In a world where employees want to be involved in the decision-making process, learning how to facilitate a discussion, rather than chair a meeting or instruct from the front of the room, is becoming an essential skill.
Key Benefits
Understand the role of a facilitator and how that role differs from being a meeting chair, a team leader or an instructor
What You Will Cover
How do we let employees work through a process where we are their guide and mentor? This two-day workshop gives you the basics of facilitation. Learn and practice these valuable skills for better team meetings and better decisions.
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The role of a facilitator
Being a good facilitator starts with being able to identify the key parts of a facilitator's role. In short, the facilitator's responsibility is to address the journey, rather than the destination. In the Facilitation course you will learn how to identify the roles of a facilitator and how to incorporate them in your workplace.
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Process vs content
Content and Process are two different frames of reference which may be brought to bear on the same situation, and often highlight quite different aspects of it. The Facilitation course will help you to see the important differences and how to distinguish between the two.
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Dynamics of group decision-making
If you have been placed in a new group situation you know how hectic and unorganized it can get if people aren't on the same page. The Facilitation course will help you understand the dynamics of group decision-making so that you can facilitate a group productively and organized.
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Divergent and convergent thinking and the groan zone
After you have completed the Facilitation course you will be able to explain what divergent and convergent thinking is and the dynamics of, and feelings arising from, the process of turning divergence into convergence (aka the 'groan zone').
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The fundamental skills of effective facilitation developed through simulations, role play, discussions and other exercises
During the time you are taking the course you will have opportunities to put your new facilitation skills to the test through simulations, role play, discussions and other exercises.
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Techniques for honouring all points of view
Part of being a good facilitator is letting everyone in the group have their equal say about their thoughts on the project, tasks, etc. The Facilitation course will give you tips on how to honour all points of view so that your team members feel that they are respected and important parts of the group decision making process.
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Facilitating open discussion: helping groups do their best thinking
As mentioned above, it is important to include all members of the group in discussions and brainstorming. Many will have great ideas and when members of the group are included in an important part of the project they will be more motivated to work hard. The course will give you tips on how to better facilitate group discussions so that the group can do its best thinking.
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Managing different viewpoints
Although many group members will have some great ideas to bring to the table, some may disagree with what you or others say. Everyone has a different viewpoint and part of being a good facilitator is being able to manage them and discuss them so that conflict does not arise. The Facilitation course will help you do just that.
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Building sustainable agreements
Another part of being a good facilitator is being able to say "this is the final decision, now let's get to work". Being able to come to an agreement as a team is important but as a facilitator you need to be able to identify whether it is sustainable or not. The Facilitation course will help you to be more aware of what agreements are sustainable and which aren't.