Join me for ToP facilitation training in Brussels & London in 2019!


Register nowย onย Eventbrite, and please share these details with friends, colleagues and networks who might be interested.

I am anย ICA Certified ToP Facilitator (CTF), and a licensed provider and experienced lead trainer of ICAย ToP facilitation training. I offer these courses in partnership withย ICA:UKย andย ICA Associates Inc, and in Brussels withย Social Platform and in Lisbon with IAF Portugal. I am excited to extend these partnerships again to offer even more public courses for 2019.

Looking for accredited learning?ย Group Facilitation Methods, Action Planning and Participatory Strategic Planningย are accredited by theย Institute of Leadership and Managementย for an ILM Development Award.

IAF endorsed trainingPreparing for CPF certification?ย Meetings That Work,ย Group Facilitation Methodsย andย Facilitating Client Collaborationย together comprise the new ICA Associatesย ToP Facilitation Essentials Programย that has been endorsed by theย International Association of Facilitatorsย for thoseย preparing to become anย IAF Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF). These three courses plus Action Planning and Participatory Strategic Planning cover most of the competencies required for Certified ToP Facilitator (CTF) assessment. To learn more, see my February 2018 free facilitation webinar Facilitator certification: whatโ€™s it like, and is it worthwhile?

Interested to join IAF? Participants in all these ICA:UK ToP courses are eligible for a 50% discount on their first year’sย IAF membership, a requirement for CPF certification.

Most courses are scheduled in pairs to allow 1, 2, 3 or 4 days of training at once.ย  Follow the links below for further details and to register for each course.


Group Facilitation Methodsย โ€“ introducing the foundations of the ToP approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus โ€“ 2 days

โ€œI found it really helpful. Martin established a really good group learning process and displayed mastery of his subject. I am very glad I went on it and very glad he ran it!โ€ –ย Mike Pounsford, Employee engagement, communication and change specialist

โ€œAs a diverse, transnational, multilingual membership network, successful meetings are key to our internal and external successes. Many of our staff mentioned Martinโ€™s training as a highlight in their end of year reviews โ€“ several said it was the most useful training they had ever attended.โ€ –ย Eve Geddie, Deputy Director at Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)


Action Planningย โ€“ participatory planning for short-term projects and events โ€“ 1 day

โ€œMartin is a very inspiring trainer, he is very skilled and knows how to facilitate facilitators in a structured and insightful way. I have been able to succesfully use his personal advice and facilitation techniques straight away!โ€ –ย Miriam Elst, Facilitator Design Thinking and LEGOยฎ SERIOUS PLAYยฎ, Lead UX researcher & strategist, Service designer


Meetings That Workย โ€“ practical tools to design and lead effective meetings โ€“ 2 days

โ€œMeetings That Work ticked all the boxes. It was very interesting to hear the theory and useful to have to put it in practice during the many exercises. I use the templates and ideas from this course on a weekly basis. It improves planning and preparing for our 20 meetings (annually). Feedback on the improved meeting format is excellent.โ€ –ย Peter Van Roste, General Manager CENTR


Facilitating Client Collaborationย โ€“ practical tools to design facilitation approaches with your client โ€“ 2 days

โ€œI got confidence in how to deal with my clients. I had not expected that this course would boost me up to be more open to the customers and speak with them more freely, but it did. The methods and processes will not only be helpful in my regular work, but also in solving my family, community and society problems.โ€ย โ€“ย ย Neha Shrestha

Bill Staples of ICA Associates Inc. CanadaI shall be joined for the October course in London by Bill Staples ofย ICA Associates Incย asย guest trainer.ย Bill is one of the founders ofย ICA’s Technology of Participation, a principal partner ofย ICA Associates Inc.ย and the main designer ofย Facilitating Client Collaboration.


Participatory Strategic Planningย โ€“ bringing people together to create strategies for action โ€“ 2 days

โ€œMartin created a good atmosphere in an international group. His presentations were crispy clear, illustrated by carefully chosen, practical examples from his rich facilitator experience. Martin helped me to understand countless details of preparation and running a successful Participatory Strategic Planning session for various customers.โ€ –ย Marzena Dฤ™bska-Matuszak, Experienced Trainer, Facilitator and Coach


For early bird rates, register by 7 January onย Eventbrite.

