Facilitating External Meetings

1. WORKING AS AN EXTERNAL CHANGE AGENT

Managing larger-scale meetings—what is realistic and what can they really do for external agencies?
The role of the external change agent/facilitator.
Building learning communities
Finding the right balance: Catalyst, facilitator, resource person

2. FINE-TUNING LISTENING SKILLS
Types of listening

•  Listening for understanding

•  Listening for support

•  Listening for action items

Communicating clearly
Scenario II: Negotiating clear expectations

3. MOTIVATING AND GUIDING
How to work an audience/group
Being inclusive versus exclusive
What do you leave behind? Fishing poles versus the fish

Scenario I: Breaking through politicization of the change process

4. TRANSLATING GOOD COMMUNICATION INTO ACTION
Helping organizations and teams develop a process for strategic planning

•  Helping clients find direction

•  Creating a situation analysis

•  The role of a needs assessment

•  Identifying key components: Goals, objectives, and strategies for achieving them

Determining time lines
Determining roles and responsibilities

Scenario III: Large group facilitation for planning

5. MAKING DECISIONS
Bringing the Group to Closure

•  Identifying challenges and how to meet them

•  Problem-solving

Sealing agreements

•  Avoiding misunderstandings

•  Reducing miscommunication and confusion

Scenario IV: Decision-making in the large group

6. ENSURING FOLLOW-UP AND FOLLOW-THROUGH
After the Meeting

•  Exit strategies

•  Identifying achievements and how to communicate them

Sharing the Learning with Colleagues and Others

7. Training Evaluation and Wrap-Up
Model Focus Group for Debriefing Day III