Mark Butz: Facilitating & Leading in Groups

FACILITATION FUNDAMENTALS

Mark Butz

Facilitating and leading can be closely related activities;
both are focused on bringing out the best in people through human interaction.

From one-on-one exchanges to large group interactions,
the principles and the dynamics remain the same.

The power of facilitating and leading in groups

All organisations, teams, small groups and large groups (and also many individuals) are challenged by complex factors in communicating, planning, making decisions, managing projects and moving forward together.

No matter what the size of a group, they will struggle on occasion to make and take the time, to define and maintain the focus, and to design and adapt the structures required, for constructive and practical outcomes with enduring relationships.

The facilitative leader is becoming an increasingly valuable resource:

for helping people explore issues which confront an organisation or group

for tapping the breadth of ideas and the depth of understandings; and

for building greater shared awareness, purpose and commitment.

With effective design and leadership, people can actually start to look forward to having a meeting or workshop, being more willing and able to prepare, contribute, participate and follow through.

Who is it for?

Facilitation Fundamentals is a facilitated learning package which can be tailored to client needs.

It is for anyone wishing to improve the effectivess of their communication and interaction with others:

with application from one-on-one contact to large group processes, for any conversation that matters
not just people who stand up in front of a group as the obvious leader of a discussion or workshop, but also those who are happy to help a group from within the group
not just in big rooms with whiteboards, but also over coffee tables, on telephones, and in the great outdoors
not just dealing with events while they are happening, but also designing interactions to maximise the chances of successful outcomes.

How is it delivered?

The core of the package includes:

two days of face-to-face interactive delivery
pre-consultation for in-house sessions to enhance tailoring of content and resources to participants' needs
a comprehensive participant manual; and
a degree of coaching after the session to enhance application of learning.

Potential expansion packages include:

Extension to two and a half days and/or use of evenings in residential mode to allow additional time for reflection
An additional recall day (or days) focused on grounding learning through case study analysis, scenarios and role plays
An additional recall day (or days) tailored to specified applications of new skills and understandings
A follow-up advanced session after 3 to 6 months for deepening and broadening learning and for reinforcing application

Interactive delivery is by highly experienced facilitators who have demonstrated skills in adult training and learning support, and direct experience in the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors.

The leaders have delivered forms of this training in all States & Territories of Australia, and internationally, through more than fifteen years.

Download a brochure about Facilitation Fundamentals - pdf

pdf

Facilitation Fundamentals is part of the Practical Skill Sets & Understandings of the comprehensive development program:
Out in Front: The Way of the Facilitative Leader™, presented by Futures by Design™. Download a brochure - pdf

pdf

To find out about upcoming courses, or to explore possibilities in your area or organisation, please email.

Clients of our training are eligible to receive discounts on facilitation and consultancy services from
Futures by Design™.

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OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES

As a result of experiencing the Practical Skill Sets & Understandings, each participant will have developed:

New capacities

new insights and perspectives on communication and the underlying dynamics of human processes

new skills and tools to explore awareness and understanding, tap into creativity, build cooperative relationships, and develop agreement and commitment

Practical application

the ability to apply new learning, as a leader/facilitator of process, or as a participant in process,
from one-to-one interactions to larger groups

a plan for real-life application of key methods and understandings, and for continued coaching or mentoring

Strengthened engagement and relationships

enhanced confidence to engage with diverse parties and complex situations to build towards creative and constructive outcomes

strengthened relationships with peers, colleagues and others through sharing of practical experience and engagement in exercises which assist participants to become a resource to each other.

CORE STRUCTURE

The customary (preferred) delivery is in one session of two days.

The learning can also be delivered in two sessions of one day separated by several weeks to allow practice of learnings and debriefing of experience.

DAY 1

DAY 2

Essential participatory process
Dynamics of humans in process
Conversations that matter (ORID)
Practice & feedback

Continued Practice & feedback
Action Planning

Effective Workshops
Practice & feedback

Designing and staging effective events
Real-life applications

Continued real-life application

Coaching & Mentoring

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

The learning experience includes:

demonstration and unpacking of skills and techniques

individual and team/group practice and reflection

giving and receiving feedback

coaching of individual facilitation in practice (action learning)

Experiential and adult learning principles support the learning and application of tools and techniques by grounding these in actual work projects of participants. This builds competence and confidence in the continued use of facilitation methods and deepens understanding of the profound role of facilitation in leading change.

At the end of the training each participant will have a certificate of attendance, a comprehensive set of course notes, worked examples, and proposals for application and practice of their learnings in real-life situations.

They will also have access to coaching from highly experienced facilitators.

To find out about upcoming courses, or to explore possibilities in your area or organisation, please email.

Facilitation training Nauru Photo Mark Butz

CONTENT METHODOLOGIES

Material addressed or presented in the training is primarily drawn from :

the Technology of Participation™ (ToP™)
other established and emerging developments in facilitation and communication practice; and
a wide range of practical models of human behaviour, communication, group dynamics and learning, to deepen understanding, assist in diagnosis and design, and encourage application

Actual material addressed in any event will vary in response to the needs and expressed interests of participants.

The leaders are authorised to deliver Technology of Participation™ (ToP™) content.

Participants who complete the practical skill sets may be eligible to receive a certificate of attendance at ToP Facilitative Leadership Program Module 1 Group facilitation Methods.

Completion of the Facilitative Leadership Program is a requirement for being assessed as a Certified ToP Facilitator.

See also Training in facilitation, communication, leadership, influencing and negotiating offered by Mark Butz of Futures by Design^TM.
Clients of our training are eligible to receive discounts on facilitation and consultancy services from Futures by Design^TM.

SAMPLE FEEDBACK ON TRAINING LED BY MARK BUTZ

See Testimonials on Practice for participant feedback