How I Work As A Trainer and Coach
Strengthening Individual and Group Capacities for Consensus and Collaboration
On this page I’ll give you a sense how I work with indivudals and groups as a trainer and coach, and what you can expect from our work together.
My Transformative Training
Expect Results!
Participants in the Tecchnology of Participation (ToP®) goup facilitation training are excited to know how to help the groups they work with get beyond the barriers between functional areas, diverse perspectives, and cultures that lead to conflict. They know ways to help any group think together clearly, consider diverse ideas respctfully, and reach consensus faster in ways that deliver immediate results.
Training participants gain confidence in their ability to support participative approaches and strategies in their organization or community. Before the training workshops are over, participants see myriad situations in their work where they can apply the methods and concepts right away. They have experienced the power of participation and have ways to release that within the work environment to better serve their customers, clients, or constituents.
What makes the (ToP®) training unique?
In the basic training, the ToP® Facilitation Methods (TFM), you learn to use three powerful, unique group methods to lead three of the most common group activities – conversation or discussion, decision-making, and planning. The faculty is well trained and has years of experience training and facilitating with the methods. The sessions are very practical and interactive and learner-centered.
- I demonstrate each method with the workshop participants and facilitate an interactive review of the steps of the method and your experience of it.
- I lead learning exercises to help participants better understand why the methods work so well.
- Participants practice using the methods in small groups with constructive feedback from trainers and peers. This practice is often mentioned as the most valuable part of the training.
- This gives participants confidence because they know they have processes that from the beginning invite participation, build trust and ownership, and get the job done in a short amount of time.
- Confidence also comes because they know the participative approach works and why it works and how it can be used in business, education, social services, community meetings, and dozens of other settings. Often I hear the comment, “I can use this with my family!”
- The 80-page manual used in the training becomes a valuable reference for participants after the training is over and theybegin to use the methods in theirwork. It contains step-by-step procedures for using the three methods with additional information, hints and tips on facilitating group participation.
- Participants get a new image of what it means to facilitate with inclusive participation and profound respect. This leads to a change of attitude about facilitating a group. Along with the practice sessions, this “imaginal” aspect to the training is what makes it transformative.
Read what these participants say about their experience with the ToP® methods training.
”I realized they gave me three fundamental tools to use within the framework of my own process. The three tools they teach in this class are the Focus Conversation, the Consensus Workshop and Action Planning . . . Three AWESOME tools I hate to be without today!” Don Abbott
“…There was actually practicing the methods being taught. And so, I think practicing, having someone step out of their comfort zone of just sitting, listening, and hearing information, but actually doing, their attitude about facilitating a group changes.” From a ToP® training participant survey response
”These two days shifted my image of ‘facilitation’ from that of enabling to that of facilitating to that of CATALYZING!” A participant’s comment on a survey conducted by University of St. Thomas
In my other training courses I use the ToP® methods to create a participative, relaxed and interactive environment in which I facilitate learning. I use interactive experiences to introduce new concepts and engage the learners in ways to apply the concepts and techniques. The size of the group is kept small to ensure participation, and personal attention and feedback from the trainer. Go to the Services page to read descriptions of some of these courses available to organizations.
My Catalytic Coaching
If you engage me as your coach, together we will determine what you want as an outcome of our work and set appropriate goals, milestones, and build action plans. You will gain clairity on your vision, what blocks you from moving toward that, and ways to deal with those blocks. Regular phone calls, to dicsuss what has been accomplished, what hasn’t, and decide next steps, keep momentum high. A 90-day Reality Check includes a celebration of accomplishments and an updated plan for the next quarter. I offer coaching in three areas:
Facilitative Leadership Coaching - I support leaders in utilizing a more facilitative leadership style and developing or supporting a participative culture in their organization appropriate for their level of responsibility in the organization.
ToP ® Methods Coaching - support for those who have taken the ToP® methods training and use ToP® methods in their work in organizations and communities such as: group leaders (managers, supervisors, project leads, team leaders) who run meetings; consultants, facilitators and trainers who use the ToP® methods with their clients and want to learn more about how and why the methods work, or how they can improve their facilitation, want different ways to apply the methods or have unanswered questions about using the methods; and ToP Trainer Network members who want to work with a Mentor Trainer to strenghthen their knowledge of the methods applications and deepen their theoretical understanding of the ToP® approach to participation and facilitation.
Strategic Action Coaching - support for solo entrepreeurs and independent professionals to align their mission, vision and strategy and develop a strategic action plan to take them to the next level of excellence in their work.
Expect Results!
“Your willingness to provide just-in-time consultation on the phone gave me the confidence to experiment with the methods from day one. I have used them with physicians and controllers in strategic planning and hospital administrators in offsite planning and with many groups in evaluating learnings.” Laura Peck, OD Consultant, Kaiser Permanente
My training and coaching support diversity, participation, creativity, teamwork, reflection and action.
Now that you have a better idea about the results you get in working with Sierra Circle Consulting and how I approach my training and coaching work with clients, go next to the Services page to learn about specific services and programs I offer.