Meetings come at a cost. It is therefore important that clear outcomes are achieved which require participation from all who attend. At Cedar Associates we can facilitate those really important meetings, allowing the usual chairperson the opportunity to give their full focus to the issues on the agenda. Alternatively our one day course on Facilitation Skills is designed to further develop the skills of those who organise and run meetings or events. The benefit is those attending leave the meeting valuing the outcome as a result of effective facilitation.

Facilitated Meetings
These are structured meetings that encourage the participation of all, but are controlled and focused towards achieving positive decisions. An outside Consultant chairing the process enables participants to share their visions of the future, and discuss their aspirations in an open atmosphere.

The aims of the meetings are agreed in advance, and a structure designed to deliver the agreed outcomes. They might include:

• Agreeing the business’s direction and values
• Deciding how success will be measured
• Listing the business’s priority areas for improvement

Facilitation Skills
Wherever it is necessary to stimulate a group into a constructive discussion, and steer them towards a positive conclusion, there is a need for someone to adopt the role of facilitator. Planning and structuring a meeting, and adopting the appropriate style and techniques will greatly enhance the effectiveness of future meetings, presentations and training sessions.

Aims
Participants will be better able to:

• Conduct meetings that result in more quality ideas generated from the group - and practical plans to action them.
• Involve people more fully in discussions and decisions.
• Facilitate confidently and correctly employ a number of techniques to stimulate participation.

Course Content

• Setting clear objectives
• The benefits of encouraging people to participate
• Steering discussions towards positive conclusions
• Using questions to encourage comment and probe opinions
• Employ tactics to stimulate contribution, and curb over contribution like Hum, Syndicate, Buzz and Brainstorming
• Summary technique
• Group dynamics
• Planned visits
• Structuring and designing a meeting

> Contact us to discuss how meeting facilitation can help you