What makes a facilitator GREAT?

[Ndemrose]

I was reading in another section all these people that had taken FPU and said their facilitator was just ok. I'm facilitating one in September and want to know what would make me GREAT!!??? I want it to be awesome, and be as excited as I can be, to get my class excited, be helpful, etc etc, but want some ideas....

What would have made your class better??

Thanks!

[vivirparaviajar]

Thanks :) I should have posted my question in this forum.

I'm interested to see what people say. Good luck as a facilitator! I am sure you'll do great. Even though I haven't taken FPU, I would say that it is important to believe in all the steps~ like a poster was saying her facilitator was ok w/ car loans, cc's, etc. That totally goes against the DR system.

[robinbird4]

We thought it would have been nice if the facilitator had anonymously poll the class to find out what each person/couple's goals are, where they are at financially, and what they want to get out of the class from a financial standpoint. Then, maybe divide up the class into a couple of groups with people in like situations to discuss the topic as it applies to them.

In our class, there were a couple of distinct groups of people and each had different needs and goals from the class. 1 group was living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to get out of consumer debt, our group -- people who just had student loans to pay off, and people who didn't necessarily have debt, but just wanted to better learn how to manage their money. Each group had VERY different needs.

In our class, we had one very large discussion circle and it didn't really help anyone. We stopped going to the class after lesson 5 because we felt like we were getting more out of it by listening to the CDs at home and then discussing the topic as it applies to us and immediately implementing the lessons from the topic...That said, the DVDs were FANTASTIC!!!

Another thing that would have been really motivating would have been to have an FPU graduate come to each class and talk about how FPU helped them, and what they've been able to accomplish since starting the class. Guest speakers in general would have been very welcome.

[mommy23]

One thing that has been very disappointing for us is that our leader has never taken fpu before. :tdown:

[YBNRML]

Although I only have the CD version, I know (in my twisted mind) what makes a trainer great. Using those same traits should make a facilitator great.

1 - ability to train three ways -- Audio (The actual speaking portion), visual (running through the exercises to show how it works) and hands-on (allowing the members to work the problems and utilize the facilitator to assist in any sticking points)

2 - Ability to understand and then be understood (Covey) -- This is key.

3 - Ask members (anonymous, open discussion, etc.) why they are attending and what they want to learn. Maybe some really need to focus on the behavior changing aspect and see the picture. Maybe others are great at budgeting, are BS3ers, and are looking for the longer term advice. Maybe a member or two are this far |--| from a financial breakdown and this is their last salvation. Knowing their wants and needs will assist you in the best way to approach.

4 - Who, what, when, etc.. -- Always ask the questions and allow the members to formulate their response and hopefully 'close the loop'. If they are only 60% there and don't understand the concepts fully, they will most likely revert back. However, if you help them in closing the loop from start to finish, their attitudes and actions should change since they can see where they started, where they are currently, and where the end result should be.

5 - Explain that failures occur -- How many times did you fall off the swing/bike or strike out in baseball? You still went back, right. Life happens even with a large BEF or FFEF. Ask for their definitions of certain items (bad budgeting, bad planning, emergencies, critical emergencies) so that each person can understand the cause and effect of the process.

6 - Most importantly - speak up to them instead of down to them. This is the first step in a financial journey. Praise them for attending instead of wondering how someone could rake up $60,000 in CC debt or $35000 in SL debt and then quit college. The behind is past us**. :stupid: Let it rest and move forward. Once they realize that being gloomy about what happened won't resolve anything but using it as a learning experience will, the light bulbs will flicker and trains to financial freedom will start leaving the station on the right track.

I had more, but my mental train derailed....

Best of luck with the class.



**Lion King Reference - - sometimes the best lessons come from cartoons.

[rolo4evr]

Make a big deal about and follow through with shredding or destroying credit cards.

Asking if anybody would like to share successes or failures.

Accountability.

Our facilitator was knowledgeable but too laid back and easy going, imho.

"Too considerate" "Too pc" We were hoping for more of a tough love accountability type DR experience and it didn't happen. :rules:

On a scale of 1-10: 5

[tedearly]

Howdy,
I really liked hearing others in different situations. It was the first time I had heard women expecting to work at WM in retirement. And they were dressed to the nines. So very different from my family's expectations. Last time we were in debt was 1985, paid off the CC of $400, hated it so much never did that again. So seeing people up to their eyeballs in debt was a learning moment for us.

Budgeting easily as a couple of 25 yrs. with math heads, that was something we finally learned how to do with FPU.

Shred those cards.

Have access to a CPA for the nerds (myself/DH) who can't wrap their heads around having a 0% car loan is still debt even though we have $$ in investments.

Let the couples speak. A big gripe from DD & SIL who took their FPU class. Eventually they just listened to the CD's and skipped the class.

