Tag Archives: Technology of Participation

New: ICA:UK ToP facilitation training in London, Brussels and Sitges, Barcelona in 2026

Welcome to September, with a 10% discount on any of my 2025 & 2026 courses by registering before Tuesday 30 with the promo code SeptemberSale!

I am pleased to announce my new 2026 schedule of public ICA:UK ToP facilitation training courses in London and Brussels, and this year also in the beautiful and historic resort town of Sitges, just down the coast from Barcelona, in March and October. Why not plan to stay for the weekend, and book yourself some early spring sunshine now?

Twelve new courses now scheduled for 2026 include, again:

  • Group Facilitation Methods – introducing the foundations of the ToP approach, two powerful techniques for structuring effective conversations and building group consensus – 2 days, in London, Brussels & Sitges
  • Action Planning – participatory planning for short-term projects and events – 1 day, in London & Brussels
  • Participatory Strategic Planning – bringing people together to create strategies for action – 2 days, in London & Brussels

A few places are still available also on my remaining 2025 courses:

ICA’s ToP training was ranked as the second most popular facilitation training globally in the SessionLab 2025 State of Facilitation report.

Register now for public courses in Eventbrite

Register now in Eventbrite for any of my upcoming 2025 & 2026 public courses in London, Brussels & Sitges.

Enjoy a 10% discount on any course by registering with the promo code SeptemberSale by Monday 30 September.

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.

I’ve never been as inspired and energised – ToP facilitation case study

“I’ve never been as inspired and energised about the topic of data standards as I have been today with this fantastic group of people!” – Shelley Heckman on LinkedIn

Context

In late 2023 I was approached by Shelley Heckman of iStandUK to facilitate an away day of it’s Executive Board in London in March 2024.

The mission of iStandUK is to promote Data Standards that support efficiency, transformation, and transparency of local public services in the UK. The Executive Board includes representatives from local authorities, government departments and other representative groups such as the LGA, SOCITM and TechUK. The Board serves as both a programme board and a leadership forum for collaboration across the local public sector.

The March away day was to build on another just held in December, which had been an opportunity for the Board to start exploring a strategic approach to digital standards for local public services.

At that first meeting the group had looked at the question ‘what are the specific needs and ambitions of public services that could be addressed by standards?’ A visioning exercise followed, which allowed the group to explore what would be the impact of data standards being implemented across all public sector organisations in a way that creates the most impact. The group then explored what would be necessary from our group to achieve the collective vision. The day culminated with a number of action commitments, including to create a specification for a data standards business case for the UK local public sector.

Aims

In conversation with Shelley, Board Chair Phil Swan and Programme Director Paul Davidson, the aims of the March away day were agreed to be as follows:

To build on the conversation started at the December away day, to articulate what we are ready to commit to in relation to:

    • building a vehicle that supports interoperable standards across local government at a national level, what it might look like and the way forward to get there,
    • commissioning a scoping exercise for a vehicle for data standards, and the draft Specification paper,
    • iStandUK and its future, as that vehicle and/or otherwise.

To build upon the collective sense of the importance and urgency of interoperable data standards for the sector that was recognised in December, and to build commitment to influence budget holders to invest funds in a standards body.

Methodology and approach

For this assignment, I proposed to draw on the following of ICA’s Technology of Participation (ToP) methods in particular:

The Focused Conversation method provides a structured, four-level process for effective communication which ensures that everyone in a group has the opportunity to participate.

The Consensus Workshop method is a five-stage process that incorporates Focused Conversation for effective communication and that enables a facilitator to draw out and weave together everybody’s wisdom into a clear consensus.

Agenda & process

10:00 Arrivals & welcome refreshments
10:30 Opening, welcome & introductions; approach, aims & agenda

Our hopes & aspirations for today
11.00 The story so far – what do we know?

  • December workshop & outputs
  • December commitments & actions
  • Draft specification paper – Paul Davidson
  • iStandUK position – Phil Swan

Reflection
12.00 Lunch
12.30 Our commitment – ‘Consensus Workshop’

What do we hope that we are all ready to commit to – in relation building a vehicle, commissioning a scoping exercise, and iStandUK & its future?

What do we find that we are in fact ready to commit to? Are we ready to commit to work with such a vehicle? To help to fund it?
2.00 Break
2.15 Implications & next steps

What does this mean – for building a vehicle, commissioning a scoping exercise, iStandUK & its future, otherwise?
3.15 Reflection & close

What went well? What could have gone better?
3:30 End

Feedback and impact

Participants’ on-site feedback included:

  • Open and collaborative atmosphere
  • Energy and commitment from everyone
  • Great collaboration, great networking, great outcomes
  • Made more progress than I would have expected in time available
  • We got a better output than I expected
  • Excellent facilitation

Shelley wrote soon afterwards on LinkedIn:

I’ve never been as inspired and energised about the topic of data standards as I have been today with this fantastic group of people!

The iStandUK Executive Board met in London to talk ambitiously about our collective commitment to data standards for public services.

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 – session outputs

Thank you very much indeed to the 15 or so people who participated in my session in Brussels this evening, and to Marie Dubost and IAF Belgium for the invitation and for hosting.

In the session, I demonstrated a participatory approach for a group to review the past, to prepare for the future, by applying the ToP (Technology of Participation) Historical Scan method to to reflect and learn together from our diverse experience and perspectives on facilitating a culture of participation in international organisations. I also shared some insights into the theory behind the method and examples of the method in action, and invited participants to consider ways that they can apply the method in their own practice

Here I am sharing links to some resources and case studies that I mentioned during the session, and perhaps some that I didn’t.

ToP Historical Scan method

Examples of the method in action

  • Adapt • Invent • Evolve: reviewing the past to prepare for the future at the IABC, EMENA 2017 conference in London, #EuroComm17 – blog post
  • etf20Celebrating 20 years with the European Training Foundation in Turin – #ETF20 – case study
  • Celebrating the development of facilitation – world-wide and history long – #FacHistory
  • Staff Away Day with George House Trust in Manchester – case study
  • Transformational Strategy: from trepidation to ‘unlocked’ with IDMC in Geneva – case study
  • Facilitating change in complexity – the Oxfam Lebanon ‘One Country Strategy’ process – case study

ToP facilitation training & sticky walls

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! 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.

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.