Facilitation Skills Training

Facilitation Skills: How to Get the Most out of Business Discussions

Program Overview

A skilled facilitator enables a group to deal with a problem or develop a plan for delivering results in less time than it would take without this professional's expertise. This course will teach participants how to act as facilitators who can draw out and process audience input for the purpose of moving a discussion forward. Participants will learn how recognize group dynamics and motivations through dialogue, feedback and consensus building.

Program Objectives

At this program's conclusion, participants should be able to:

• Identify and explain the process and values of facilitation.
• Maintain neutrality while working as facilitators.
• Describe typical audiences and how to manage each.
• Recognize group dynamics and motivations.
• Build consensus and address resistance.
• Develop strategies for handling hecklers, bullies, and other disruptive participants.
• Face the fear of facilitation.

The following outline highlights some of the course's key learning points. As part of your training program, we will modify content as needed to meet your business objectives. Upon request, we will provide you with a copy of participant materials prior to the session(s).

Course Outline

Watch, Listen, Learn: A Recipe for Successful Facilitation

This program begins with an examination of the key factors that contribute to effective facilitation: a conducive environment, clear agendas and objectives, efficient use of time, and powerful closing summaries. Participants will learn that the successful facilitator projects trustworthiness and neutrality while keeping the discussion focused. They will examine their personal biases in order to remove them while serving as facilitators. Furthermore, they will discuss the differences between training, public speaking, and facilitation.

Do You Hear What I Hear?: Understanding Audience Differences

Using Business Training Works' signature diagnostic tool, The Communication Jungle, participants will identify their own work styles, the styles of different types of audience members, and how to facilitate for each. Additionally, participants will explore techniques such as mind mapping and brainstorming for generating ideas.

Time to Shift Gears: That's Why I'm Here

Group dynamics and motivations can vary on many levels. Participants will learn how those factors affect facilitation. They will use case studies to practice re-engaging a stalled audience through dialogue, feedback, and testing for consensus and understanding.

The Bottom Line: Getting Results

Keeping group members focused so they can get their desired results takes skill. This section shows participants how to move beyond roadblocks, difficult personalities, and incomplete information so they can help group members work collaboratively toward a goal. Using sample cases, participants will try their hand at remaining neutral during conflict.

Know-It-Alls, Talkers, Hecklers, and Bullies: Managing Disruptive People

It is sometimes said that "there is one in every group." A difficult person can sabotage a facilitation by interrupting, being negative, physically or mentally leaving, or dominating the conversation. Such behavior makes the facilitator's job a challenge at best. Learning how to manage those audience members who "don't want to be there" is an essential skill of top facilitators. This component explores handling difficult people and challenging situations.

Stop Shaking in Your Shoes: Overcoming the Fear of Facilitating

Fear is the reason many people do not enjoy facilitating. This discussion covers the reasons for fear and explains techniques for overcoming it. Participants will receive a checklist for projecting the best possible image.

People Who Can, Do: Preparation and Practice

The program concludes with participants facilitating various kinds of processes: strategic planning, vision setting, brainstorming, and consensus decision making. Each participant will be videotaped for review and critique.

At the program's conclusion, participants will understand what makes a facilitated session run effectively. They will know how to remain neutral, accommodate for different work styles, build consensus, manage difficult audiences, and dispel their fear of facilitating.