Register on two or more courses at once to enjoy a 10% discount on each – please contact meย to ask forย a promotional code for the multiple bookings discount.ย Enter the code as you registerย onย Eventbriteย for your chosen courses to reveal your discounted rates.

Additional discounts are available all year to members ofย Social Platformย and other European NGO networks, and to members ofย ICA, IAFย &ย IABC. If you have not received a promotional code directly from them, please contact me.


For in-house and tailored training seeย ToP facilitation training at your place โ€“ and free places forย you!ย and pleaseย contact me.ย Please do not delay before contacting me – the earlier I hear from you, the more chance that I will be able to help and the more helpful I may be able to be.

See alsoย about me,ย how I work,ย who I work withย andย recommendations & case studies.

Join me for ToP facilitation training in Brussels & London in 2018!


ToP facilitation training in Brussels & London in 2018Register nowย onย Eventbrite, and please share these details with friends, colleagues and networks who might be interested.

I am anย ICA Certified ToP Facilitator (CTF), and a licensed provider and experienced lead trainer of ICAย ToP facilitation training. I offer these courses in partnership withย ICA:UKย andย ICA Associates Inc, and in Brussels withย Social Platform. I am excited to extend these partnerships now to offer more and new public courses, dates and locations for 2018.

Looking for accredited learning?ย Group Facilitation Methods, Action Planning and Participatory Strategic Planningย are accredited by theย Institute of Leadership and Managementย for an ILM Development Award.

IAF endorsed trainingPreparing for CPF certification?ย Meetings That Work,ย Group Facilitation Methodsย andย Facilitating Client Collaborationย together comprise the new ICA Associatesย ToP Facilitation Essentials Programย that has been endorsed by theย International Association of Facilitatorsย for thoseย preparing to become anย IAF Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF). These three courses plus Action Planning and Participatory Strategic Planning cover most of the competencies required for Certified ToP Facilitator (CTF) assessment. To learn more, join my next free facilitation webinar Facilitator certification: whatโ€™s it like, and is it worthwhile?

Interested to join IAF? Participants in all these ICA:UK ToP courses are eligible for a 50% discount on their first year’sย IAF membership, a requirement for CPF certification.

Most courses are scheduled in pairs to allow 1, 2, 3 or 4 days of training at once.ย  Follow the links for details and to register for each course.


Group Facilitation Methodsย โ€“ introducing the foundations of the ToP approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus โ€“ 2 days

โ€œI found it really helpful. Martin established a really good group learning process and displayed mastery of his subject. I am very glad I went on it and very glad he ran it!โ€ –ย Mike Pounsford, Employee engagement, communication and change specialist

โ€œAs a diverse, transnational, multilingual membership network, successful meetings are key to our internal and external successes. Many of our staff mentioned Martinโ€™s training as a highlight in their end of year reviews โ€“ several said it was the most useful training they had ever attended.โ€ –ย Eve Geddie, Deputy Director at Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)


Action Planningย โ€“ participatory planning for short-term projects and events โ€“ 1 day

โ€œMartin is a very inspiring trainer, he is very skilled and knows how to facilitate facilitators in a structured and insightful way. I have been able to succesfully use his personal advice and facilitation techniques straight away!โ€ –ย Miriam Elst, Facilitator Design Thinking and LEGOยฎ SERIOUS PLAYยฎ, Lead UX researcher & strategist, Service designer


Meetings That Workย โ€“ practical tools to design and lead effective meetings โ€“ 2 days

โ€œMeetings That Work ticked all the boxes. It was very interesting to hear the theory and useful to have to put it in practice during the many exercises. I use the templates and ideas from this course on a weekly basis. It improves planning and preparing for our 20 meetings (annually). Feedback on the improved meeting format is excellent.โ€ –ย Peter Van Roste, General Manager CENTR


International Facilitation WeekFacilitating Client Collaborationย โ€“ practical tools to design facilitation approaches with your client โ€“ 2 days

