• Join Mailing List
• :
• Contact Us
• :
• Customer Login
• :
• Search
• :
• Site Map

At a glance

Facilitation Skills Workshop

Overview

The engagement of groups and teams in most aspects of organisational life has steadily risen over the past decade with structured workshops becoming a common method of collecting information. The normal ups and downs of working in groups have brought elation and frustration to many, prompting an interest in learning how to help groups and teams operate effectively. Successful workshops enhance communication between all parties and can speed the understanding of those who attend.

The facilitator can come from many walks of life, though it is often the Business Analyst or Systems Analyst who takes this role. One thing is for sure – good facilitators help a group do its work and minimise the common problems people have of working together. Key elements include being able to design meetings, establish group climates, involve the right people, implement structures and processes that work and manage the group dynamics to build an environment of trust and co-operation.

Intended For

This course is aimed at those who need to facilitate workshops, meetings, ideas generation or problem solving sessions.

Prerequisites

Participants are expected to have some understanding of basic business practice, and be prepared to actively be involved in the learning process.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this workshop participants will be able to:

• understand the benefits of facilitated workshops
• discover the roles and responsibilities required to run effective workshops
• use a variety of skills, tools and techniques to support the facilitation process.

.

Content

Introduction

• What are facilitated workshops?
• Benefits and challenges
• When to use workshops

Who Should Be There?

• Roles and responsibilities
• How to participate in meetings

Skills Facilitators Need to Develop

• Considering participants’ different motivators
• Looking to achieve common purpose
• Questioning techniques
• Ego states and Transactional Analysis
• Aspects of Emotional Intelligence
• Brainstorming sessions
• Listening skills
• Resolving conflict in the meeting
• Handling difficult participants
• Decision making

Running the Workshop

• Preparation
• Keeping on track
• Agendas – public and hidden
• Rules of behaviour
• Documentation
• Review and follow up

Method Used

Lecturing is kept to the minimum necessary. A participative approach is used to enable learning by discovery.

Students participate in two group sessions – a Workshop and a Brainstorming session – dealing with issues relevant to their own organisation and experience.