Moderation as Facilitation

[Amelia]

Facilitation and moderation are two roles that are related when it comes to decision-making and group communication. Moderation is a role in which you see rules being enforced within a community and also enforcing order within the community, faciliation is guiding and supporting a group such as a community to make decisions and achieve their goals. 

Even though these roles have very different approaches, you may find situations in which they are used together, these situations are usually ones that need a more balanced approach.

Below we explore the concept of Moderation as a facilitation

Managing Conflict:

When it comes to managing conflict within a community, this is something you will often see a moderator of the community take responsibility for and deal with. With a situation such as conflict, you will notice that dealing with the situation can also be seen as a facilitation skill, this is because a facilitator can be seen as someone who finds common ground and helps a community navigate conflict.

Guiding the community through a process:

Facilitation is when you guide a community through a process that will help them achieve a goal or reach a decision that needs to be made. 

As a moderator, you can facilitate this process by ensuring that the agenda you have in place is followed and discussions stay on track. 

Setting the Stage:

When you take part in discussions or meetings, ensuring you are clear with guidelines and rules is essential. Moderators can set the stage by explaining the agenda, explaining the outcomes you expect and also setting ground rules you expect everyone to follow. All these can create an environment that is structured for facilitation. 

Adapting to the Community's Needs:

Facilitators tend to adapt their approach based on the community's needs and dynamics. This is something moderators also do but they tend to intervene differently depending on how the community is handling the situation at hand. 

Moderation as Facilitation is when you combine the roles of a moderator and a facilitator to deal with a community. Approaching situations combining both these roles can help create a productive and balanced community in which rules that are in place are maintained. 
 

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