The Effective Facilitator
Master Proven Techniques to Lead Engaging, Productive Group Sessions with Confidence
The Effective Facilitator is Leadership Strategies’ 4-day flagship training course that teaches a clear, repeatable approach to leading meetings and group sessions. Participants learn 10 principles of facilitation and more than 100 techniques through a curriculum that devotes 80% of its time to hands-on practice — not lecture.
In this industry-leading program, you’ll master:
- The 6 Ps of preparation—ensuring you’re always ready to guide any group to success
- Engaging opening techniques that immediately capture attention and foster participation
- Three essential tools for managing challenging group dynamics and keeping discussions on track
- Strategies to prevent dysfunction—and practical interventions when issues arise
- The three core reasons behind disagreements and how to resolve each with skill and empathy
- Energizing methods to keep participants focused and interactive, whether you’re facilitating in-person or virtually
What sets this facilitation training apart? You won’t just learn theory—you’ll practice your new skills in six hands-on sessions, gaining real experience and the confidence to apply what you’ve learned immediately. Our approach is practical, dynamic, and interactive, with more than 95% of attendees rating it as the best facilitation training they’ve ever taken.
Not sure yet? Watch the free Introduction to Facilitating Groups webinar to see the methodology and instructors in action before you commit.
Join The Effective Facilitator and become the leader who brings out the best in every group. Discover why organizations across industries trust us for the best facilitation training—and how you can become an effective facilitator who drives engagement, alignment, and results.
Virtual Edition
The Effective Facilitator: Virtual Edition
This online, instructor-led version of our flagship course consists of 4 days of virtual training. The class covers the 10 principles of facilitation, more than 100 techniques, and includes 6 exercises with instruction on how to apply the skills in virtual environments.
Gain the tools and techniques to: create a vision that motivates people to action, engage groups in developing solutions and generate ownership that leads to results. Participants will learn a comprehensive approach top facilitators use to prepare for success, get a session started, focus the group, understand the power of the pen, gather information, manage dysfunction, build consensus, maintain high energy, close the session, and construct customized agendas.
Learn How To:
- Get groups to develop and agree upon workable, realistic plans or solutions to issues.
- Create a vision that motivates people to action.
- Engage groups in developing solutions and generate ownership that leads to results.
- Utilize a comprehensive approach used by top facilitators– from getting a session started, to focusing the group, to managing dysfunction, to closing the session.
- Includes insights throughout for virtual sessions
- And much more!
In Person Edition
The Effective Facilitator: In Person Edition
This traditional version of our flagship course consists of 4 days of in-person training. The class covers the 10 principles of facilitation, more than 100 techniques, and includes 6 exercises culminating a recorded practice session.
Gain the tools and techniques to: create a vision that motivates people to action, engage groups in developing solutions and generate ownership that leads to results. Participants will learn a comprehensive approach top facilitators use to prepare for success, get a session started, focus the group, understand the power of the pen, gather information, manage dysfunction, build consensus, maintain high energy, close the session, and construct customized agendas.
Learn How To:
- Get groups to develop and agree upon workable, realistic plans or solutions to issues.
- Create a vision that motivates people to action.
- Engage groups in developing solutions and generate ownership that leads to results.
- Utilize a comprehensive approach used by top facilitators– from getting a session started, to focusing the group, to managing dysfunction, to closing the session.
- And much more!
The 6 Reasons to take the Effective Facilitator:
Reason #6: The Wealth of Resources
Reason #5: The Interactive Instruction
Reason #4: Our Amazing Facilitators
Reason #3: The Comprehensive Content
Reason #2: The Extensive Practice
Reason #1: The Impact You Will Have
Who will benefit from taking the Effective Facilitator?
Ideal For:
- Managers
- Facilitators
- Executives
- Trainers
- Consultants
- Sales Professionals
- Analysts
Needing To:
- Lead a team
- Run better meetings
- Establish a strategic direction
- Establish performance objectives
- Work through conflict/internal strife
- Get a business process operating effectively
- Improve workplace culture
Why it Works
Unlike other facilitation courses, The Effective Facilitator devotes 80% of its curriculum to learning and practicing the group techniques that separate great facilitators from good ones. Our proprietary approach to training ( Practical, Dynamic, Interactive) ensures you get the results you’re looking for: Practical techniques that can be immediately applied; Dynamic, high energy instructors; and Interactive exercises and practice sessions. To date, more than 95% of attendees rate this course as the BEST or ONE OF THE BEST courses they’ve ever taken!
Objectives
Duration
4 Days*
*A 3-day streamlined version of this course is also available. The powerful, recorded exercise is excluded.
Effective Facilitator FAQ
If you’re evaluating facilitation training, these are the questions most buyers ask before they decide.
What makes your facilitation training different from other courses?
