Applying Facilitation Skills and Techniques

Knowledge Requirements

  • Understand how to use facilitation skills to leverage the great potential of diverse perspectives within a team while working within different team dynamics.
  • Understand how to improve team collaboration and participatory decision making.
  • Understand how to use several facilitation skills and techniques to improve progress toward outcomes.
  • Understand the difference between weak and strong outcomes.
  • Recognize and navigate the “Groan Zone”.

Learning Resources

Scrum.org online resources on how to facilitate the Scrum Events
This module is part of the facilitation learning series. We recommend you review it if you missed it before.

Module
Scrum events create regularity and transparency and minimize the need for meetings not defined in Scrum. The events are the Daily Scrum, Sprint Planning, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective, and the Sprint. Often, Scrum events don’t go as planned. Good, lightweight facilitation can help the Scrum Te...
4.6 from 63 ratings
 
 

 

The Groan Zone

Video
Why is it sometimes such a struggle to reach an agreement and unite on a path forward? The answer is the journey through The Groan Zone. Learn how to recognize the Groan Zone, and the different phases of the Groan Zone model in this video by Jimmy Janlén.
4.5 from 3 ratings
 
 

 


More Resources
The following are an assortment of helpful resources:

Blog Post
Picture for Glaudia Califano Glaudia Califano
Some time ago, whilst discussing this topic with my fellow Professional Scrum.org Trainer Todd Miller, he shared his experience with using White Elephant principles to enable a participative facilitation environment (thanks Todd!). It inspired me to use it and write this blog. 
4.9 from 38 ratings
May 11, 2022
Blog Post
Picture for Christiaan Verwijs Christiaan Verwijs
Conflicts are fascinating. Now, this may be the organisational psychologist in me talking, or the facilitator who senses them in the groups I work with.
5 from 2 ratings
July 22, 2019

 

Video
In this Introduction to Facilitating Sprint Planning video, you'll learn how and when to use facilitation techniques such as roman voting, visualization, and powerful questioning so that your team can leave Sprint Planning with a Sprint Goal that is in pursuit of the Product Goal and an initial plan...
3.9 from 79 ratings
Video
This video explores the dynamics of diverse perspectives in Scrum Teams. You'll learn why teams should acknowledge their misunderstandings and build empathy in order to truly build shared understanding when making decisions. (5:26 Minutes)
4.5 from 82 ratings
Blog
In this article, with accompanying video, Alan Dix - Director at Computational Foundry, talks about what is so good is about bad ideas. Click Here to Read
5 from 2 ratings

 

Optional Reading

Book
By David Spinks, Glaudia Califano, Patricia Kong - Scrum requires healthy collaboration, not just between the members of the Scrum Team, but also between the Scrum Team and its stakeholders to gather feedback and input. Collaboration is the heart of thriving Scrum Teams, but most available resources...
4.5 from 11 ratings
Book
Smart leaders know that they would greatly increase productivity and innovation if only they could get everyone fully engaged. So do professors, facilitators and all changemakers. The challenge is how. Liberating Structures are novel, practical and no-nonsense methods to help you accomplish this goa...
0 from 0 ratings
Book
This book by Sam Kaner gives practical tips, techniques, and examples on how to use facilitation to engage small and large groups. It introduces the reader to the Groan Zone and acts as a guide on how a facilitator can help groups navigate through the Groan Zone and reach decisions. Author: Sam K...
0 from 0 ratings

 

What did you think about this content?

Included In

Learning Series
Guidance for how to prepare to earn the Professional Scrum Facilitation Skills certification.