This two-day course provides a core program of theory, discussion and practice designed to develop attendees' basic and more advanced facilitation skills.

Facilitation skills are used to form productive teams, plan programs, and to implement controversial projects. Trained facilitators help groups communicate productively, constructively manage diverse points of view, and create concrete actions as a result of meetings. It is also a personally satisfying experience when you, as the meeting facilitator, bring out the best in the people in a meeting and can help a team improve its performance.

After reviewing basic facilitation skills such as how to set up a meeting for success (writing objectives, sharing agendas, etc.), the instructor will introduce and provide opportunity to practice techniques for facilitating groups with specific goals. For example, certain methods are utilized when answers need to be generated, and others are used to facilitate groups that need to make decisions. In addition, time will be allocated to practice techniques to handle difficult behaviors.

A study by Microsoft® pointed to worthless meetings as a major time waster in America. Respondents in their survey spend 5.6 hours each week in meetings and 71 percent of these people think those meetings “...aren’t productive.” Good meetings don't just happen.

Leaders with outstanding facilitation skills are key to turning this wasted time into meetings that produce results.

This course is intended for anyone who wants to increase their personal effectiveness and have greater influence over the work they do in groups.

Intended Audience:
This course is intended for scientists and resource managers who must plan, facilitate or manage meetings or anyone interested in learning facilitation skills. The skills learned in the class are applicable to work groups and project teams, larger staff groups, interdisciplinary teams, multiagency groups, and public meetings. Past attendees have included senior scientists, technical committee chairs, project leaders, executives, managers, supervisors, technical staff, and clerical, seasonal, and contract employees.

Previous Events (click to view/hide)

Pasadena, CA View details    December 5, 2017 - December 6, 2017   Lone Tree, CO View details    April 18, 2017 - April 19, 2017   Lone Tree, CO View details    April 5, 2017 - April 6, 2017   Sacramento, CA View details    October 11, 2016 - October 12, 2016   Austin, TX View details    July 19, 2016 - July 20, 2016   Arlington, VA View details    March 22, 2016 - March 23, 2016   Tigard, OR View details    January 26, 2016 - January 27, 2016   San Diego, CA View details    December 16, 2015 - December 17, 2015   San Diego, CA View details    December 8, 2015 - December 9, 2015   Washington, DC View details    April 29, 2015 - April 30, 2015   Minneapolis, MN View details    April 7, 2015 - April 8, 2015   Austin, TX View details    March 17, 2014 - March 18, 2014   San Diego, CA View details    February 3, 2014 - February 4, 2014   Albuquerque, NM View details    January 13, 2014 - January 14, 2014   Oklahoma City, OK View details    October 28, 2013 - October 29, 2013   Kirkland, WA View details    July 29, 2013 - July 30, 2013   Richmond, VA View details    June 24, 2013 - June 25, 2013   Portland, OR View details    May 15, 2013 - May 16, 2013   Olympia, WA View details    April 29, 2013 - April 30, 2013   Sacramento, CA View details    March 20, 2013 - March 21, 2013   Sacramento, CA View details    August 1, 2011 - August 3, 2011   Reno, NV View details    July 12, 2011 - July 14, 2011   Seattle, WA View details    April 26, 2011 - April 28, 2011   Greenwood Village, CO View details    March 22, 2011 - March 24, 2011