The Effective Facilitator

Facilitation is the art and science of leading people through a process toward a result that is created, understood, and accepted by all participants.

An effective facilitator makes it easier for teams to work together for output that is higher in quantity and quality.

Effective facilitators may “be born” with certain abilities/qualities, but it’s more probable that competencies will be developed through knowledge and practice, which this course can jumpstart.

These competencies include, but are not limited to:

• Effective listener
• Group-centered, not self-centered
• Motivator
• Peacemaker
• Taskmaster
• Multi-tasker
• Leader

The Effective Facilitator is a 6-hour interactive course for anyone who participates in team meetings, especially for those in a leadership role. The many individual and team activities will stimulate interest and reinforce key concepts that students can apply right away.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the role of the facilitator, especially as it relates to other facilitation roles.
• Identify the main stages of the facilitation process.
• Learn the stages of team development.
• Understand how to manage conflict.
• Provide students with practice and feedback.
• Expose the following myths:
  • Self-directed teams don’t need a facilitator.
  • Facilitation is a trendy HR/OD technique.
  • Formal facilitation is too time consuming.
  • Conflict is bad.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction/Overview of the facilitation process.
2. Preparing - What must be done before the meeting.
3. Priming - Get the “creative juices” flowing.
4. Probing - Exploring problems, options, or ideas.
5. Pointing - Get everyone going in the same direction.
6. Planning - Reach a decision and prepare to move forward with an action plan.
7. Group dynamics - Adult learning, group development, problem-solving methodology, managing conflict.
8. Facilitation Techniques - How to regain focus of the group, tips and tricks, the 7 Deadly Sins to avoid.
9. Review and action plan - Key learnings and what we’ll do with them.

Contact us to help your employees become effective as facilitators and increase the productivity and performance of everyone around them.