Essential Facilitation Skills

NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW

OPTIMAL SOLUTIONS CONSULTING
nicole@opti-solutions.com www.opti-solutions.com

Desired Outcomes
Understand how to apply The 6 Ps when

facilitating meetings.
Gain tips and techniques for handling difficult

situations in meetings.

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Agenda
I. Welcome / Overview / Introductions II. Essential Preparation Skills

III.Essential Meeting Management Skills

IV. Closing / Evaluation

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Group Agreements
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Listen before responding Take turns speaking Stretch your comfort zone Start and end on time Keep an open mind Value different opinions and ideas Say your piece in the room Turn phones/pagers to silent or vibrate
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Introductions
Name Organization

Currently facilitating meetings?

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced facilitator?

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Facilitation Is

Helping groups work together effectively and accomplish their desired results.

Optimal Solutions Consulting, 2010

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The 6 Ps of Facilitation
1. Plan

Purpose, Desired Outcomes, Participants, Agenda, Potential Challenges

2. Prepare

Handouts, Discussion Openers and Closers

3. Practice

Transitions, Discussion Questions, Difficult Situations

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Exercise: Planning for a Meeting

Think about an upcoming meeting that you will (or could) be facilitating and write down answers to items:
#1 (Meeting Purpose) #2 (Desired Outcomes) #4 (Meeting Participants) #5 (Building the Agenda) #6 last bullet (Potential Challenges)

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The 6 Ps of Facilitation
4.

Promote

Effective meeting culture

5.

Present

Context, Clarify, Review, Discuss, Decide

6.

Produce

Meeting Minutes, Follow Up

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Helpful Meeting Behaviors

Builder Clarifier Compromiser Encourager Gatekeeper Harmonizer Initiator Opinion Giver Opinion Seeker Summarizer Tension Reliever Tester

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Difficult Meeting Behaviors

Agenda Jumper Aggressor Blocker Competitor Devilish Advocate Dominator Eager Beaver Entertainer Nay-Sayer Self-Discloser Spotlight Seeker Withdrawer

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Want More Information?

E-mail: nicole@opti-solutions.com Visit: www.opti-solutions.com Connect:
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www.twitter.com/nicolemyoung www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemyoung
Optimal Solutions Consulting, 2010

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