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Description

Facilitation: Framing a Workshop, Leading Collective Intelligence and Deciding

Run workshops where the group actually produces an outcome instead of discussing endlessly

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Intermediate
  • Up to 6 participants

Bringing competent people into a room is not enough to produce a solution or a decision. Without a clear frame, two or three voices take over the discussion, ideas stay general and the session ends without a deliverable. Collaborative methods are often applied as recipes, with no clarity on the problem they are meant to solve.

Two days to design a workshop from its objective, select the formats suited to each phase, hold the facilitator's stance and lead the group through to a formalised decision. Participants facilitate sequences themselves and receive feedback from the group.

Learning objectives

  • Design the flow of a workshop based on its objective
  • Select formats suited to the divergence and convergence phases
  • Hold a facilitator's stance that remains neutral on content
  • Manage behaviours that block the group's output
  • Lead a group through to a formalised decision

What makes this programme different

Each participant facilitates a complete sequence in front of the group
Formats tested live in the session rather than merely described
Your own workshop run-sheet built during the programme

Programme

1Framing Before Facilitating

The objective drives the format

  • Distinguishing information production and decision
  • Defining the deliverable expected from the workshop
  • Selecting participants and setting the duration
  • Building a timed run-sheet
  • Preparing the room the materials and the visual supports

2Getting the Group to Produce

Diverge before converging

  • Starting with individual output before collective discussion
  • Using divergence formats to broaden the range of ideas
  • Organising clustering and selection
  • Making output visible on shared supports
  • Keeping to the timing of each sequence

3The Facilitator's Stance

Neutral on content demanding on process

  • Separating facilitation from subject-matter expertise
  • Distributing speaking time and creating space for quieter participants
  • Redirecting a digression without causing offence
  • Handling a dominant participant or an opponent
  • Treating disagreement as useful material

4Deciding and Securing Commitment

From workshop to action

  • Choosing a decision mode and announcing it from the opening
  • Using simple prioritisation methods
  • Formalising decisions and actions with a named owner
  • Closing the session and gathering feedback
  • Organising follow-up after the workshop

Who is it for

This programme is designed for managers and project managers as well as transformation leads and anyone responsible for facilitating working groups.

Prerequisites

Prior experience of running meetings or working groups is required.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.