E1:  Maintaining a Base of Knowledge

I hope you had a relaxing and productive summer.  Here in Toronto we are currently having a week of warm, dry summer weather in September, something we didn't get much of during July and August!   
 
This fall we are finishing our focus on the IAF competencies.  In the past year and a half we've shared tools and articles on each of them.  This newsletter marks the 16th
of our series , as we look at E1, Maintaining a Base of Knowledge.

This link will take you to the full list of IAF competencies. 
 
There are also many exciting and timely announcements that you won't want to miss in this newsletter!  

You can read and download past newsletters with practical tools and tips which include IAF Competencies A through D here.


Maintaining a Base of Knowledge

E1: A BASE OF KNOWLEDGE FOR FACILITATORS
This competency covers a lot of ground. ICA doesn't focus on knowledge of 
management or psychology, but we do have resources in organizational systems and
development, group development, and conflict resolution. We teach some great tools for these in our Advanced ToP Tools and Organizational Transformation courses.   
In Meetings that Work, we introduce a model of the journey of group development based on the Tuckman model. You can find this here.  

And here is a model for understanding phases of the journey to resolution of conflict. We share tools for moving people through these phases in Advanced ToP Tools.  
IMAGE THEORY -- A WAY TO LOOK AT DYNAMICS OF CHANGE AND LEARNING THEORY
 Years ago, we studied Kenneth Boulding's book The Image.  From this book, we gained an understanding of what drives behaviour, and how behaviour changes.
 
Boulding suggests that we all have internal images of the world and of ourselves that drive our behaviour.  These images change through messages, and when the images change, behaviour changes. (Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg in explaining this theory.)  
 
Understanding image change theory helps sharpen our work with groups' learning and change.  
 
This article describes Image Theory in more detail.   
News from ICA Associates, Inc.

 
ADVANCED FACILITATOR PROGRAM:
Move to a Higher Level of Competency

Are you pleased with how your competency as a facilitator is growing, and want to strengthen your competency even more?

Our Advanced Facilitator Program starts a new cohort this month, although you can begin when you are ready.  Most of our advanced courses are part of this program, plus personal mentoring, participation in the Advanced Community of Practice, and at the end of the program, the opportunity to gain ToP Certification. 

If you have already taken a few courses, or the PFP or Facilitative Leadership package, you will be given credit for the courses you have already taken. 

Find a description here on our website, and email us for the full package.   
 
 


 
 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL FACILITATION WEEK  OCTOBER 16-22, 2017  
TORONTO REGION EVENT OCT. 17 

The Toronto Region is hosting an event for International Facilitation Week on October 17, from 5:30-9 pm in Room 303 at 401 Richmond Street West in Toronto (just east of Spadina and Richmond).  IAF members and newcomers alike are welcome.   Rebecca Sutherns will be presenting an interactive session on "The Business of Facilitation", based on her highly acclaimed session at the 2017 NA IAF conference.   
Register on Eventbrite here.  

Another opportunity during
International Facilitation Week: The Centre for Applied Community Engagement is hosting an online facilitator event called an "unconference" -- it's virtual, global, and very participatory. Registration is very low cost, and participants are invited to host sessions or participate in each others' sessions.  If you are interested in online facilitation, whether you are a newbie or very experienced, there is a place for you.  
 
For more information, see http://ofuexchange.net/ 
   
   
  
 

 
 
CANADIAN DIVERSITY LEARNING CIRCLES PILOT
Our colleagues Christine Pinto and Ranvir Jangi have been working on a course on protecting and promoting diversity and social inclusion for the past few years.  We are partnering in offering this pilot of their participatory weekly evening course starting October 23.  You will learn to
  • Be a Diversity Change Agent/Leader for Canadian diversity and inclusion
  • Speak the language of diversity and understand legislation; concepts; definitions
  • Build bridges with those who do not "buy into" the benefits of diversity
  • Facilitate a diversity conversation for small and large groups
  • Prepare and deliver your own Diversity Learning Circles in any group or institution
  • Create an action plan for any diversity and inclusion project
Find out more or register here.   


