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View Live Stats View ReviewsFacilitation Skills – Level 1
Productivity Wins Through Collaboration
Face to face / Online public schedule & onsite training. Restaurant lunch included at STL venues.
From £495 List price £650
- 1 day Instructor-led workshop
- Courses never cancelled
- Restaurant lunch
Syllabus
Who is this course for?
This one-day course is tailored for professionals across various sectors who aim to enhance their facilitation capabilities, whether they are new to the role or seeking to refine their skills. It is ideal for anyone involved in running meetings or workshops.
Benefits
Attending this course provides participants with a robust set of skills essential for effective facilitation, crucial for driving productivity and fostering collaborative environments in any organisation.Benefits include enhanced communication abilities, from active listening to delivering clear, constructive feedback, and advanced techniques for managing group dynamics and resolving conflicts.
Participants will also learn to design and lead engaging workshops, ensuring inclusivity and active participation.
By the end of the course, attendees will be equipped with a comprehensive facilitator's toolkit, enabling them to tailor their approach to meet specific organisational needs and to implement their new skills immediately.
Course Syllabus
Introduction to Facilitation
Overview of facilitation, its significance in business, and the roles of a facilitator.
Core Skills of a Facilitator
Developing key communication skills such as active listening, clarity in communication, and constructive feedback.
Techniques to foster open dialogue and manage group dynamics effectively.
Practical Application
Interactive scenarios to practice starting sessions, focusing discussions, and driving group participation.
Real-time feedback on facilitation techniques with a focus on adjustment and improvement.
Designing and Leading Workshops
Structuring sessions that engage and motivate participants.
Strategies to ensure inclusivity and participation from all attendees.
Handling Challenges in Facilitation
Techniques to address and resolve conflict, manage difficult participants, and overcome common facilitation barriers.
Creating conditions for effective brainstorming and decision-making.
Developing a Facilitator's Toolkit
Constructing action plans and facilitation agendas tailored to specific organisational needs.
Utilising tools and techniques learned throughout the day in a culminating practice session.
Debrief and Feedback
Open discussion to reflect on the day’s learnings and how they can be applied moving forward.
Prices & Dates
What you get
"What do I get on the day?"
Arguably, the most experienced and highest motivated trainers.
Face-to-face training
Training is held in our modern, comfortable, air-conditioned suites.
Lunch, breaks and timing
A hot lunch is provided at local restaurants near our venues:
- Bloomsbury
- Limehouse
Courses start at 9:30am.
Please aim to be with us for 9:15am.
Browse the sample menus and view joining information (how to get to our venues).
Refreshments
Available throughout the day:
- Hot beverages
- Clean, filtered water
- Biscuits
Online training
Regular breaks throughout the day.
Learning tools
In-course handbook
Contains unit objectives, exercises and space to write notes
24 months access to trainers
Your questions answered on our support forum.
Training formats & Services
Training Formats & Services
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Learning & Development Resources
Soft Skills Blog
- Effective communication - Listening skills
- How to lead Effective Meetings
- Effective Communication - Making an Impact in Meetings
- The Importance of Effective Communication Skills
Infographics
Training manual sample
Below are some extracts from our Facilitation Skills – Level 1 manual.
Facilitation
Skills
Navigating Effective Group Processes
Introduction to Facilitation
Facilitation is the art and science of guiding groups toward
achieving their goals. Whether it’s a team meeting, a workshop, or a strategic
planning session, a skilled facilitator plays a crucial role in creating a
productive and collaborative environment. Here’s what you need to know:
Overview and Significance
- What
Is Facilitation?
- Facilitation
involves leading group discussions, decision-making processes, and
problem-solving sessions. It’s about enabling effective communication,
collaboration, and consensus-building.
- A
facilitator is a neutral party who ensures that everyone’s voice is
heard, encourages participation, and keeps discussions on track.
- Why
Is Facilitation Important in Business?
- Efficiency: Facilitated
meetings are more efficient—they save time by focusing discussions and
preventing tangents.
- Quality: Facilitators
help generate better ideas and solutions by encouraging diverse
perspectives.
- Engagement: Engaged
participants lead to better outcomes and stronger team dynamics.
- Roles
of a Facilitator:
- Process
Guide: Facilitators design and manage the meeting process.
- Neutral
Observer: They remain impartial and avoid taking sides.
- Conflict
Navigator: Facilitators address conflicts constructively.