โ€œI got confidence in how to deal with my clients. I had not expected that this course would boost me up to be more open to the customers and speak with them more freely, but it did. The methods and processes will not only be helpful in my regular work, but also in solving my family, community and society problems.โ€ย โ€“ย ย Neha Shrestha

Bill Staples of ICA Associates Inc. CanadaI shall be joined for this new course for 2018 byย Bill Staples ofย ICA Associates Incย asย guest trainer.ย Bill is one of the founders ofย ICA’s Technology of Participation, a principal partner ofย ICA Associates Inc.ย and the main designer ofย Facilitating Client Collaboration.


Participatory Strategic Planningย โ€“ bringing people together to create strategies for action โ€“ 2 days

โ€œMartin created a good atmosphere in an international group. His presentations were crispy clear, illustrated by carefully chosen, practical examples from his rich facilitator experience. Martin helped me to understand countless details of preparation and running a successful Participatory Strategic Planning session for various customers.โ€ –ย Marzena Dฤ™bska-Matuszak, Experienced Trainer, Facilitator and Coach


For early bird rates, register by 10 January onย Eventbrite.

Register on two or more courses at once to enjoy a 10% discount on all additional courses. Register onย Eventbriteย for any course, then add additional courses before you check out.

Additional discounts are available all year to members ofย Social Platformย and other European NGO networks, and to members ofย ICA, IAFย &ย IABC. If you have not received a promotional code directly from them, please contact me. Enter your code for your chosen courseย onย Eventbriteย to reveal your discounted rates.


For in-house and tailored training seeย ToP facilitation training at your place โ€“ and free places forย you!ย and pleaseย contact me.ย Please do not delay before contacting me – the earlier I hear from you, the more chance that I will be able to help and the more helpful I may be able to be.

See alsoย about me,ย how I work,ย who I work withย andย recommendations & case studies.

Join me for ToP facilitation training in Brussels & London in 2017!

New! (May 2017) –ย Meetings That Work in Brussels and London in September – scroll down for details…


I am pleased to announce threeย pairs of public courses in Brussels again for 2017, plus aย newย Meetings That Workย course in Brussels and London in September. Please join me if you can, and share these details with friends, colleagues and networks who might be interested.

Now in their 4th year in Brussels, these courses are scheduled in partnership with Social Platform,ย the largest platform of European rights and value-based NGOs working in the social sector, and provided under license with ICA:UK, the participation & development charity. ย Mostย are again scheduled in pairs to allow 1, 2, 3 or 4 days of training at once, in March, June, September & Novemberย – read on for courses and dates. For full details of each course, and to book, justย follow the links fromย the course dates below.

I am pleased to offer discounted rates again to voluntary organisations and independent professionals, and in particular toย ICA colleagues, to staff and members of Social Platform andย other European NGO platforms, andย to members of IAFย &ย IABC.ย Please askย for details if you doย not receive them through those channels.

Please contact me with any questions or for further details โ€“ including how to commission a tailored course for your group, and availability of scheduled public courses in the UK and worldwide.

See alsoย ToP facilitation training โ€“ whatโ€™s it like, and is it worthwhile? andย ToP facilitation training at your place โ€“ and free places forย you!


โ€œMeetings are a key part of what we do. As a diverse, transnational, multilingual membership network, successful meetings are key to our internal and external successes. Many of our staff mentioned Martinโ€™s training as a highlight in their end of year reviews โ€“ several said it was the most useful training they had ever attended, and there was a clear consensus that we should work with him again.โ€

Eve Geddie, Deputy Director at Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)


Meetings That Work (New for 2017)

Practical tools to design and lead effective meetings – 2 days

How can I turn meetings into โ€œeventsโ€ that people want to attend? How can I increase participation, and get the best input and results from everyone?ย How can I increase commitment to action, and handle difficult or controversial items?

This course will provide you with tips, templates and practical tools from professional facilitators that will enable you to get more from meetings than you ever thought possible. For this new course I shall be joined by Bill Staples of ICA Associates Inc of Canada as guest trainer.

