Training

See also: Coastal Training Network, Sustainable Human Systems

Facilitation skills are used by scientists, planners and resources managers to form productive teams, plan programs and projects, and to implement controversial projects and programs. Facilitators help groups to communicate productively, honoring diverse points of view and respectfully creating options that provide the richest suite of benefits for all.

This course is intended to be a practical approach to improving group meetings. It is oriented specifically to the needs of scientists, planners and other resource managers. After core facilitation skills are practiced, the class will be tailored to the students’ development needs. Participants will be asked to complete a pre-workshop skills profile. Students are presented with a wide array of tools and opportunities to practice new facilitation skills.

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

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

Outcomes

Students will be provided an overview of the competencies required for effective meetings. These competencies include:

The ability to assess needs and design meetings to serve the purpose of the meeting and the interests of meeting participants.

Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the facilitator, assist team, meeting leader, participants, etc.

Managing and facilitating meetings.

Information gathering and presentation techniques

Facilitation skills - Verbal skills...Nonverbal skills...Recording skills...Basic visual facilitation techniques...

Decision-making processes

Evaluation processes

Important Information

This 3 day workshop costs $450; the fee includes refreshments, lunch each day, and materials. Checks should be made out to "Elkhorn Slough Foundation" and mailed to Grey Hayes, c/o ESF; 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, CA 95076. Registration and Payment Deadline: 5 p.m. April 19, 2011

If you cancel prior to April 19, 5 p.m., any registration fees will be refunded minus a $50 processing fee. We cannot refund registration fees for cancellations after this date, but please let us know if you cannot attend as soon as you know, so we can allow others to attend. If you pre-register and do not pay by April 19, 5 p.m., we cannot guarantee you a spot as our waiting list tends to be quite long. You cannot substitute your registration for another, even in your own organization. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone this event should we receive insufficient registration by April 26, 2011; in that event, full refunds will be remitted.