1. Facilitator Training Program

2. Day One

3. Agenda – Day One Welcome Getting Started Activity Course Objectives
Overview of Facilitation Skills
Facilitation Skills Practice
Lunch!!!!
Dealing with Difficult Situations
Facilitation Skills Practice II
Planning and Designing for Facilitated Events
Sign-up

4. Introductions Your name Where you work
One thing that puts a smile on your face

5. Getting Started… FUN Creative Participatory Get further acquainted
Related to our topic
FUN

6. Group Task
Discuss some typical settings in which you use or see facilitation skills being used.
What actions have you seen facilitators do that were NOT EFFECTIVE?
Create a 3-minute skit that dramatizes these ineffective actions in practice and the impact they have.
You have 20 minutes.

7. Expectations
Think about your responses to the pre-work questions, the skits and discussion we just completed, and your reasons for participating in this course.
Identify 2 or 3 things you hope to learn during this workshop.
Make notes on page 2

8. Objectives
By the end of the workshop, you will have increased your ability to:
Use facilitation skills more naturally and fluently in a variety of settings
Facilitate groups to work together productively
Use different strategies to handle difficult facilitation situations

9. Pair Task
Identify behaviors for working together that you would like this group to adopt to make this an effective learning experience for you and others
You have 5 minutes

10. Individual Task Think of good facilitators you have seen
What are some characteristics they exhibited when facilitating?
What made them effective?

11. Facilitation Skills Asking Questions Paraphrasing Summarizing
Encouraging

12. Asking Questions
Clarify and gain more elaboration by asking open-ended questions
What
How
When
Where
Closed-ended questions lead to short answers

13. Paraphrasing
Using your own words to reflect what the speaker is saying and feeling
Seeks to understand
Clarifying ideas
OK to paraphrase feelings

14. Paraphrasing Review the definition on pages 8 and 9 of your binder
Think about various ways to have an “in” to paraphrasing and choose 1 or 2 that are most comfortable to you

15. Summarizing Pull important ideas, facts or data together
Review progress
Basis for transition
Check for agreement
Check for clarity
Reinforce commitments

16. Encouraging Nodding head Maintaining eye contact Open body position
Picking up on last work or two
Repeating all or part of a sentence
“Say more about that”
“Good”
“Uh-huh”

17. How Practice Will Work 3-4 facilitators – 10 minutes each
Couple minutes feedback in-between rounds
Everyone is practicing
The instructor might suggest the use of specific skills at various points by holding up cards from the back of the room

18. Meeting Practice
You are citizens participating in a bipartisan focus group sponsored by Gallup.
The purpose of the focus group is to discuss what the next U.S. president should focus during his first 100 days in office.
Brainstorm a list of issues
Prioritize the list
Generate recommendations

19. Managing Meeting Energy

20. Managing Meeting Energy

21. Managing Meeting Energy - Beginning
Clarify purpose and agenda
Use introductory statements and closed questions
Energy – directed by leader/facilitator
Facilitator’s role – ensure all work form same assumptions about purpose

22. Managing Meeting Energy - Middle
Solicit contributions and participation
Move between discussions and decisions
Use open-ended questions, paraphrase, encouraging to keep discussions moving
Energy – multidirectional
Use flipchart for key points
Facilitator’s role – track key points, test for consensus, ensure all points considered

23. Managing Meeting Energy - Ending
Seek agreements, decisions, closure
Use summarizing, closed questions
Review outcomes, identify follow-up actions and people’s responsibilities
Energy – focused by leader
Facilitator’s role – keep group focused on decisions reached, next steps

24. Pair Task
Identify 1-2 behaviors you have seen in meetings that really disrupt the flow of the meeting and caused difficulties for the facilitator.
What was it about the behavior that was difficult for the facilitator?
What impact did the behavior have on the group?
What options does a facilitator have to manage this difficult behavior?

25. Facilitation Skills Practice
Each person will have about 8 minutes to facilitate the discussion on the topic;
Record any brainstormed items and recommendations;
Only difference: Trainer will be handing out one or two behavior cards per practice to participants;
People who receive a card are expected to demonstrate that difficult behavior during the practice.

26. PTA Meeting on Public School Budget
Due to the economic crisis, your county has had to cut the school district’s budget by 20%. The PTA is meeting to discuss priorities to make recommendations to the School Board.
Define the issues
Develop recommendations:
What $ should be spent on
What $ should not be spent on

27. Day Two

28. Agenda – Day Two Reflections from Day One Decision Making Charting
Preparation for practice rounds
Practice session
Lunch!!!!
Practice Session

29. Decision-Making Considerations
Team member buy-in
Time available
Importance of decision
Information needed
Capability
Building teamwork

30. Facilitating Decisions
Keep “common purpose” in front of the group
Gauge when the group has talked about something “just enough”
Keep on top of “time needed” vs. “progress needed”
Record clear statement of each agreement
Emphasize: Strive for “real world” consensus

31. Getting Agreement
What can happen when you’re trying to help a group reach agreement or get consensus on something?
What can go wrong?
What are difficulties you have faced?

32. Tips for Charting Write BIG Record key points/phrases
Use different colors (but not more than 3)
Use dark colors
Be creative
Bullets
Pictures
Highlight

33. Preparation for Practice
People will pair up to co-facilitate a topic;
Each person will have 20 minutes each to do their part of the practice meeting;
The practice will be videotaped;
Feedback will be given to both facilitators after the 40 minute practice meeting.

34. Facilitation Scenarios
Retreat Planning Sessions
Facilitate a focus group to decide issues for a company retreat
Defining Issues
Facilitate a group of staff to uncover issues of low morale
Task Force
Facilitate a cross-departmental group charged with developing best practices
Meeting Facilitation
Facilitate a group concerned about lack of leadership in the department
Policy Change
Facilitate a group of employees who are trying to generate a new company policy on …

35. Practice Round One Find a partner and choose a topic
Sign-up for a time
You will have 40 minutes of meeting time to facilitate your session – 20 minutes for each facilitator
Based on what you have learned, work with your partner to prepare for your session including supporting materials, using the preparation guide in the workbook
Be prepared by 11 am

36. Group Facilitation What went particularly well?
What difficulties did you have?
Which skill become more important at which stage in the meeting?

37. Day Three

38. Agenda – Day Three Thoughts on Day Two practice
Any further concerns on difficult situations
Preparation for practice rounds
Practice Session
Lunch!!!!!
Lessons Learned and application in your work

39. Facilitation Scenarios
Retreat Planning Sessions
Facilitate a focus group to decide issues for a company retreat
Defining Issues
Facilitate a group of staff to uncover issues of low morale
Task Force
Facilitate a cross-departmental group charged with developing best practices
Meeting Facilitation
Facilitate a group concerned about lack of leadership in the department
Policy Change
Facilitate a group of employees who are trying to generate a new company policy on …

40. Reflection on Practice and Application Planning
Complete the reflection sheet on page 56, and
Complete the application planning sheet on page 57
Discuss your responses with a partner

41. Evaluation of Course
We would like feedback, too! Please complete the evaluation form.