Have you ever wondered how some facilitators know just what question to ask? Or perfectly time giving a group that much needed "nudge?" Would having these skills help you in your work environment? Then this workshop is designed for you! The "Magic of Facilitation" will uncover the seemingly magical skills possessed by the best facilitators, showing you how to successfully work with group. This highly experiential workshop (based on the philosophy that adults learn best by doing) provides a forum for participants to discover and practice methods for assisting a group to achieve its goal(s). It combines several mini-lectures on group dynamics concepts with immediate practice opportunities. Each participant receives peer and instructor feedback for improving his or her facilitation skills.

Workshop Outcomes:

• Participants of the session will:
• Establish a contract with a group leader defining the role of the facilitator.
• Use effective questioning and debriefing techniques
• Choose appropriate group interventions to help guide a group towards completing its goal.
• Effectively assist a group in identifying, confronting and working through conflict.
• Assist a group in selecting and applying effective decision-making techniques.
• Identify their preferred communication style and recognize how that preference influences facilitation style.
• Effectively provide feedback to groups and/or individuals.

Workshop Key Topics

• Distinguishing between a group and a team. Explore the 4 key characteristics of a team, and learn to help a group build them into their environment as they move from a group to a team.
• The stages of group development. Develop a strong understanding of the stages a group moves through in its journey toward becoming a team.
• Team leader/member roles and responsibilities. As a group grows, the roles and responsibilities of the team leader and team members will shift. Learn how to coach the leader and members to effectively take on new roles within the team as appropriate.
• Effective team behaviors. Team members must recognize the impact of their behaviors on the overall progress/success of the team. Learn a number of techniques to help groups assess the effectiveness of their behaviors, and buy in to changing behaviors when necessary.
• Group dynamics techniques. Learn techniques to help a team establish a set of norms, identify and work through conflict, make good decisions, and communicate effectively with one another.