Effective facilitation skills are a highly desirable attribute for individuals who wish to manage meetings and planning sessions in New Zealand for more timely and productive outcomes. Facilitating is more than just setting a meeting time. It requires skills in presentation, negotiation, elaboration and communicating with stake holders.

The PD Training Facilitation Skills Training Course teaches you practical techniques like choosing a facilitated approach, encouraging participation and gathering information, addressing disruptions, using reframing techniques, using intervention when required and much more. You'll learn key skills that can be used right away and the course is now available throughout New Zealand, including Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington.

Learning Outcomes

• Define facilitation & identify its purpose
• Understand the benefits of good facilitation
• Master the role & focus of a facilitator
• Differentiate between process & content of a group discussion
• Learn effective tools for preparing for an effective facilitation session
• Master techniques for effective facilitation from Tuckman & Jensen's stages of group development (forming, storming, norming & performing)
• Learn how to help a group reach a consensus and a final solution by encouraging participation
• Practice techniques for dealing with disruptions, dysfunctions & difficult people in a group setting
• Define what interventions are, when they are appropriate and learn how to implement them

Course Outline

Facilitation Skills Training Course - Lesson 1

The Peaceful Warrior

• The Role and Purpose of Facilitating
• The Limits of Facilitation
• Qualities of Effective Facilitation
• REACH Review – Facilitation Preferences
• Reflection

Facilitation Skills Training Course - Lesson 2

Just Add People and Stir

• The Ideal World
• The Real World
• Reflection

Facilitation Skills Training Course - Lesson 3

Trusting in the Process

• Preparation
• Starting Off
• The Middle Bit
• The End Bit
• I Never Agreed to That! (keeping records)
• Reflection

Facilitation Skills Training Course - Lesson 4

Making Decisions

• Tell Me Again, Why are We Here?
• Divergent and Convergent Thinking
• Building Consensus and Inclusive Solutions
• Reflection

Facilitation Skills Training Course - Lesson 5

Maximising Interaction

• Exercising Control
• Encouraging Participation
• Dealing with Challenges
• Reflection

Facilitation Skills Training Course - Lesson 6

Virtual facilitation

• Preparation
• Technology
• Maintaining Engagement
• Reflection

Facilitation Skills Training Course - Lesson 7

Reflections

• Create an Action Plan
• Accountability = Action
• References