Product
How Meahana WorksActivitiesCatalog
Resources
AI Session DesignerVideosBlog Posts
ServicesPricing
Book A DemoLogin

Why there are very few tools designed specifically for facilitators

Posted on 
April 25, 2023
Facilitation is a complex and nuanced skill that requires a deep understanding of group dynamics, effective communication, and problem-solving. While there are many tools available for other aspects of organizational development and team collaboration, relatively few tools specifically support facilitation.  We believe there are four primary reasons why this is the case:

#1. A highly contextualized practice. Facilitation is a highly contextualized practice, as effective techniques and skills may not be transferable across different contexts. This challenge of contextual variance presents a significant hurdle in creating a digital tool that would be universally applicable to all facilitators. Additionally, given the improvisational nature of facilitation, the need to adapt to evolving situations and dynamics in real-time poses a further challenge in replicating this situational awareness and flexibility within a digital tool.

#2. A soft skill. Facilitation skills are typically considered soft skills and are often deemed subjective and challenging to quantify, which can diminish their appeal as targets for tool development. Furthermore, given the erroneous perception that anyone can facilitate, there may be a lesser demand for tools to support the facilitation process.

#3. A part-time job. Facilitation is often a part-time role, with many facilitators being tasked with leading workshops, meetings, or training sessions as part of their primary job responsibilities. As such, there may be limited appetite to invest in tools specifically designed for facilitators, as facilitation may be viewed as a secondary or supporting skill rather than a core competency.

#4. A new and evolving field. Facilitation is an evolving field due to the constantly changing nature of work, education, and communication in the digital age. With remote work and virtual collaboration on the rise, new facilitation techniques and tools are needed to support these modes of interaction. Moreover, the advancements in technology and the latest research on group dynamics and decision-making have also contributed to the evolution of facilitation practices.

While there are many tools available to support collaboration and organizational development, there are relatively few tools specifically designed for facilitators. The contextualized nature of facilitation, its status as a soft skill, the perception of facilitation as a part-time role, and the evolving nature of the field are all factors that contribute to this situation. While these challenges represent some of the reasons why no tools exist specifically for facilitators, they are also the reasons why we at Meahana see opportunity.

Stay tuned, more to come on this topic.

‍

Tagged:
Best practices
Ideation
Matt Archer
Chief Revenue Officer
view All Posts

Featured Posts

Meeting
The Office Mandate Nobody's Talking About: Fix Meetings Before Forcing Attendance
Meeting
Why Method Matters More Than Meeting Agenda
Why We Need Smart Meetings: A Case for Smarter, Not Fewer, Meetings
Meeting
Outnumbered by AI Notetakers
Meeting
The $37 Billion Question: What Type of Meeting Are You Running?
Meeting
From Chaos to Clarity: Leading Collaborative Decision-Making with Intention
Meeting
Transforming Panel Discussions: From Boring to Brilliant
Meaningful Meeting Takeaways
Workshop
The Whiteboard Conundrum: Are Digital Collaboration Tools Failing to Deliver on their Promise?
Meeting
Navigating Hybrid Meetings: A Practical Solution with Meahana
Meeting
Move Beyond Endless Brainstorming to Decisive Outcomes
Workshop
What Really is a Workshop? (Work+Shop)
Workshop
Facilitation and the Artist Journey
Workshop
The Rise of Canva and the Software 'Augmentation Era'
Workshop
Business is Like Jazz, Not Karaoke
Workshop
Future of Workshop Design: Meahana's No-Code Approach and Content Partnerships Empower Facilitators
The Hidden Cost of Misalignment: $2 Trillion in Failed Projects and How to Fix It
Meeting
Meetings: The Silent Killer of Productivity (And How to Fight Back)
Top 10 ways to crush your transformation and change initiatives
AI vs HI (Human Intelligence)
Exploring the Reasons We Are Drawn to Create
Three Kinds of Courage Every Business Artist Needs
Embracing Your Health and Wellness as a Business Artist
The Tension Between Creativity and Conformity
The Blueprint for Successful Selling: Trust, Collaboration, and Teamwork
Co-Opetition: Partnering with Competitors for Mutual Success
Three Visions for Business Artists
Business is All About Challenging the Status Quo
Are You Making Time to Create?
Two Most Important Skills for Sellers and Business Artists
7 Tips for Better Storytelling in Business
Business Artists Redefine What is Possible
Storytelling and Getting Out of Your Own Way
Is Your Creative Flow Blocked?
Curiosity & Constraints in the Life of Business Artists
4 Surprising Examples of Business Artists
Why Every Business Artist Must Learn to Think in Stories
Has Apple Become the World’s Biggest Cover Band
Avoiding the Path of Least Resistance
Yellow Brick Road of Innovation
The Real Meaning of Human Resources
Business is the Story of Technology
Understanding Today’s Realities and Preparing for Tomorrow’s Challenges
The Biggest Danger for a Business Artist is Imitating Yourself
Workshop
At the Core of Any Great Facilitation - Content Orchestration
Workshop
Cover Bands Don’t Change the World
Just a Little of That Human Touch
WeLearn and Meahana Form Strategic Learning and Development Partnership
More Posts

You Might Also Like

Apr 4, 2025
 in 

Meahana Achieves SOC2 Type II Compliance: A Testament to Trust & Security

Feb 24, 2025
 in 
Meeting

The Office Mandate Nobody's Talking About: Fix Meetings Before Forcing Attendance

Matt Archer
Feb 17, 2025
 in 
Meeting

Why Method Matters More Than Meeting Agenda

Matt Archer

Navigation

HomeAbout UsBlog

Follow Us On LinkedIn

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/meahana

Company

TrustTerms of Serviceinfo@meahana.ioPrivacy AgreementStatus