A facilitator is someone who supports a group and helps to create, plan, and execute strategies while identifying and helping to solve problems. Organizations need excellent facilitators to coordinate groups, resolve conflicts, or handle situations that are not routine. A skilled facilitator can greatly impact a group by inspiring, motivating, building teamwork, and, in turn, achieving organizational success. Facilitators make things easier for the group as a whole and help them work towards their overall goal of the meeting.

This workshop will cover key facilitation skills for both in-person and virtual meetings. Topics will include meeting preparation and follow up, handling questions, dealing effectively with differing opinions or non-productive behaviors, encouraging participation, and time management. Participants will also learn a variety of group problem-solving and decision-making tools.  During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to practice these skills in a supportive environment.

Note: For virtual classes, all participants must have a working camera, microphone, and audio equipment for practice sessions.

Performance Objectives: Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the role of a facilitator and the most important behaviors a facilitator can demonstrate.
• Effectively prepare for a meeting by identifying the meeting purpose and objectives and developing the meeting agenda or meeting outline.
• Demonstrate an understanding of key facilitation skills (e.g., asking and handling questions, active listening, dealing effectively with changes or differences of opinion, observing, balancing participation, and directing the conversation flow).
• Use a variety of group problem-solving and decision-making tools.
• Deal effectively with non-productive meeting behaviors by discerning when and how to intervene for maximum success.
• Keep meeting participants on track and aligned with the main meeting purpose.
• Encourage and increase participation at meetings, manage time well, demonstrate flexibility to clarify ideas as the meeting unfolds.
• Follow-up after meetings in virtual and in-person meeting environments. 

Competencies Covered: Communication, group dynamics, decision making, problem solving, time management

Intended Audience: Public sector managers, supervisors, human resource specialists, and other workplace professionals who are responsible for facilitating meetings