- Energy
Manager: They maintain a positive atmosphere.
Core Skills of a Facilitator
- Active
Listening:
- Facilitators
listen deeply to understand participants’ viewpoints.
- Techniques:
Paraphrasing, summarizing, and asking clarifying questions.
- Clarity
in Communication:
- Facilitators
express ideas clearly and succinctly.
- Techniques:
Using simple language, avoiding jargon, and being concise.
- Constructive
Feedback:
- Facilitators
provide feedback that encourages growth.
- Techniques:
The “sandwich” method (positive–constructive–positive) and specific,
actionable feedback.
- Managing
Group Dynamics:
- Facilitators
handle conflicts, power imbalances, and dominant personalities.
- Techniques:
Norm-setting, icebreakers, and ensuring equal participation.
Practical Application
- Interactive
Scenarios:
- Practice
starting sessions: How to set the tone, establish ground rules, and
create a safe space.
- Focusing
discussions: Techniques for keeping discussions relevant and avoiding
distractions.
- Driving
group participation: Encouraging quieter participants and managing
over-talkative ones.
- Real-Time
Feedback:
- Facilitators
receive feedback during or after sessions.
- Focus
on adjustments: Continuously adapt based on group dynamics and emerging
needs.
Designing and Leading Workshops
- Structuring
Engaging Sessions:
- Begin
with an icebreaker or energizer.
- Use
a mix of presentation, discussion, and interactive activities.
- End
with a summary and action steps.
- Ensuring
Inclusivity:
- Create
an environment where everyone feels valued.
- Encourage
diverse perspectives and avoid favoritism.
Remember, facilitation is both an art and a skill—one that
improves with practice. As you develop your facilitation abilities, pay
attention to group dynamics, adapt to different contexts, and foster
collaboration.
Handling Challenges in Facilitation
1. Conflict Resolution Techniques:
- Acknowledge
and Address: When conflicts arise, acknowledge them openly.
Encourage participants to express their perspectives.
- Mediation: Facilitators
can mediate between conflicting parties, helping them find common ground.
- Win-Win
Solutions: Aim for solutions that benefit everyone rather than
taking sides.
2. Managing Difficult Participants:
- The
Dominator: Redirect their energy positively by asking for their
input or giving them a specific role.
- The
Silent One: Encourage participation gently. Ask open-ended
questions and create a safe space.
- The
Negative Nancy: Reframe negative comments into constructive
feedback. Focus on solutions.
3. Overcoming Common Facilitation Barriers:
- Time
Management: Keep discussions on track. Use time limits for agenda
items.
- Groupthink: Encourage
diverse viewpoints. Avoid premature consensus.
- Resistance
to Change: Address fears and concerns openly. Highlight benefits.
Creating Conditions for Effective Brainstorming and
Decision-Making
- Brainstorming:
- Divergent
Thinking: Encourage wild ideas without judgment.
- Convergent
Thinking: Evaluate and refine ideas collaboratively.
- Techniques: Mind
mapping, nominal group technique, or brainwriting.
- Decision-Making:
- Consensus: Aim
for agreement, not unanimity.
- Voting: Use
when consensus isn’t feasible.
- Pros
and Cons: List advantages and disadvantages of options.
Developing a Facilitator’s Toolkit
- Constructing
Action Plans and Agendas:
- Identify
Objectives: What do you want to achieve in the session?
- Sequence
Activities: Arrange topics logically.
- Allocate
Time: Be realistic about time needed for each item.
- Culminating
Practice Session:
- Apply
What You’ve Learned: Facilitate a mock session.
- Receive
Feedback: Learn from the experience.
- Reflect and Improve: Continuously refine your skills.
Feedback Loop: Continuous
Improvement
Feedback is the fuel for growth. As a facilitator,
seek feedback from both participants and fellow facilitators:
- Participant Feedback:
- Encourage
participants to share their thoughts on your facilitation style, clarity,
and engagement.
- Use a
feedback form or open discussion.
- Be
open to constructive criticism—it’s an opportunity to improve.
- Self-Reflection:
- After
each session, reflect on what worked well and what could be better.
- Consider:
- Did you manage time effectively?
- Were all voices heard?
- How did you handle challenges?
- Peer Feedback:
- Connect
with other facilitators.
- Share
experiences and learn from each other.
- Offer
feedback to help each other grow.
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