Facilitation training

Group Facilitation Methods

Powerful methods to facilitate and build consensus. Move beyond reliance on instinct with the two most powerful facilitation methods available on dialogue and consensus.

Powerful methods to facilitate and build consensus

Prerequisite: None *

*GFM is a prerequisite for most other ICA courses and all Programs.

Move beyond “seat-of-the-pants” facilitation and reliance on instinct, to use the most powerful facilitation methods and processes available. Learn step-by-step approaches to clear thinking, sound decisions, solid consensus and open dialogue.

Group Facilitation is a foundational course for professional facilitators and will give you a thorough grounding in facilitation practice.

This course has been endorsed by the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) as part of the Professional Facilitator Program to lead you to become a Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF). GFM alone covers many of the competencies required by the IAF.

As with all ICAA training, this course is delivered by professional facilitators who actually demonstrate the materials, lead reflections to learn collaboratively, provide real life examples from experience, and set you up to practice with others using a suite of tools. Sometimes you might work on interesting case studies. Sometimes you work on your own case. The high quality manual is full of useful materials: underlying theory, short readings, step-by-step instructions, templates, and worksheets. As a result you will have the confidence to use your new understandings immediately with clients of your own.

Choose your preferred type of learning in courses that are: In Person (IP), Live online (LO), or Self Directed (SD). Descriptions of the differences are explained in an expandable section near the bottom of this web page.

Price is in CAD$1,445.00. (approximately US$1011) Applicable tax is extra.

 

In Person course

Date Location Price
Apr 22-23, 2025 Toronto 9 – 5 Eastern Time $1,445.00
May 5-6, 2025 Calgary 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Mountain Time $1,445.00
May 26-27, 2025 Edmonton 9 – 5 Mountain Time $1,445.00
Jun 9-10, 2025 Toronto 9 – 5 Eastern Time $1,445.00
Oct 2-3, 2025 Toronto 9 – 5 Eastern Time $1,445.00
Oct 20-21, 2025 Toronto 9 – 5 Eastern Time $1,445.00
Nov 24-25, 2025 Toronto 9 – 5 Eastern Time $1,445.00

Live Online course

Date Time Price
Jun 2-3, 2025 Live Online 9 – 5 Eastern Time $1,445.00
Sep 22-23, 2025 Live Online 9 – 5 Pacific Time $1,445.00
Dec 8-9, 2025 Live Online 9 – 5 Mountain Time $1,445.00

Self Directed course

Any time, any place, at your own pace. Instruction online, assignments offline.

• To be invoiced, send an email to ica@ica-associates.ca
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The Group Facilitation Methods course is the best course to take in-house for use within your company. Call us for details.

Benefits

Focus group energy on common goals

  • Lead groups to form consensus
  • Facilitate solid commitment to results
  • Encourage group creativity

Build motivation and improve morale

  • Help groups resolve conflict
  • Build respect and trust in groups
  • Create lively effective teamwork
  • Generate positive interaction

Make groups more productive and effective

  • Conduct easier, faster meetings
  • Save time and money on meetings
  • Involve participants in discussions
  • Get more ideas into the mix

Day One

The Focused Conversation Method

  • Demonstration of FCM
  • Theory and levels of thinking
  • Applications of FCM
  • Practice
  • Designing focused conversations
  • Practice leading conversations
  • Feedback

Day Two

Consensus Workshop Method

  • Demonstration of Consensus Workshop
  • Theory and group dynamics
  • Applications of Consensus Workshop
  • Practice
  • Designing Focus Questions
  • Practice Consensus Workshops
  • Feedback
  • Experienced facilitators by reinforcing what you are already doing well and pointing out those areas that need work.
  • New facilitators by starting you out on a solid foundation with best practices used by professional facilitators around the world.
  • Executives, managers and other leaders by acquainting you with key facilitation skills that will immediately enhance your leadership capacity.
  • Consultants by showing how to engage your clients more effectively in discussions and solutions.
  • Presenters and trainers who will get new practical tools that will enhance the adult learning principles they know are important.
  • Anyone who wants to be assessed by the International Association of Facilitators as a Certifies Professional Facilitator (CPF)

Learn two powerful methods to enhance your facilitation

The Focused Conversation Method provides a structure for clear dialogue and reflection, probes beneath the surface to the depth of a topic, encourages a diversity of perspectives and leads to decisions.

  • Gets everyone participating
  • Encourages a diversity of perspectives
  • Provides a structure for positive dialogue
  • Gets beneath the surface of a topic
  • Builds common understanding

The Consensus Workshop Method provides a participative and respectful way to move a group toward consensus on those important topics that everyone wants a breakthrough.

  • Involves each group member
  • Gets all the ideas into the mix
  • Focuses the group consensus
  • Builds an effective team partnership
  • Enables you to facilitate large groups

You can choose to take this course In Person (IP),  Live Online (LO) or Self-Directed (SD). The codes IP or LO or SD show in the course name when you register.

In Person (IP) classes are instructor-led events occurring in the same room on specific dates with one group of people. You have a deep level of dialogue with face-to-face practice in breakout groups, get paper manuals and books, use pen-and-paper worksheets and exercises and enjoy breaks and lunches together. Instructors demonstrate methods using flipcharts, index cards, marker pens and wall chart visuals . The experience for participants can be similar to working with a client in a live setting. There is no practice of online tools.

Live Online (LO) classes are instructor-led events occurring at the same time with the same people, using our learning management system and online platforms, primarily Zoom and Mural. The course covers the same material as an IP course but uses online tools with plenty of small group exercises. Manuals and books are downloadable as PDFs that can be printed out if you want.  There are no programs or apps to download. Participants need a computer with a large screen (a cell phone won't work well), a high speed internet connection, and earphones or earbuds. We do not actively “teach” online tools, but participants get so see and experience the ones we use during the course.

Self Directed (SD) courses are sets of “modules” like mini-courses, each containing short videos, readings, quizzes and games and assignments. You take them at your own speed any time from anywhere. You get written feedback from instructors on your assignments. The modules are assembled to resemble the in-person and live online course content. The disadvantage is the absence of collegial interaction, teamwork, and dialogue, which is a key component of facilitation. Participant manuals and materials are downloadable in PDF form.

All course graduates are encouraged to follow-up with some 1:1 coaching and join communities of practice we have set up to help extend and reinforce learning.

For testing only

Testimonials

"ICA methods have made a tremendous difference in my work. Many of my clients have benefited from them and they have generated positive results in some very tricky and challenging situations. I also make good use of the post course support and I always get first-rate advice."

David Kraft

I would like to thank you for leading the DLC Course 2023. It was challenging to contemplate spending three full days contemplating racism and bias and what we can immediately do to identify and address systemic racism, systemic discrimination, and unconscious bias to build alliances in employment, economic, political, cultural, and social institutions. That said, The time was well-spent. Your course was challenging, but engaging and educational, and you were always there to support and ready to help uncover the intricacies behind these societally relevant topics as Canada becomes more diverse. I enjoyed hearing the diverse perspectives of my colleagues tremendously, and I look forward to taking another class with you.

Margarett Ennis-Trottman

"Thank you again for contributing effectively to our training curriculum aimed at developing the interpersonal skills of both staff and management."

Mary-Jane Jarvis Haig Director, Development Support, Information Services, Hudsons Bay Company

"Thank you again for contributing effectively to our training curriculum aimed at developing the interpersonal skills of both staff and management."

Mary-Jane Jarvis Haig