When observing the difference between great facilitators and those still in training, it has been noticed that great facilitators adhere to a simple communication cycle – whereby everything the client originates is acknowledged, either verbally or visually. Also, when the client answers a processing question or completes an action that was requested, the facilitator acknowledges this. Through this we have detailed a simple 'Cycle of Communication'.
A dictionary definition of communication is: 'The imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium'
This is broken down in to the following parts for general conversation:
idea → conveyance → reception/interpretation → conversion → response → acknowledgement
During processing, it was noticed that great facilitators stuck to this system without fail. All communication was fully acknowledged, usually with a definite “Thanks” or “Okay” and when a client was stuck in the middle of a communication cycle the facilitator waited patiently for the client to catch up and eventually answer the question, sometimes this required a little persuasion or encouragement.
What is of the most paramount importance here is that:
another cycle of communication is not started until the existing one has been completed
Here is a breakdown of the Cycle of Communication in a session:
The facilitator must at all costs, if she wishes to be successful in facilitating, stick to this cycle.