Bill Staples is one of the founders of ICA’s Technology of Participation, a principal partner of ICA Associates Inc. of Canada, and one of the designers of Meetings That Work. Bill is happy to bring Meetings That Work to Europe for the first time in 2017, and will make the course come alive will illustrations from many fields. Bill has worked around the world with many organization and is well known in the field of facilitation. He is the author of Transformational Strategy: Facilitating ToP Participatory Planning, and is the publishing editor of the IAF Journal Group Facilitation. Bill is also a founding member of IAF, and was among the first facilitators to be inducted into the IAF Hall of Fame.


Group Facilitation Methods

Introducing the foundations of the Technology of Participation (ToP) approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus – 2 days

  • 21-22 Marchย in Brussels
  • 20-21 Juneย in Brussels
  • 7-8 Novemberย in Brussels – BOOK NOW!

FC&CW method imagesHow can I have more purposeful & productive conversations, bring out the wisdom of a group, encourage feedback between people, and reach shared awareness in meetings? How can I generate and weave together a diverse range of ideas, develop creative solutions and build a group consensus?

This course provides a structured introduction to the ToP Focused Conversation and Consensus Workshop methods, which form the foundations of the ToP Action Planning method, Participatory Strategic Planning and other applications.


Action Planning

Participatory planning for short-term projects and eventsย – 1 day

  • 23 Marchย in Brussels
  • 22 Juneย  in Brussels

Action PlanningHow can I get all members of a group to participate in planning a project or event together, and build their commitment and responsibility so that they can successfully implement their plan?

This course introduces a structured, participatory process to enable the successful implementation of a group project or event.ย  The ToP Action Planning method uses the ToP Focused Conversation and Consensus Workshop methods to engage all members of a group effectively, and so it builds commitment and ownership at all stages. The method is suitable for planning short to medium-term projects, or completing projects that have stalled.


Participatory Strategic Planning

Bringing people together to create strategies for action – 2 days

  • November 9-10ย in Brussels – BOOK NOW!

ToP Participatory Strategic Planningโ€œHow can I enable my group to come to a common vision for their future? How can I help them make their vision happen by creatively addressing the root causes of the challenges that are blocking them, rather than focus simply on fire-fighting and problem-solving? How can I ensure a real sense of ownership, so that for once their plan actually happens?โ€

The course presents a structured long-range planning process which incorporates the ToP Consensus Workshop method for building consensus, the ToP Focused Conversation method for effective group communication, and an implementation process for turning ideas into productive action and concrete accomplishments. Those with more experience of facilitation, strategic planning or ToP facilitation may need no further support to apply the process effectively in their own situations, and for others the course serves as a powerful, experiential introduction to the process.


Please contact me with any questions or for further details.

For more on my work, and what others have to say about it, please seeย how I work,ย who I work with and recommendations & case studiesย โ€“ or view my profile and connect with me on LinkedIn.

You canย connect with me also by joining my free facilitation webinars online, and IAF England & Wales’ย free facilitation meetups in London and elsewhere.

Introducing ICA’s Technology of Participation in Geneva & Brussels this November

iaf-geneva-banner

“How can I enable more purposeful & productive conversations, bring out the wisdom of aย group and reach shared awareness and new insight in meetings?”

“How can I help a group take a comprehensive and long-term strategic view – to learn fromย the past, appreciate the present and anticipate the future?”

“How can I enable a group to come to a common vision, a deeper understanding of itsย current reality and a real sense of ownership and commitment to a shared way forward – soย that for once their plans actually deliver the change that they are seeking?”

I am pleased to offer this special one-day masterclass on 18 November in collaboration with IAF Geneva – book now!

This one-day tailored master-class (pdf) will introduce two foundational methods of ICA’s ‘Technology of Participation’ (ToP)ย methodology, and two that adapt and apply these foundations to strategic review, planning andย change:

  • ToP Focused Conversation provides a structured, four-level process for effectiveย 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 andย weave together everybodyโ€™s wisdom into a clear and practical consensus
  • ToP Historical Scan (or โ€˜Wall of Wonder) is a powerful tool to enable a group to share andย learn from their varied perspectives of a journey through history, and in context, to reviewย the past in order to prepare for the future
  • ToP Participatory Strategic Planning is a structured long-range planning process whichย incorporates ToP Consensus Workshop for building consensus, ToP Focused Conversationย for effective group communication, and an implementation process for turning ideas intoย productive action and concrete accomplishments.

