What is facilitation? How can I use it to improve participation in decision-making or make meetings more effective?

This one-day course provides an introduction to the practice of facilitation. It introduces key techniques, their uses and practical considerations. Participants will have the opportunity to develop and practice their skills in a supportive, learning environment. It is also a foundation for further training and development in facilitation.

Who is this course for?

The course is developed for people who are new to facilitation and who want to be able to facilitate groups more effectively.  Team leaders and managers within organisations, youth and community workers and those working with partners and external stakeholders will find the course particularly useful.

This is an entry-level group facilitation course and has no pre-requisite. It is recommended as a first course for newcomers to facilitation or for those wanting to explore whether facilitation is a skillset they wish to develop.

“Everyone participated in every step of the training, and the diversity of the group was very enriching. The role play was the high point for me because it gave me the chance to practice and improve my facilitation skills” – Sister Anne Falola OLA

What you will gain

By the end of the course, you will have

  • reached a basic understanding of what it means to facilitate
  • explored & developed some key facilitation skills
  • built your confidence as a facilitator
  • built links with others to promote future collaboration and support as a facilitator

The course covers the following topics:

  • facilitation, and the breadth of the role of the facilitator
  • key facilitation skills, including – listening, questioning, recording, planning & preparation, personal styles
  • group dynamics, dealing with challenges in a group

Learning style

The course uses a combination of short, interactive presentations, practical exercises and supported facilitation skills practice. We’ll support you with guided reflection & feedback.

What do participants say about this course?

88% of IGF participants rated this course 8/10 or higher. Comments from participants’ end-of-course evaluations included:

  • an excellent foundation course in facilitation, teaching the basics and exploring some issues using role play
  • a very good introduction to facilitation – well organised with good contents
  • a great way to gain a thoughtful and meaningful insight into facilitation

Please visit our course calendar to see upcoming dates and locations for this course and make a booking.  Alternatively, contact us to enquire about a tailored in-house course for your organisation.