Facilitation Skills for Project Managers: Virtual Edition

Description

Facilitation Skills for Project Managers is offered as a two-part virtual training series. Participants may register for Part 1, Part 2, or the Full Series (Parts 1 & 2).

The Full Series includes all four training days and offers a discounted rate compared with registering for Parts 1 and 2 separately.

Project managers know that the PMBOK is the gold standard for project management skills. But when it comes to leading groups to real results, there’s a new must-have: Facilitation Skills for Project Managers (FSPM). Think of it as the “PMBOK of Facilitation”—the definitive guide to mastering every session, meeting, and collaborative challenge you face as a project leader.

This intensive two-part course equips project managers with advanced facilitation techniques to lead high-impact project sessions, resolve conflicts, and drive team alignment. Built on Leadership Strategies’ proven Masterful Project Session Framework™, the curriculum focuses on practical tools for planning, executing, and closing sessions that achieve measurable results. Participants will master strategies to engage stakeholders, manage dysfunction, and build consensus in both virtual and in-person settings.

Unlike generic project management courses focused on scheduling and resource allocation, Facilitative Skills for Project Managers (FSPM) emphasizes project-specific facilitation to drive collaboration and accountability. The curriculum delivers tailored strategies for hybrid/virtual dynamics, scope creep prevention, and stakeholder alignment—equipping PMs to transform chaotic discussions into structured, outcome-focused sessions. With tools like the 6 Ps framework and I-E-E-I Method, participants learn to design agendas, manage dysfunction, and close sessions with actionable follow-ups, addressing challenges reported by 57% of surveyed project managers as critical pain points.

Why Take This Course

Provides Unique Value

Facilitation Skills for Project Managers diverges from general facilitation training by integrating project context into every module, offering 12+ templates (e.g., risk reviews, change management) and hybrid engagement frameworks tested in global teams. While other courses teach broad facilitation principles, FSPM focuses on resolving project-specific conflicts (e.g., dominant stakeholders, decision paralysis) and optimizing hybrid tools like virtual whiteboards. This laser focus ensures PMs reduce unproductive time by 50%+ while fostering buy-in and accountability—skills rarely prioritized in traditional Project Management courses.

What makes Facilitation Skills for Project Managers different?

• Built for Project Managers: Every tool, technique, and exercise is tailored to the realities of project work—from kickoff to closure, risk assessment to stakeholder updates.
• Hands-On, Practical Learning: 80% of the curriculum is active practice—so you’re not just learning, you’re doing.
• Immediate Impact: Apply new skills to your very next project session and see the difference in team engagement, decision quality, and project momentum.
• Expert Instructors: Learn from facilitators who have trained over 35,000 project professionals and lead sessions for Fortune 500 companies.
• Proven Frameworks: Leverage the same facilitation models used by top-performing project teams worldwide.

What you'll learn:

This course equips project managers with actionable strategies to transform chaotic discussions into focused, results-driven sessions.

• Plan, Prepare, and Execute Masterful Sessions: Use the “6 Ps of Preparation” to ensure every session has a clear purpose, the right participants, and a focused agenda.
• Facilitate Productive Team Discussions: Learn techniques for maintaining group focus, encouraging participation, and managing time.
• Prevent and Address Dysfunction: Spot and resolve dysfunctional behaviors early, using proven strategies for both in-person and virtual/hybrid settings.
• Build Consensus and Resolve Conflict: Apply structured processes to move groups from disagreement to alignment, even on tough issues.
• Lead High-Engagement Meetings: Energize your sessions with interactive engagement strategies, from brainstorming to prioritization and lobbying for buy-in.
• Master Virtual and Hybrid Facilitation: Adapt your facilitation approach for today’s distributed project teams

Key Takeaways:

• Diagnose and resolve project disagreements—before they derail your timeline
• Prevent and address dysfunctional behavior—keeping every session on track
• Inspire and engage your team—so everyone contributes and takes action
• Lead productive, focused discussions—virtually or in-person
• Plan and execute masterful project sessions that deliver outcomes, not just agendas

This course is ideal for:

• Project Managers
• Program Managers
• Project Coordinators
• Scrum Masters
• Project Leads
• Project Directors
• Project Analysts
• Implementation Manager
• PMO Managers
• IT Project Managers

Course Objectives

Part 1: Foundation Skills

• Understanding masterful project sessions
• The 6 Ps of preparation and IEEI starting technique
• Running effective sessions and managing group dynamics
• Introduction to dysfunction and consensus building

Part 2: Advanced Techniques

• Advanced engagement strategies
• Managing difficult behaviors and dysfunction
• Building consensus and resolving disagreements
• Leading virtual and hybrid sessions
• 16+ sample agendas for common project sessions