Category Archives: news

NEW! ToP facilitation masterclass with IAF Italy, 22-23 May in Lomazzo

I am excited to be offering ToP facilitation training in Italy in May, in partnership with IAF Italy, the Italian chapter of the International Association of Facilitators. My last, pictured, was in Pisa in 2019.

The specially tailored ToP masterclass: Group Facilitation Methods and Participatory Strategic Planning will be held in Lomazzo, between Milan and Como, on Thursday & Friday, 22-23 May – scroll down for details.

A 10% early booking discount is available until Monday 21 April with the promo code EarlyBird.

A few places remain available on my upcoming courses in April as well:

Register now for public courses in EventbriteRegister now in Eventbrite for these and other upcoming public courses in London, Brussels & elsewhere.

ToP masterclass: Group Facilitation Methods and Participatory Strategic Planning, May 22-23 in Lomazzo.

This two-day masterclass is for all those who want to be able to engage people more effectively to build shared understanding and consensus, and create strategies for action, including team leaders and managers within organisations, those working with Boards, management teams, partnerships and external stakeholders, youth and community workers and independent facilitators. The course has no pre-requisite.

IAF endorsed trainingIAF members enjoy a special 10% discount – see Exclusive Offers for IAF Members.

This course will introduce the two foundational methods of ICA’s ‘Technology of Participation‘ (ToP) methodology, and a third which adapts and applies these to creating strategies for action:

  • ToP Focused Conversation provides a structured, four-level process for effective communication which ensures that everyone in a group has the opportunity to participate
  • ToP Consensus Workshop is a five stage process that enables a facilitator to draw out and weave together everybody’s wisdom into a clear and practical consensus
  • ToP Participatory Strategic Planning is a structured long-range planning process which incorporates ToP Consensus Workshop for building consensus, ToP Focused Conversation for effective group communication, and an implementation process for turning ideas into productive action and concrete accomplishments.

More experienced facilitators may be ready to apply the methods effectively in their own situations. For others the course will serve as a powerful, experiential introduction to ICA’s ToP methodology.

Register now for public courses in Eventbrite

Register now in Eventbrite for this and other upcoming public courses in London, Brussels & elsewhere.

For additional courses offered by fellow ICA:UK Associates, see the full ICA:UK public course schedule.

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.

Facilitating a culture of participation in international organisations with IAF Belgium in Brussels

How can international organisations foster a true culture of participation? What can we learn from past experiences to shape the future?

Join me for this facilitated session with IAF Belgium on Monday 31 March in Brussels, where we will explore these questions using the Historical Scan method of ICA’s Technology of Participation (ToP).

In this interactive session, I will guide you through a participatory approach to reviewing the past and preparing for the future. Together, we will reflect on our diverse experiences and perspectives on participation in international organisations.

I will also share:
✔ insights into the theory behind the method
✔ real-world examples of the method in action
✔ ways you can apply the method in your own practice

The event is free, but spaces are limited, so register now to secure your spot on Meetup.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join me also for the following ToP facilitation training in Brussels, the following days:

  1. Group Facilitation Methods, April 1-2: introducing the foundations of the ToP approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus
  2. Action Planning, April 3: participatory planning for short-term projects and events

Register now in Eventbrite for these and other upcoming public courses in London, Brussels & elsewhere.

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.

ToP masterclass: Facilitating dialogue, learning, consensus & change at #Facilitate2025

I am excited to be offering pre-conference training again this year in conjunction with the UK’s premier facilitation learning event, the IAF England & Wales annual Annual Conference Facilitate2025, held Friday 25 and Saturday 26 April in Birmingham.

Facilitate2025 is an opportunity for facilitators to come together to share, learn and develop understanding, skills and practice. Everyone interested in facilitation is welcome, whether you are brand new to this work or have been doing it for years, whether you work in-house or externally and whether you facilitate some or all of the time.  As part of the 2025 programme there will be a thread on anti-racism and what this means for us as facilitators.

There will be a number of facilitation training courses being offered in the same training venue the day before the conference, at an additional cost. You can check them out and find the booking links here.

My own pre-conference training is the ToP masterclass: Facilitating dialogue, learning, consensus & change – introducing ICA’s Technology of Participation (ToP), transformational tools for dialogue, learning, consensus & change – Thursday 24 April.

This one-day master-class is suitable for all those who want to be able to involve people more effectively in dialogue, learning, consensus & change, including team leaders and managers within organisations, those working with Boards, management teams, partnerships and external stakeholders, youth and community workers and independent facilitators. The course has no pre-requisite.

