Course Overview
This practical, one-day course is designed to equip participants with the essential skills, tools and confidence to effectively facilitate discussions, meetings, and workshops. Whether you're guiding a team brainstorming session, leading a stakeholder workshop, or managing a complex meeting, strong facilitation skills can dramatically improve outcomes and engagement.
Participants will learn how to plan and structure sessions, manage group dynamics, keep discussions on track, and handle challenging behaviours—all while creating a collaborative and inclusive environment. The course combines theory with hands-on activities, group discussions, and real-world scenarios to build practical, transferable skills.
Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for:
Project managers
Team leaders and supervisors
Business analysts
Community engagement officers
Policy officers
Trainers and consultants
Anyone responsible for leading meetings or workshops
No prior facilitation experience is necessary.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Understand the role and mindset of an effective facilitator
Plan and design structured facilitation sessions
Use a range of facilitation tools and techniques to encourage participation
Manage group dynamics, including difficult participants and off-topic conversations
Apply active listening, summarising and questioning techniques
Create safe, inclusive and engaging environments for diverse groups
Maintain neutrality and guide discussions to achieve desired outcomes
Course Content
1. Introduction to Facilitation
What is facilitation?
Key differences between facilitation, presentation and training
The mindset of an effective facilitator
2. Planning for Success
Clarifying session purpose and outcomes
Structuring the session: openings, transitions, closings
Selecting the right tools and approaches for your audience
3. Core Facilitation Techniques
Questioning strategies (open, probing, clarifying)
Active listening and reflection
Encouraging balanced participation
Visual facilitation basics (whiteboards, templates, sticky notes)
4. Managing Group Dynamics
Reading the room and adapting your approach
Handling dominant or disengaged participants
Dealing with conflict or resistance constructively
Techniques for decision-making and consensus-building
5. Practice and Feedback
Facilitated role-plays and group exercises
Constructive peer and trainer feedback
Personal action planning
Delivery Method
This course is delivered in a highly interactive, face-to-face or virtual format. It includes a blend of short presentations, group work, facilitated discussions and hands-on activities to embed learning.
Inclusions
Comprehensive participant workbook and toolkit
Facilitator guides and templates
Certificate of completion
Optional post-course coaching (available on request)