Have a small closing prayer.

Be credible. If you still have CC and pick & choose from DR that will weaken the resolve of the class. If you are new and going through the class for the first time, like our facilitator, acknowledge that too.

DH & I so enjoyed our FPU class. Definitely one of the best things we ever did. Thank you for your willingness to provide this opportunity for someone else.
Karen

[Just KT]

I would recommend giving the assignments each week and then really following up to make sure people did them-really hold them accountable.

I would also have former FPU'ers come in and talk about when the took the class and where they have accomplished financially since taking the class.

I would recommend a follow up class for 6 months or more after the initial class to hold people accountable and see how they are doing and then to encourage those who have fallen off the DR wagon.

Best wishes to you and those in your class.

[Ndemrose]

Thanks all... I've taken the class so been there done that, but am still in bs2. Do you think it's better to be a "tough love" type than more relaxed. Our class the facilitator was pretty laid back....

[robinbird4]

I'd poll the class to find out what they want in a facilitator.

Best wishes. You are going to really touch peoples' lives.

[BzyBee DH]

Frank open discussions.

Personal stories that relate to the questions/topic

[KellyRHT]

Great question Ndemrose,

We will be facilitating a class in a couple of weeks & will use these answers to help us be better leaders.

[marvelous]

Our facilitator is also our outreach minister and our class was held at our church. I feel we had a great FPU experience and I'll share with you some of the things I remember.

1. He was real. He freely told about mistakes he and/or his wife made and the progress they made since they went through the class. He was honest about how he felt about some cut backs they made (not thrilled he sold his car to get an older vehicle) but defended that it would be worth it. He never singled anyone out, but talked about stupid behaviors and bad decisions and how to do better.

2. He was observant. If there were blank looks or funny body language among us he called it. He would make sure that we understood or asked more questions to find out more. He didn't let questions go by unanswered. He kept asking, in different ways to get answers.

3. He made it fun. He challenged us to bring in our credit cards and cut them up in class. He kept a big jar of the cut-up shreds and we watched as it started to fill up. (I understand how some people might feel uncomfortable with this, but as a visual tool it was pretty neat.) Each time someone brought in cards we would all cheer and clap. Another little thing he did is he had everyone write down their total debt on a slip of paper and put them in a basket. He totaled them up and wrote the sum on the board. As people paid off things, he would write the new total on the board. It was nice to see it shrink.

4. He was encouraging. When we started FPU we were having a really rough time. Even though I was excited and believed that Dave's principles would work, at the time it felt like there was no end in sight. He kept telling us, week after week, to hang in there. He gave any suggestions he could (part time jobs, cutting out 401K, etc) but also was a good listening ear.

5. Other stuff. He brought in a couple that he worked with privately. It was encouraging to hear what other people had been through and how excited they were. In our group discussion he made sure to ask questions that pertained to those of us struggling, the ones in the middle, and those with no debt just wanting a better way to handle their money. For those without debt, he asked them to share their stories and give suggestions to the younger couples. He encouraged accountability partners. He didn't get all in our business, but really stressed the importance of having someone else to help keep you on track.

6. He made it relate to the Bible. I loved this part of it. It made Dave's principles and things I had read on my own in the Bible make so much sense. He did have an advantage since he is a minister, but he did a good job of not beating you over the head with it, but showing you that it is right there in black and white. Almost like Dave.

Hope that helps.

[cjohnston4]

Ok, gotta ask. It's always easier to get card cutting going if the class leader starts the process.

Problem is I've got no cards to cut.

Ideas?

[KellyRHT]

Excellent response, marvelous. Very well thought out. Thank you.

[busyizzi]

Ok, gotta ask. It's always easier to get card cutting going if the class leader starts the process.

Problem is I've got no cards to cut.

Ideas?

In our current class, all it took was one person in the class taking the Dumping Debt lesson seriously. We're in a small group setting right now (2 couples and us), but when we were getting ready to leave that evening, she grabbed the scissors so fast I couldn't get my camera out and I made her wait until I was ready!! She just kept saying, "We're going over that mountain, and we're NEVER going back!!!!" It was an inspiring moment!

[tedearly]

She just kept saying, "We're going over that mountain, and we're NEVER going back!!!!" It was an inspiring moment!

That is very nice. I would cherish that memory.
Karen

[Roy Randolph]

Ok, gotta ask. It's always easier to get card cutting going if the class leader starts the process.

Problem is I've got no cards to cut.

Ideas?

We do not have any credit cards to cut up either. However we do have the credit cards we originally cut up, most of them, and placed them in a clear acrylic plaque we made some years ago, and we show them off in each class.

ALso we take pieces of cards members of our class have cut up and place them in a clear acrylic plaque we make after each class.