Facilitating Effective Virtual Meetings & Discussions

Facilitation skills are one of the most useful and sought-after capabilities in the research world, required by a variety of situations & techniques and at many stages of the research process.

This course is now delivered online as a series of live sessions which fully meet the learning objectives of face-to-face training.

These include:

• Chairing meetings or workshops
• Leading brainstorming or ideation sessions
• Facilitating action-planning or decision-making

Effective, goal-orientated facilitation requires an expert balance of purpose & task, ‘big picture’ & attention to detail, technical know-how & emotional intelligence, leadership & listening skills.  All of this becomes even more crucial, and challenging, when you are trying to facilitate effective discussions remotely.  This highly interactive workshop will give all participants the opportunity to discuss the theories and how to apply them in practice, identifying tangible areas for development.

Learning outcomes

On completion, participants will:

• Have discussed & practiced various online facilitation skills, styles & tools
• Understand better the concept of (& what contributes to) good, effective facilitation
• Have critiqued their own facilitation style & skills, and better understand the range available within their own personal armoury
• Be able to balance the technical & emotional demands of virtual facilitation
• Have developed greater confidence in facilitating, particularly in ‘challenging’ situations or with ‘difficult’ people
• Leave with tangible action plans that, once implemented back in reality, will make a positive difference to their own performance as a facilitator and its impact

Subjects covered will include:

• The role/s & skills of the effective facilitator
• The purpose, product & process of facilitation
• The importance of planning & preparation
• Effective facilitation models & tools
• The importance of emotional intelligence & communication skills
• Handling fear or conflict & ‘challenging’ situations & people
• Action-planning & decision-making
• Evaluating the effectiveness of one’s facilitation

Who will benefit?

Anyone who needs to improve their effectiveness as a facilitator in a remote / virtual environment.  The workshop is equally relevant whether you are new to facilitating or more experienced, wanting a checklist of best practice, to pick up ‘tips’ and / or sense-check your existing skills and expertise.

Learning methods

• Tutor presentation
• Group discussions
• Paired activities

Testimonials

"A valuable and worthwhile MOT on Virtual Facilitating!"

Delyth Wiliams - Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament, February 2022

"Excellent."

Svetlana Dimitrijevic – ICAEW, February 2021

"Virtually perfect!"

Catherine Ayland - Bridge MR, July 2020

"A useful reminder on facilitation techniques, reminded me of what I know and has lifted me out of a low-confidence rut!"

Amanda Herbert - Syren Insights, July 2020