The Excellent Facilitator

• Do you find yourself facilitating meetings that end in chaos?

• Are you interested in developing skills that lead to positive results in the meetings you lead?

Meetings, Meetings and More Meetings.  It often seems like we are asked to participate in an unlimited number of meetings in both our personal and professional lives. Often at the heart of these gatherings are complex, high stakes issues on which people have differences of opinion and strong emotion. At times these gatherings produce increased learning and understanding, helping us to better address a range of shared issues. At other times they result in polarization and damaged relationship, leaving us feeling frustrated, as our expectations for the time spent are not met.

Experience tells us that the work of groups is enhanced with the assistance of a facilitator. The role of the facilitator is to serve the group and support them in their ability to meet their objectives. This workshop will introduce participants to the key concepts, processes and skills of effective facilitation. The workshop will assist participants to learn essential strategies and skills for meeting facilitation and group work. Topics to be covered include:

• Understanding the role of the facilitator
• Essential elements of an effective meeting
• Strategies for facilitating group conversations
• Skills for improving communication and decision making.

Web Resources

Your course will include a bound manual and lots of opportunity for face-to-face practice. Meanwhile, here's some additional web articles relevant to meeting leaders.

The Makings of a Good Meeting: A Guide for Facilitators
A 24-page training manual by meeting consultant Kevin Wolf.

Planning and Facilitating Meetings
Tips for building an organization through upbeat meetings that plan for action.

Keirsey Temperament Sorter
Theory and practical information about how individual inclinations can affect group dynamics. Includes an online test you can take yourself.