Facilitation Skills

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of this programme, participants will be able to:

  • Distinguish facilitation from instruction and training
  • Identify the competencies linked to effective small group facilitation
  • Understand the difference between content and process
  • Identify the stages of team development and ways to help teams through each stage
  • Use common process tools to make meetings easier and more productive

COURSE OVERVIEW & CONTENT:

It is impossible to be part of an organization today and not attend meetings. Staff meetings, project meetings, and planning and coordinating meetings all take time.

There has been a growing realization that we have to pay attention to the process elements of meetings if we want them to be effective. With its focus on asking rather than telling, and listening to build consensus, facilitation is the new leadership ideal, the core competency everybody needs. Managers and supervisors are often asked to facilitate rather than instruct or manage their meetings and training sessions.

How can you facilitate, rather than control, group decision-making and team interaction? With no formal training, people may find it difficult to make the transition from instructors or managers to facilitators.

This two-day workshop has been created to make core facilitation skills better understood and readily available for your organization. It represents materials and ideas that have been tested and refined over twenty years of active facilitation in all types of settings.

Defining Your Role

  • The Differences Between Facilitation, Training, and Chairing
    • Facilitation, Training, and Chairing
  • Group Exercise

How Facilitators Work

  • Key Facilitation Skills
  • Facilitation Skill Levels
  • Facilitation at a Glance
    • Facilitation Language
    • Things To Do To Ensure Facilitation Success

Establishing Ground Rules

  • Ground Rules, Also Known As Norms

Content and Process

  • The Differences between these Two Aspects of a Meeting

Types of Thinking

  • Divergent Thinking and Convergent Thinking
  • Grey Area
    • Grey Matters

Handling Controversial Issues

  • How to Handle Controversial Issues in a Neutral and Professional Way

Communication Skills

  • My Shopping List
  • Active Listening
  • Questioning Skills
    • Asking Questions
  • Probing Techniques
  • Non-Verbal Messages
    • Managing Your Body Language

Listening For Common Ground

  • The importance of listening for common ground in facilitation

Common Facilitation Techniques

  • Facilitation Techniques
    • Top Techniques
  • Group Preparation
    • Groups to Prepare and Present a Short Demonstration on a Chosen Technique

Providing Effective Feedback

  • Giving Feedback
  • The Feedback Process
  • One Step Further

Managing Divergent Perspectives

  • Ways to Manage Divergent Perspectives
  • Case Study

The Language of Facilitation

  • Learn About Some Communication Elements That Are Unique to Facilitation
  • Applying the Language
  • Interactive Case Study

Building Agendas

  • Developing an Agenda

Dealing with Difficult Dynamics

  • Mix and Match
    • Identify Possible Difficult Behaviors and Ways to Manage Them
  • 12 Easy Ways to Intervene

Building Sustainable Agreements

Stages of Team Development

  • The Five Stages of Team Development
    • Tuckman and Jensen’s Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning model
  • Identify Some Ways to Help Groups Through Each Stage
  • Group Exercise

Analysis Tools

  • Two Decision-Making Tools:
    • SWOT Analysis
    • Force Field Analysis

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Testimonials

"The empathy and know your customer behind the design of the training is great!"

HR Manager, Strategic Thinking & Planning Course

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"I am amazed by the quality of course"

Mr Michael, Supervisory Essentials Course

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"Thank you for arranging for me to have this one-on-one class.  I think it was really the best option.  I was very happy with the day."

Ms Helen Redekopp, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre - Business Succession Planning Course

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Special Offers

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