Eddie Turner's Blog

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin

For over a year, I have been one of the principal instructors around the globe tasked with building a cadre of professionally trained learning leaders supporting FMC Technologies mission to accelerate the speed of competency of all employees. To that end, I teach instructional systems design, presentation skills, facilitation and professional development.

During the course of instructional delivery, I ask a series of questions: What is presenting? What is training? What is facilitating? Using those questions, I facilitate a definition discussion among participants. After arriving at a definitive understanding of the difference between delivering a presentation, training or facilitating, I ask the participants to explain the modality of delivery they believe is best.

Is it best to present? Is it best to train? Is it best to facilitate? What do you think? The resounding answer from most participants is—“It depends!” I agree. However, I believe, and as a company, FMC Technologies takes the position it is best to facilitate more than you present.

What is the basis for this belief? Think for a moment, if you will, about the last presentation you attended. By definition, most presentations are a one-way delivery proposition. The expert on the topic delivers a speech or a recitation of facts, stats and figures. In many cases, there is little or no audience involvement. As a result, many individuals multitask during presentations.

What about training? In many training sessions, the one-way presentation of information converges with demonstrating a specific skill, such as how to use a computer or a sophisticated piece of manufacturing equipment. With training, the expert may involve the audience in more of a dialog but there is still a heavy emphasis on the expert’s monologue.

I believe in the power of facilitation. Skilled facilitators make learning easier by involving their audience as much as possible. The learning leader who presents compelling information or transfers specific job skills while creating opportunities to involve the learner audibly, visually and kinesthetically, increases engagement and as a result knowledge retention. Increased knowledge retention leads to true learning which leads to changed behavior. This change in behavior when implemented through an organization leads to better business decisions and profitability.

Presentations and training programs are important and certainly have their place. Incorporating facilitation techniques transforms mundane presentations and training programs into a memorable experience.

Eddie Turner is an expert virtual facilitator. He uses best in class technology tools to deliver an unparalleled collaborative facilitated experience. He is a professional facilitator who also enjoys traditional face-to-face facilitation. Eddie truly believes in the power of facilitation and incorporates proven facilitation practices in his programs and professional speeches. Eddie works with leaders who want to accelerate performance and drive business impact.