Meetings That Work® Facilitation Skills Training

In this two-day session, participants will learn and practice:

• Principles of effective meetings, including how to structure meeting agendas; when to schedule a meeting; how to set and gain support for ground rules for participants; and how to ensure that appropriate action is taken after the meeting ends.
• Meeting facilitation skills.
• Core communication, conflict management, creative thinking, planning, and decision-making skills necessary to make a meeting productive.

Overview of Workshop Activities
After exploring the norms of effective meetings, participants take part in simulated meetings where they learn skills such as:

Creating the Conditions for Success

• Agreeing on the Goals
• Setting the Agenda
• Establishing Operating Guidelines
• Creating Ground Rules

Keeping Participants Focused and On Task

• Saving time at meetings
• Stimulating discussion
• Knowing when it’s time to move on

Practicing Effective Communication Skills

• Listening well
• Drawing others out
• Being concise

Facilitating for Results (and eliciting facilitative behavior from all meeting participants). This is an opportunity to practice and get feedback on core facilitation skills such as:

• Dealing with task and process concerns
• Working effectively with very talkative participants
• Handling disruptive participants
• Drawing out quieter participants
• Managing emotions and difficult issues

Managing Conflict and Resistance

• When is conflict healthy and when and how should the facilitator intervene?
• What if the facilitator is feeling drawn in?
• What should the facilitator do if the group gets stuck in a conflict?

Generating Fresh Ideas – an opportunity to practice some fun techniques that will shake up stale thinking.

Making Decisions, Action Planning, and Follow Up from a Meeting

• Choosing the best decision-making process for your particular circumstances
• How to ensure appropriate follow-up

Rating the Meeting/Facilitator/Participants

• What worked well?
• What could we do better next time?

At the end of this workshop, participants will have learned how to

• Plan and run an effective meeting
• Keep participants engaged and focused on the most important topics
• Deal effectively with difficult issues and disruptive participants
• Ensure that realistic decisions are made and action is taken
• Determine when a meeting is or is not the right communication tool
  

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