ToP Facilitation Competencies

Use this ToP Facilitation Comptency chart to help you to identify your strengths and the areas where you need to expand and extend your capacities as a facilitator. The chart is available to download in pdf, in English and in Chinese.

Strengths & Learning Needs

1. Manage Positive Client Relationships

  • Understand Client Needs
    Assess client needs and clarify mutual understanding
  • Create Appropriate Designs
    Design customized facilitation plans toward quality results
  • Communicate Client Needs
    Articulate client needs and plans in writing
  • Effective Project Management  Appropriate marketing, management and financial systems

2. Create a Participatory Environment

  • Communicate Effectively
    Effective communication skills, rapport, active listening and feedback
  • Create Positive Atmosphere
    Encourage respect for experience and perception of diverse participants
  • Resolve Group Conflicts
    Mediate conflict and manage disruptive individual and group behaviour
  • Implement Plans Effectively
    Create and use facilitation procedures to engage the group in their task

3. Evoke the Creativity of the Group

  • Understand Learning Needs
    Assess learning styles and needs.
  • Apply Appropriate Approaches
    Use learning approaches that best fit the group.
  • Elicit Group Creativity
    Engage all participants, awaken group energy and encourage creative thinking.
  • Utilize Space and Time Effectively  Plan effective use of time, space, visuals and equipment.

4. Use ToP Methods Effectively

  • Conduct Great Conversations
    Create 4 levels of questions and orchestrate focused conversations.
  • Do Productive Workshops
    Use the ToP workshop method appropriately and effectively.
  • Facilitate ToP Strategic Planning  
    Design and Use strategic planning methods appropriately
  • Guide Action Planning
    Ensure that group has a clear commitment and doable actions 
  • Conduct ToP Historical Scan/ Wall of Wonder
    Guide a historical description of the group journey

5. Model Positive Professional Attitude

  • Evoke Depth and Substance to Illuminate Group Potential
    Reveal the possibility in every situation and elicit group insight.
  • Care for Group Journey
    Enable group to go on journey of change, transformation and development.
  • Practice Self-Assessment and Self-Awareness
    Modify personal behaviour and style to reflect the needs of the group
  • Act with Integrity
    Make choices with authenticity and responsibility
  • Model Neutrality
    Maintain an objective, non-defensive, non-judgmental stance 

6. Orchestrate Quality Events

  • Manage Overall Process
    Set clear context, use participatory processes and bring appropriate closure.
  • Ensure Dynamic Process
    Keep the conversation moving, focused on the task and elicit wisdom.
  • Adapt to Group Needs
    Adapt processes to fit the needs of the individuals and group.
  • Work Effectively with a Team
    Demonstrate team values and co-facilitation.

7.  Produce Effective Results

  • Apply Appropriate Methods
    Apply appropriate methods to ensure task completion and results.
  • Clearly Document Results
    Keep ongoing records of group work and produce quality documentation

 

  • Develop Authentic Consensus
    Enable the group to develop and articulate authentic consensus.
  • Prepare for Solid Implementation
    Determine and enable the group to create implementation plans

Customers are lovin’ it

With company representatives and stakeholders in the same room, we needed serious expertise in designing the major planning session to launch our new organization. ICA helped us put the whole enterprise on a very solid foundation.

I make plans, hold meetings and conduct research using ICA’s methods of participation. They are the best methods around to involve people in groups in making sense of lots of information and making decisions about action.

All of our staff regularly make use of ICA methods and techniques in programs with colleagues and with the public. It makes them very effective in working together with others.

ICA just finished facilitating a strategic planning session with a community group, and the results were great.

In only three days, we had a way for our managers to move the entire organization toward team-based operations, and an action plan to get it done.

We had ICA Associates lead our strategic planning. It was so effective that we had them look at and enhance all of our program planning and evaluation processes.

As the new president of a large, complex organization, I had to quickly get our whole management team thinking along the same lines. With the help of ICA, it took only two days.

ToP Facilitator Certification is available in countries including Australia & New ZealandCanadaTaiwanUkraine & USA.  Other ICAs also offer public training courses, and in-house courses on request.

For ToP training near you look at our upcoming public ToP courses or contact trainers directly on the USA  national network of ToP Trainers directly  or visit  ICA Worldwide