Facilitation

Extreme Facilitation: Guiding Groups Through Controversy and Complexity by Suzanne Ghais
Extreme Facilitation picks up where other books on the topic leave off to present a revolutionary method that helps large, unwieldy, adversarial, and apparently dysfunctional groups achieve consensus and reach objectives on divisive and wp-contentious issues no matter how long the group has been struggling. Throughout the book, expert facilitator Suzanne Ghais shows how extreme facilitation – which puts the emphasis on creativity, flexibility and customization – can change how group members interact with one another and how participants view the issues even in the most challenging and exceptionally difficult situations. Extreme Facilitation covers the preparatory phases of the process, including assessment, convening and contracting. Ghais also offers vital information on process design and tips for handling situations that many facilitators find particularly challenging.

The IAF Handbook of Group Facilitation: Best Practices from the Leading Organization in Facilitation by Sandi Schuman
Sponsored by the International Association of Facilitators, The IAF Handbook of Group Facilitation offers the need-to-know basics in the field brought together by fifty leading practitioners and scholars. This indispensable resource includes successful strategies and methods, foundations, and resources for anyone who works with groups. The IAF Handbook of Group Facilitation provides an overview of the field for new and aspiring practitioners and a reliable reference for experienced group facilitators, including chapters on

Creating positive ongoing client relationships
Building trust and improving communications
Facilitating group brainstorming sessions
Drawing out the best in people
Developing a collaborative environment
Designing and facilitating dialogue
Managing conflicting agendas
Working with multicultural groups
Using improvisation
Understanding virtual meetings
Facilitating team start-up
Assessing group decision processes
Building expertise in facilitation
Reviewing core facilitation competencies
Modeling positive professional attitudes

The Secrets of Facilitation: The SMART Guide to Getting Results with Groups by Michael Wilkinson
One of the single most powerful processes is the ability to successfully lead a group to an impactful, actionable outcome. In The Secrets of Facilitation, Michael Wilkinson combines his proven facilitation techniques and approaches with a keen strategic and business sense to consistently produce performance-based results.