This course will introduce two foundational methods of ICA’s ‘Technology of Participation’ (ToP) methodology, and two that adapt and apply these foundations to strategic review, planning and change:

  • ToP Focused Conversation provides a structured, four-level process for effective communication which ensures that everyone in a group has the opportunity to participate
  • ToP Consensus Workshop is a five stage process that enables a facilitator to draw out and weave together everybody’s wisdom into a clear and practical consensus
  • ToP Historical Scan (or ‘Wall of Wonder) is a powerful tool to enable a group to share and learn from their varied perspectives of a journey through history, and in context, to review the past in order to prepare for the future
  • ToP Participatory Strategic Planning is a structured long-range planning process which incorporates ToP Consensus Workshop for building consensus, ToP Focused Conversation for effective group communication, and an implementation process for turning ideas into productive action and concrete accomplishments.

Register now for public courses in Eventbrite

Register now in Eventbrite for this and other upcoming public courses in London, Brussels & elsewhere – scroll down for dates & locations.

Discounts: IAF members enjoy a special 10% discount – see Exclusive Offers for IAF Members.  Conference attendees enjoy a 25% discount (IAF members and non-members).

For additional courses offered by fellow ICA:UK Associates, see the full ICA:UK public course schedule.

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.

New: 2025 ICA:UK ToP facilitation training in London, Manchester, Birmingham & Brussels

Kickstart the New Year with a commitment to your personal and professional development – enjoy a 10% discount on any course by registering with the promo code EarlyBird before Monday 13 January.

I am excited to announce the ICA:UK 2025 schedule of public ToP facilitation training courses in London, Manchester, Birmingham & Brussels, including:

Register now for public courses in Eventbrite

Register now in Eventbrite for my own upcoming public courses in London, Brussels & elsewhere – scroll down for dates & locations.

For additional courses offered by fellow ICA:UK Associates, see the full ICA:UK public course schedule.

Enjoy a 10% discount on any course by registering with the promo code EarlyBird before Monday 13 January.

“If you have ever wondered what questions to ask, or in what order to ask them, to lead a conversation that is focused, intentional, inclusive, and productive, let this book be your guide.” – Martin Gilbraith

Are you interested to learn more about ICA’s Technology of Participation (ToP) in a free, one-hour, interactive online session that offers an experience of virtual facilitation as well? Join us to connect, share & learn on Monday, 16 December 2024, 15:00-16:00 UK time, for this Free facilitation webinar: the Art of Focused Conversation with Jo Nelson.

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.

Free facilitation webinar: the Art of Focused Conversation with Jo Nelson

Scroll down for the session recording and slides – with thanks to the 40 or so who attended!

Monday, 16 December 2024, 15:00-16:00 UK time

“If you have ever wondered what questions to ask, or in what order to ask them, to lead a conversation that is focused, intentional, inclusive, and productive, let this book be your guide.” – Martin Gilbraith

Have you ever wondered how to have a conversation that is focused, intentional, inclusive, and productive?

Join us to connect, share & learn on Monday, 16 December 2024, 15:00-16:00 UK time, for this special session following the format of the ICA:UK Online Focused Conversation Series.

We shall be joined by Jo Nelson, General Editor of the new, second edition of The Art of Focused Conversation: More Than 100 Ways to Access Group Wisdom in Your Organization. This bestselling, essential guide to designing and leading useful and effective group conversations, first published in 2000 and reprinted 20 times since then, is now completely revised and updated.

Jo is a ICA Certified ToP Facilitator, a founding member of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF), and an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator Emeritus.

An experiential introduction to the method will enable you to connect, share and learn with each other from your own experience of conversations that you have found challenging. Jo will then share some insights from the book, and both of us from our own experience, and there will be time for questions and discussion.

The session will serve as an introduction to the method for those new to ICA’s Technology of Participation (ToP), and an opportunity to deepen their understanding for those who have already read the first edition of the book or attended our popular Group Facilitation Methods course. See also my own blog post Four steps to a universal principle of facilitation and learning.

The session will be recorded, with the recording being publicly available after the session is over. If you do not wish to be identifiable, we will give you the option before we start the recording to turn off your camera and change your screen name.

Join us to connect, share & learn!

For recordings and other outputs of previous online Focused Conversation sessions and other free facilitation webinars, see free facilitation webinars.

See also about me, how I work, who I work with and recommendations & case studies, and please contact me about how we might work together.