Group meetings are ubiquitous in the legal and business world yet rarely is much thought given to the nuts and bolts of how to conduct meetings most effectively. With training and preparation, leaders and participants can dramatically improve group dynamics and decision-making. Facilitation is the art of guiding a group to define its purposes, encourage productive interaction, and achieve its goals. The fundamental theory of group facilitation is that every person in a group is a valuable participant whose voice should be heard and who can play a role in building toward more creative, robust and reliable decision-making. This course will explore the theoretical underpinnings of this model of facilitation through lecture, structured role plays, exercises and group discussions. Students will also learn practical facilitation skills: ascertaining a group’s purpose; structuring a meeting process to meet those ends; encouraging story-telling and dialogue; building consensus; and managing conflict. A blend of philosophy and how to, the course is suitable for anyone interested in meetings and group dynamics. Grading: Letter Credits: Variable Offered: Irregularly
