The Effective Facilitator
Our Flagship Course
The first Course Accredited by The International Institute of Facilitation (INIFAC) for Covering the 30 Certified Master Facilitator™ (CMF) Competencies.
Learn the techniques our facilitators use to achieve amazing results
through groups!
How do you get groups to develop workable, realistic solutions? Our flagship facilitation training course delivers the tools and techniques you can use immediately! We show you how to motivate a group, build consensus, manage dysfunction, maintain focus, generate ownership and inspire to action.
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 video-taped 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!
Why take The Effective Facilitator?
Are you thinking about taking The Effective Facilitator but are not sure it is the right course for you? Well, watch and listen as our founder counts down what our clients say are the top six reasons to take this course.
Who will benefit from this course?
Ideal For:
- Managers
- Facilitators
- Executives
- Trainers
- Consultants
- Sales Professionals
- Analysts
Needing To:
- Lead a task force
- Run better meetings
- Establish a strategic direction
- Establish performance objectives
- Work through conflict/internal strife
- Get a business process operating effectively
- Define the specific needs of a user community
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, videotaped exercise is excluded.
Available Formats

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
Recommended Additional Training
The Effective Facilitator: Virtual Link – Get the advantage early – master the techniques you’ll learn from The Effective Facilitator virtually in just one extra day of learning.
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 this class? View the “Introduction to Facilitating Groups” webinar now!
Training for
4 Days $2,895
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.
Details coming soon…
Find a class date & location.
Please note both live and virtual classes are available.
2023
The Effective Facilitator – 4 Days (In-Person)
Oct 2 – Oct 5 – Las Vegas, NV
Oct 16 – Oct 19 – Atlanta, GA
Oct 23 – Oct 26 – Chicago, IL
Nov 13 – Nov 16 – Atlanta, GA
Nov 13 – Nov 16 – Dallas, TX
Nov 28 – Dec 1 – Washington, DC
Dec 4 – Dec 7 – Atlanta, GA
Dec 11 – Dec 14 – Washington, DC
The Effective Facilitator: Virtual Edition – 4 Days
Nov 6 – Nov 9 – Virtual
Dec 11 – Dec 14 – Virtual
2024
The Effective Facilitator – 4 Days (In-Person)
Jan 22 – Jan 25 – Washington, D.C.
Jan 29 – Feb 1 – Dallas, TX
Feb 5 – Feb 8 – Atlanta, GA
Feb 5 – Feb 8 – Seattle, WA
Feb 20 – Feb 23 – Las Vegas, NV
Feb 26 – Feb 29 – Washington, D.C.
Mar 4 – Mar 7 – Chicago, IL
Mar 25 – Mar 28 – Washington, D.C.
Apr 1 – Apr 4 – Atlanta, GA
Apr 22 – Apr 25 – Washington, D.C.
May 13 – May 16 – Dallas, TX
May 20 – May 23 – Washington, D.C.
May 20 – May 23 – Seattle, WA
Jun 3 – Jun 6 – Atlanta, GA
Jun 24 – Jun 27 – Washington, D.C.
Jul 15 – Jul 18 – Chicago, IL
Jul 22 – Jul 25 – Washington, D.C.
Aug 12 – Aug 15 – Atlanta, GA
Aug 19 – Aug 22 – Washington, D.C.
Sep 16 – Sep 19 – Atlanta, GA
Sep 23 – Sep 26 – Washington, D.C.
Sep 23 – Sep 26 – Seattle, WA
Sep 30 – Oct 3 – Las Vegas, NV
Oct 14 – Oct 17 – Atlanta, GA
Oct 21 – Oct 24 – Chicago, IL
Oct 28 – Oct 31 – Washington, D.C.
Nov 11 – Nov 14 – Dallas, TX
Nov 18 – Nov 21 – Washington, D.C.
Dec 2 – Dec 5 – Atlanta, GA
Dec 16 – Dec 19 – Washington, D.C.
The Effective Facilitator: Virtual Edition – 4 Days
Jan 8 – Jan 11 – Virtual
Feb 13 – Feb 16 – Virtual
Mar 11 – Mar 14 – Virtual
Apr 22 – Apr 25 – Virtual
Jun 17 – Jun 20 – Virtual
Jul 8 – Jul 11 – Virtual
Jul 29 – Aug 1 – Virtual
Aug 26 – Aug 29 – Virtual
Oct 8 – Oct 11 – Virtual
Nov 4 – Nov 7 – Virtual