 
COMING VERY SOON:  
"GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF TOP"
by Wayne and Jo Nelson     

After years of work, the book on the foundations of ToP methods has gone to the publisher.  If you are interested in finding out why the methods work so well, and the thinking behind them, you will find this book very helpful.  The first section is on the philosophical underpinnings, and the rest of the book takes each of the core methods and presents detailed procedures and how each part is related to the foundations.   
 
Publication date by iUniverse is expected to be in October.  It will be available as hard copy and also an ebook through iUniverse and also on major online bookstores.    
 
Another recent publication by ICA Canada is The Art of Focused Conversation in Russian.  This joins the French and Spanish versions available through iUniverse  and also on Amazon. There are also Chinese versions of Art of Focused Conversation and Art of Focused Conversation for Schools.     
  
MONTHLY ONLINE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE:
Connect with Peers and Master Facilitators
The next complementary session of the Online Community of Practice is September 27 at 1 pm Eastern Time.  Jo Nelson will host and guide the conversation.

You are invited to ask questions,
share insights, and discuss relevant
facilitator topics with peers and master
facilitators in our complimentary
monthly Online Community of Practice.

It is held on the 4th Wednesday of
every month, from 1-2:30 pm Eastern time,
on Blackboard Collaborate, a really
interactive platform.  
 
You can bring PowerPoint slides or
photos to upload and share in the meeting if you like, or just join in the conversation.  
 
The only technical requirements
are to have internet access,
a headphone with a microphone,
and the capacity to download a Java file.
 
To enter the meeting room use
 this link. 
 
It is helpful to RSVP in advance to
plan to come.






PC&E_Summit logo

 
 
 
 
PUBLIC CONSULTATION CONFERENCE  
DECEMBER 6-7, 2017 
.  
Hold the date if you are interested in public consultation and engagement: we are partnering for yet another year with the Strategy Institute to hold a conference sharing expertise and creative ideas around public engagement.   
 
There will be more detail in next month's newsletter.  
 
   


UPCOMING FACILITATOR TRAINING
(the rest of 2017)
Toronto:
*Group Facilitation Methods:
October 16-17, 2017
November 20-21, 2017
*Meetings that Work:
November 16-17, 2017  
Advanced Tools:
September 20-22, 2017
Transformational Strategy:
September 25-26, 2017
Organizational Transformation:
October 18-20, 2017  
Human Development:
   November 22-24, 2017  
Facilitating Client Collaboration:
October 5-6, 2017
 
Edmonton
*Group Facilitation Methods:
November 23-24, 2017
*Meetings that Work
October 17-18, 2017
Transformational Strategy:
October 24-25, 2017
Organizational Transformation:
September 26-28, 2017
Advanced ToP Tools:
November 27-29, 2017

Calgary
*Group Facilitation Methods:
October 3-4, 2017

Winnipeg
* Group Facilitation Methods:
November 6-7, 2017
  Transformational Strategy:
November 8-9, 2017

Regina
*Group Facilitation Methods:
November 27-28, 2017
*Meetings that Work:
November 29-30, 2017

* Group Facilitation Methods Online:
October 27, 30,31, Nov. 3, and Nov. 6, 7, and 10, 2017
(2 hour sessions after 1-hour intro on first date)
*Meetings that Work Online:
December 8, 11-14, 2017
(2 hour sessions after 1-hour intro on first date)
Transformational Strategy Online:
December 8, 11-14, 2017
(2 hour sessions after 1-hour intro on first date)

* Foundational Courses for Professional Facilitator Program

See our website for further information, courses scheduled in 2018, and to register.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FACILITATION?  SCHEDULE A COACHING SESSION!
When you take a course with ICA Associates, we provide an hour of free coaching on facilitation by a highly experienced facilitator, one of our "old masters".  All you have to do is call or email and book a session, either on the phone, online, or in person.  We'll help you review the methods, design a complex session, or reflect on a difficult session.

In addition, you can purchase coaching from us. Many people have found that this saves them and their clients significant time and money in the long run.

Contact ica@ica-associates.ca, and Darlene will connect you to the facilitator that can help you the most. 
Thank you for being a part of the larger ToP (Technology of Participation) community!

You can call us at any time for facilitation coaching or to share your facilitation successes.  And don't forget the Online Community of Practice!

Please share this newsletter with friends who might find it useful or even inspiring.

Sincerely,

Jo Nelson
ICA Associates Inc.
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ICA Associates Inc.
416-691-2316

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