to reach commitment on actions during the meeting

    - within the meeting, decide how to action the decisions so that they will happen

    - decide who, what, when and how, ie action plan (more detail, see elsewhere in the Knowledge Base)

    - commitments to actions is as important as the quality of the actions

    - agree on how the commitments will be monitored, evaluated, reviewed, etc