The workshop will be suitable for all those who want to be able to involveย people more effectively in dialogue, learning, consensus & change, including team leaders andย managers within organisations, those working with Boards, management teams, partnerships andย external stakeholders, youth and community workers and independent facilitators.ย More experienced facilitators may be ready to apply at least the first three tools effectively in theirย own situations, and at least key principles of the fourth. For others the course will serve as aย powerful, experiential introduction to ICAโ€™s ToP methodology.

Alternatively, or as well, for more in-depth training in these and other ToP methodsย join me in Brussels for:

or join ICA:UK &ย Intitiatives of Changeย in Geneva for:

See also ToP facilitation training โ€“ whatโ€™s it like, and is itย worthwhile? andย ToP facilitation training at your place โ€“ and free places for you!.


For more on my work, and what others have to say about it, please seeย how I work,ย who I work with and recommendations & case studiesย โ€“ or view my profile and connect with me on LinkedIn.

You canย connect with me also in London and elsewhere by joiningย IAF England & Wales’ย free facilitation meetups, and online by joining my free facilitation webinars.

ToP facilitation training – what’s it like, and is it worthwhile?

Chris Mapitlan with certificate

Have you considered takingย ToP facilitation training, with me in Brussels or elsewhere, and wondered what it would be like and whether it would be worthwhile?

Below is what someย have had to say on LinkedIn about my own recent courses in Brussels and London, and a short time-lapse video offering a glimpse of ToP facilitation trainingย – for more glimpses see alsoย #ToPfacilitationย on Twitter.

Scroll on for details of my own upcoming courses in Brussels in 2017, and book now on Eventbrite.ย ย Discounted rates are available for voluntary organisations and independent professionals, and in particular toย ICA colleagues, to staff and members of Social Platform andย other European NGO platforms, andย to members of IAFย &ย IABC. Your fee includes one hour’s free telephone coaching after the course.

Regularly scheduled public ToP training courses are also provided by ICAs including inย Australia,ย Canada, Taiwan, UK, Ukraine & theย USA.ย  Other ICAs also offer public courses, and in-house courses on request –ย see ICA Worldwide.

See alsoย ToP facilitation training at your place โ€“ and free places for you!


Michael NordMichael Nord,ย Principal, Facilitator, Strategist & Networker, Amsterdam

“I joined Martin for Group Facilitation Methods training in Brussels, 2 days packed with tips, tricks and hands-on exercises. It was great experience and, though I work as a facilitator with my clients, it gave me a boost to do more, using the ToP methods.ย I would really recommend anyone who has done facilitation, but need a refresher or inspiration, to join one of Martin’s sessions. He is inspiring, he checks with attendees that they are OK, and he follows up afterwards.”


Nina Elzer

Nina Elzer, Policy Advisor at CENTR, Brussels

“Martin trained the Chairs of the CENTR Working Groups on facilitation. It provided them with valuable tools and techniques to make agenda-setting more efficient and meeting facilitation more effective – some have already been able to successfully implement what they learned. I would recommend Martin to anyone who is looking for an engaged trainer and thorough listener.”


Eve GeddieEve Geddie,ย Deputy Director at PICUM, Brussels

“Meetings are a key part of what we do. As a diverse, transnational, multilingual membership network, successful meetings are key to our internal and external successes. Many of our staff mentioned Martin’s training as a highlight in their end of year reviews โ€“ several said it was the most useful training they had ever attended, and there was a clear consensus that we should work with him again.”


Miriam ElstMiriam Elst,ย Facilitator Design Thinking and LEGOยฎ Serious Playยฎ, Lead UX researcher & strategist, Service designer, Brussels

“Martin is a very inspiring trainer, he is very skilled and knows how to facilitate facilitators in a structured and insightful way. I have been able to successfully use his personal advice and facilitation techniques straight away!”


