Facilitation requires a special set of skills. These skills empower the facilitator to effectively manage groups and group processes. Facilitators simultaneously:

❖ Equalize group dynamics,
❖ Manage the process, and
❖ Keep the content flowing toward an outcome.

To do this effectively, facilitators need to know themselves, know groups, and have concrete tools. This workshop offers comprehensive facilitation skills for the novice and is a great refresher course for the seasoned facilitator.

Tools and ideas will cover everything from intake and setting the stage to the summary report and next steps, including:

❖ Making sure the group feels that you understand them – gaining the group’s trust,
❖ Transforming the dominating, or unresponsive participant into a productive collaborator,
❖ Getting the creative juices flowing – eliciting ideas & brainstorming strategies,
❖ Focusing the group with tools that facilitate the decision-making process, and
❖ Helping the group define and achieve their end result.

This training offers tools for professional and aspiring facilitators, managers, board members, and organizational leaders. It is endorsed by: New Mexico First, who conduct large-scale facilitated Town Hall meetings throughout New Mexico; and the City of Albuquerque Land Use Facilitation Program.

Facilitation is a profession that requires a wide variety of skills to address the needs of a wide variety of clients. The more tools you have in your toolbox, the more comfortable you feel as a facilitator. Therefore, whether you've been facilitating for two years or twenty, it's always nice to hone up on your craft. This advanced training will focus on specific tools, how you show up in the room as a facilitator and the administrative aspecs necessary to set you up for success in any environment.

Our goal is to give you some advanced tools that have as weide an application as possible (with examples of how they can be altered to fit a variety of applications), while also helping you intentionally develop your demeanor as a facilitator. Specifics include (but are not limited to):

• How to tailor your facilitative process to a variety of applications, including: staff meetings,. board and team-building retreats, focus ghroups, strategic planning sessions, and consensus building processes.
• How to choose the right tools for each group and/or process.
• Advanced tools to structure and organize information, including: The anatomy of a strategic plan
• Roberts Rules of Order
• Appreciative Inquiry
• Open Space Technology (modified version)

Please note: This advanced training builds on the principles laid out in our basic Facilitating with Finesse training. As such, graduates of our basic training will receive priority status when enrolling. Experienced facilitators interested in this training who have not taken our basic training should contact us to discuss.

BASIC TRAINING

When: July 9, 10, 11 (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) 9 am-5 pm

Where: Albuquerque, NM (specific location TBD)

Cost: $425 (Register by May 9th, or in groups of 4 or more - $395 per person)

Receive EXTRA savings when you enroll for our basic and advanced trainings together!

For more information, contact: Kathleen Oweegon (505) 501-7000

 

ADVANCED TRAINING

When: July 17th & 18th 9 am-5 pm

Where: Albuquerque, NM (specific location TBD)

Cost: $300 (Register by May 9th, or in groups of 4 or more - $275 per person)

Receive EXTRA savings when you enroll for our basic and advanced trainings together!

For more information, contact: Kathleen Oweegon (505) 501-7000

Kathleen Oweegon, founder of Bridges of Peace brings to her work a strong background in training, management, humanities and healing arts. This combination of skills has contributed to her success as a mediator, facilitator and communications trainer. She has provided these services to individuals, groups and institutions throughout the United States. www.bridgesofpeace.com

Elizabeth Perrachione, founder of FireOwl Consulting Services has over a decade in facilitation experience with non-profits, governments and schools.  She specializes in community-based facilitation – most recently creating and handling all logistics for a year-long community based facilitation process for the Champaign, Illinois school system. www.fireowl.com

Registration deadline: June 9, 2010
(Registration limits: minimum:10/maximum: 20)