Description:

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.

Additional Discounts for registering related courses: There is an additional $50 discount when registering for either Collaborative Negotiation Skills for Environmental Professionals OR Conflict Resolution Skills for Environmental Professionals when they are offered in the same week. The two registrations must be made at the same time to get the discount. There is an additional $100 discount when registering for all three classes when they are offered the same week. Registration for all three classes must be made at the same time. 

*Reduced tuition is available for Native American tribes, government employees, nonprofits, students and AFS, NAEP, NEBC, TAEP members.

You may register online or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at (425) 270-3274. Online registration is strongly encouraged.

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.

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.

Continuing Education Units: 1.30 CEUs

More Information

Course Topics

Perspectives Why doesn’t everyone think like me? Meetings Different meetings for different needs Roles and Responsibilities - Who wears what hat? Planning Meetings Assessing needs, objectives, and purpose Process and Content The two parts of effective meetings Logistical Considerations The right room, the right set up Basic Facilitator Skills Verbal and nonverbal communication skills Maintaining rapport Framing, reframing, and paraphrasing Managing personal states of being

Basic Facilitation Processes and Their Use Use the right process Agenda Ground rules Open participation Presenting information Collecting information Analyzing information Decision making Closing the meeting Evaluation A Facilitator’s Tool Kit Tools that make meetings better and easier Managing Group Dynamics Tracking and assessing audience needs Skills Practice and Feedback Creating a safe place to explore Discussion on Challenges How to prevent or deal with problems

 

About the Instructor

Michael Fraidenburg

 

Mike Fraidenburg designs and delivers facilitation services ranging in format from small technical and task-oriented workgroups to large-audience conferences.  He has extensive experience facilitating science intensive issues and, as a certified mediator, using interest-based bargaining techniques to create consensus in his facilitations.  His facilitation experience includes international scientific review panels, discovery and coordination meetings of regional groups (e.g., data managers, programmers, statisticians), and program evaluations and strategic planning.  Mike has been facilitating online meetings to collect citizen participation input, create consensus opinions of advisory groups, conduct strategic and operational planning, and for training other facilitators in online facilitation techniques.

 

What to Bring

Please bring a pen or pencil, and notepad if you would like to take notes (you may also choose to take notes in your book). Lunch will be on your own, but drinks and snacks will be provided throughout the day.

Billing Information

In order to guarantee a space in a course, the tuition must be paid in full TWO WEEKS before the first day of the course by either check or credit card. State and government agencies paying with a purchase order are allowed payment under the two-week time frame if a copy of the purchase order is received by NWETC.

If You Need to Cancel

Cancellations*

• With 31 or more days notice, we will offer a 100% refund or credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With 30-8 days notice, we will offer a course credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With fewer than 8 days notice, there is no course credit available

*Please note that attendee replacement is welcome at any time

Disability Accommodations

Disability Accommodations:

To request disability accommodations, please contact us at info@nwetc.org or 425-270-3274 at least 30 days prior to the event.