Group Facilitation Methods

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In these days of increasing public participation, many people are asked to facilitate events in their workplace or community

Event Date:

Tuesday 13 March 2007


 

Wednesday 14 March 2007


Start Time:

9.00am


End Time:

5.00pm


Location:

Grosvenor House- Belfast


Cost:

From £195 to £425. Scholarships also available.


Event Type:

Event


This training course provides participants with a firm foundation in facilitation skills in a safe and supportive environment, while teaching two methods for facilitating groups to reach shared understanding and consensus on moving forward.

Group Facilitation Methods (GFM) Introducing the foundations of the Technology of Participation (ToP) approach – 2 day course

"I regularly use the Focused Conversation method when facilitating meetings. An excellent course" - Dr Simon Pickering, Biodiversity Officer, Cotswolds Water Park.
“I attended the Group Facilitation Methods training in March and found it very helpful. Since then I have used the Consensus Workshop method twice. One participant in a group that I did it with the other day was visibly surprised by how things came together. He had assumed we were getting nowhere but then he was so impressed and positive about what had been achieved. Your work has certainly helped me in my work, and the more I use the method, the more I am learning!” - Vicky Calver, Strategic Development Manager Churches Coordinator, Global Connections
“I've been using the facilitation methods and they've been a real help - mainly the focused conversation method, in meetings. I looked at a very tricky funding problem with colleagues last week, and came up with exciting next steps in a new area of work with a small group this morning - and I got over a block in a piece of research work I'm doing by using the individual consensus workshop!” - Melaina Barnes, Healthlink Worldwide

Who this course is for

This course has no pre-requisite, but is the pre-requisite for all our intermediate & advanced courses. It is recommended both to newcomers to facilitation, and to experienced facilitators who are new to our approach. It is suitable for all those who want to be able to facilitate groups more confidently and effectively, including team leaders and managers within organisations, those working with partners and external stakeholders, youth and community workers and independent facilitators. This is our most popular course.

Questions this course answers

“How can I have more purposeful & productive conversations, bring out the wisdom of a group, encourage feedback between people, and reach shared awareness in meetings? How can I generate and weave together a diverse range of ideas, develop creative solutions and build a group consensus?”This course provides a structured introduction to the Focused Conversation and Consensus Workshop methods, which form the foundations of the Action Planning method, Participatory Strategic Planning and other applications.

By the end of the course, you will:

• be able to identify when and how to use the Focused Conversation and Consensus Workshop methods
• have gained confidence in the use of these methods
• have recognised and explored elements of participation, creativity, teamwork and action
• have built links with others to promote future collaboration and support in the use of the methods

Focused Conversation method

The Focused Conversation method provides a structure for effective communication which ensures that everyone in a group has the opportunity to participate.

The method results in clear ideas and conclusions, it broadens perspectives and enables participants to gain valuable insights from their own and each others’ experience. Practical applications of this method include analysing trends and current situations, talking through difficult issues and clarifying values within work and community settings.

Consensus Workshop method

The Consensus Workshop method enables a facilitator to draw out and weave together everybody's wisdom into a clear and practical consensus.

The method involves a five-step process that guides people from generating and collecting ideas, through organising those ideas into meaningful groups, to reaching agreement on the question they are facing and identifying some next steps to move forward. The method generates new creative ideas, incorporates both rational and intuitive approaches to problem solving, and builds team spirit and consensus.

Learning style

The course presents the two methods in a practical and participatory way. Each method is first demonstrated, then analysed and discussed, and then practiced in supportive small groups with guided reflection & feedback. Finally, participants plan how they will apply each method in their own situations.

It is scheduled back-to-back with the 1-day Introduction to Group Facilitation or Action Planning courses, to allow from one to three days of training at once. Fees for the course range on a sliding scale, depending on ability to pay, and some scholarships may also be available. For further information on fees, and to book a place on the course, go to our website www.ica-uk.org.uk


The Institute of Cultural Affairs | Julie Stuart | 15 Feb 2007
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