Practical Facilitation Skills

 Programme Outline

Practical Facilitation Skills consists of six modules. Our classroom programme is delivered as a two-day residential. The online programme consists of a launch session followed by six 90-minute module sessions facilitated live.

Module 1 – The role and skills of facilitation

• Articulate the role and purpose of facilitation and how it applies to your organisation
• Be able to demonstrate the required behaviours and skills required in the role of facilitator

Module 2 – Knowing your license to proceed: gaining buy-in from the group

• Use “contracting” as a tool to set up a meeting and exchange expectations
• Identify elements of a contract at the levels of task, process and relationships

Module 3 – Planning and structuring a session

• Understand and describe key design principles
• Prepare a structured session plan
• Participate as part of a group and provide effective feedback

Module 4 – Facilitation techniques

• Describe a range of approaches or methods for group facilitation
• Demonstrate skill in listening and asking questions, providing feedback

Module 5 – Knowing when and how to intervene

• Understand what intervention means
• Describe several interventions and the rationale for deciding when to intervene and how in a given situation
• Demonstrate the ability to flex between a range of intervention styles and receive feedback on their impact

Module 6 – Recognising group process and group closure

• Demonstrate awareness of group process
• Understand and articulate how you would manage yourself in a difficult situation
• Describe key points to account for when facilitating group closure