Mike PounsfordMike Pounsford,ย Employee engagement, communication and change specialist, London

“I went on a course run by Martin and found it really helpful. Martin established a really good group learning process and displayed mastery of his subject. I am very glad I went on it and very glad he ran it!” ย 


Pierre BaussandPierre Baussand,ย Director of Social Platform, Brussels

“I would recommend the course as something that can easily be used in practise for leaders, facilitators and participants of group meetingsโ€.


Katherine SargentKatherine Sargent,ย Country Programme Manager at Trรณcaire, London

“What made it so useful for me was the opportunity to practice the techniques in a supportive environment and the practical tools we took away from the course. This gave me the confidence to try out the techniques in the โ€˜real worldโ€™.ย I have been using techniques I learnt during the course to prepare for meetings and it has really helped me focus my thoughts. Since the course I have facilitated a session for one of our partners using the Consensus Workshop approach. Not only did everyone actively participate, we reached consensus and I received very positive feedback from the participants!”


Meetings That Work (New for 2017)

Practical tools to design and lead effective meetingsย 

2 days โ€“ 14-15 September in Brussels & 18-19 Septemberย 2017 in London.

 

How can I turn meetings into โ€œeventsโ€ that people want to attend? How can I increase participation, and get the best input and results from everyone? ย How can I increase commitment to action, and handle difficult or controversial items?

This course will provide you with tips, templates and practical tools from professional facilitators that will enable you to get more from meetings than you ever thought possible. For this new course I shall be joined by Bill Staples of ICA Associates Inc of Canada as guest trainer.


FC&CW method imagesGroup Facilitation Methods

Introducing the foundations of the Technology of Participation (ToP) approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus

2 days โ€“ 21-22 March, 20-21 Juneย &ย 7-8 Novemberย 2017 in Brussels and (for ICA:UKย 13-14 Decemberย 2017 in London)

How can I have more purposeful & productive conversations, bring out the wisdom of a group, encourage feedback between people, and reach shared awareness in meetings? How can I generate and weave together a diverse range of ideas, develop creative solutions and build a group consensus?

This course provides a structured introduction to the ToP Focused Conversation and Consensus Workshop methods, which form the foundations of the ToP Action Planning method, Participatory Strategic Planning and other applications.


Action PlanningAction Planning

Participatory planning for short-term projects and eventsย 

1 dayย โ€“ 23 Marchย & 22 Juneย ย 2017 in Brussels.

How can I get all members of a group to participate in planning a project or event together, and build their commitment and responsibility so that they can successfully implement their plan?

This course introduces a structured, participatory process to enable the successful implementation of a group project or event.ย  The ToP Action Planning method uses the ToP Focused Conversation and Consensus Workshop methods to engage all members of a group effectively, and so it builds commitment and ownership at all stages. The method is suitable for planning short to medium-term projects, or completing projects that have stalled.


Participatory Strategic PlanningToP Participatory Strategic Planning

Bringing people together to create strategies for action

2 days โ€“ย November 9-10 2017 in Brussels

โ€œHow can I enable my group to come to a common vision for their future? How can I help them make their vision happen by creatively addressing the root causes of the challenges that are blocking them, rather than focus simply on fire-fighting and problem-solving? How can I ensure a real sense of ownership, so that for once their plan actually happens?โ€

The course presents a structured long-range planning process which incorporates the ToP Consensus Workshop method for building consensus, the ToP Focused Conversation method for effective group communication, and an implementation process for turning ideas into productive action and concrete accomplishments. Those with more experience of facilitation, strategic planning or ToP facilitation may need no further support to apply the process effectively in their own situations, and for others the course serves as a powerful, experiential introduction to the process.


BOOK NOW,ย or please contact me with any questions or for further details.

See alsoย about me,ย how I work,ย who I work withย andย recommendations & case studies,ย and pleaseย contact meย about how we might work together.

Register nowย onย Eventbriteย for myย free facilitation webinars, and for my regularly scheduledย ToP facilitation trainingย courses in London and Brussels.