Most training talks about meetings; ours focuses on what actually happens in the room. The Effective Facilitator is built around real client work, a proven methodology, and instructors who actively facilitate high-stakes sessions, so the tools you learn are the same ones we use to help organizations get more done in less meeting time.
Who is this facilitation training really best for?
This course is a strong fit if you regularly bring people together to make decisions: leaders, managers, project and program owners, consultants, facilitators, trainers, and HR or L&D professionals. If you’ve ever left a meeting thinking, “we could have gotten a lot more out of that,” this training is designed for you.
How practical is the course compared to typical leadership training?
The Effective Facilitator is deliberately more practice than lecture. The course devotes 80% of the curriculum to learning and practicing group techniques, includes six practice sessions, and gives participants direct feedback so they leave with techniques they can plug straight into meetings to reduce wasted time and increase progress.
Will this help with the kinds of tough personalities and situations I see in my meetings?
Yes. A core focus of the course is handling real-world challenges like dominant voices, side conversations, resistance, and emotionally charged topics. You learn specific ways to recognize dysfunction and keep the group engaged, on task, and moving toward decisions instead of getting stuck.
Is this course recognized or trusted by other organizations like ours?
Leadership Strategies has been focused on facilitation for decades, has trained more than 35,000 participants, and reports that over 95% of attendees rate this course as the best or one of the best they have taken. The company also offers the only facilitation course endorsed by both IAF and INIFAC, reinforcing the credibility behind the methodology and instruction.
What kind of results can I expect after completing the course?
Participants often report fewer and shorter meetings, clearer decisions, stronger buy-in, and greater confidence in leading important sessions. The real ROI is that time spent in meetings produces more progress and less rework, with fewer follow-up meetings and a more repeatable way to lead groups well.
Private & Group Training
Bringing a team?
Let’s talk.
Private Effective Facilitator classes are available for groups of 10 or more and can be customized for your industry or context. Fill out the form and we’ll follow up within one business day.
- Best value for groups of 10+
- Fully customizable curriculum and scheduling
- In-person or virtual delivery available
- Delivered by the world’s top facilitators
Request Group Training Info
Two quick steps — we’ll handle the rest.
We respect your privacy. Your information is never sold or shared.
Additional Information
No Facilitation Training Course Offers You More!
You get ALL of this when you take The Effective Facilitator:
- Participant workbook covering 10 principles and over 100 techniques
- 10 detailed agenda models
- 6 practice sessions (accompanied with a exercise packet containing sample case studies)
- Recording of you facilitating a practice session*
- The Monthly Touch (now included at no additional cost) – online monthly course to keep you refreshed on the course material
- Spring Forward – a 60-day check-in to confirm your progress and how you’re implementing your learning
- The Maximizer – a communication covering one of the course techniques each month
Why Our Facilitation Training Course Works
Unlike other facilitation training courses, The Effective Facilitator devotes 80% of its curriculum to learning and practicing the group techniques that separate great facilitators from good ones. We focus on critical skills such as consensus building, keeping the group focused, generating energy, managing dysfunction and gaining agreement.
Our branded approach to training, The PDI Difference, ensures results through: Practical techniques, Dynamic, high energy instructors, and Interactive exercises and practice sessions. To date, over 95% of attendees have rated this course as THE BEST or ONE OF THE BEST courses they’ve ever taken!
Want a sneak peek at the Effective Facilitator class? View the “Introduction to Facilitating Groups” webinar now!
Training for
The Effective Facilitator is offered at various times throughout the year and is offered in person at various cities across the U.S., and as a virtual live instructor led workshop. This option is ideal for individuals looking for professional development in a small group setting.
See upcoming class dates below.
4 Days $3,200
Private classes are fully customizable, taught at your location, and provide the best value for groups of 10 or more. Contact us for more information about scheduling a private class.
*If you have fewer than 10 people, but still desire a personalized, private learning experience, consider collaborating with other departments in your organization or other organizations near you.
Upcoming Effective Facilitator Courses:
The Effective Facilitator courses listed in order of city. Please click into the city in order to see additional date options.
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The Effective Facilitator - Atlanta, GA
Mon-Thur 8:30am-5:30pmFrom $3,200.00 -
The Effective Facilitator - Chicago, IL
Mon-Thur 8:30am-5:30pmFrom $3,200.00 -
The Effective Facilitator - Denver, CO
Mon-Thur 8:30am-5:30pm MTFrom $3,200.00 -
The Effective Facilitator - Las Vegas, NV
Mon-Thur 8:30am-5:30pmFrom $3,200.00 -
The Effective Facilitator - Washington, D.C.
4 days (8:00am-4:30pm)From $3,200.00 -
The Effective Facilitator: Virtual Edition
Mon-Thur 9:00AM-6:00PMFrom $3,200.00
