Facilitation is difficult because its style is different to much development work. Facilitators must break the conventional mould of a teacher or extension officer. Neither serves as a good model for a facilitator. Becoming a good facilitator is an ongoing process that involves continual learning. No-one is simply born a good facilitator.
Facilitators work as a team and learn from one another.
Good facilitators are continually reflecting on their performance and on how they might be able to improve their skills. The major challenge of a participatory process is to discern the miminum level of facilitator support that still allows it to be an effective catalyst for self-reliant initiative. A systematic pattern of monitoring visits can accomplish this. Many facilitors, however, are tempted to skimp on follow-up work so they can conduct new seminars in additional communities. This tendency must be strongly resisted.