Meeting Facilitation Skills for Leaders of Diverse Teams from Udemy

Numerous studies have proven that the most successful companies harness the collective wisdom of diverse teams. Your company’s value is the sum total of the decisions it makes and executes. Developing the skills needed to be an inclusive and efficient facilitator is critical for leaders and managers who want to ensure that all voices are heard, diverse perspectives are valued, efficient meetings are run, and high-quality decisions are made.

This course will give you practical skills, tactics, and tools to be an inclusive and efficient facilitator. You will learn how to handle tough situations and you will receive a clear roadmap for what to do before a meeting, during a meeting, and after a meeting. You will receive templates, checklists, and reference materials, along with exercises and quizzes to support your learning journey.

The sections of the course include:

Understanding key facilitation concepts

The importance of your role as a facilitator
Normal group formation dynamics
Psychological safety
A facilitator’s mindset
A facilitator’s responsibilities

How to facilitate before the meeting

Getting the right people there
Managing time
Defining the purpose and desired outcome
Defining roles and responsibilities
Setting and sending a clear agenda
Sending advance information needed for consultation
Prepping others to be successful in their roles

How to facilitate during the meeting

Define

How the group will work together
Structure of the meeting
Issues for discussion and decision

Deliberate

Mindset for participatory consultation
Dialogue skills
Body language
Problem-solving tools

Decide

Ways to get to consensus
Ways to achieve consent

Document

Minutes
Reporting out

How to facilitate after the meeting

Follow-up techniques
Techniques for giving and receiving feedback

How to facilitate tough situations

Power imbalances
Microaggressions
Dominating
Withholding
High emotion

Layli Miller-Muro has was CEO of a highly diverse organization for 20 years. Recognized for its sound management practices and inclusive consultative decision-making processes, under her leadership, the organization won the Washington Post Award for Management Excellence. She was named as one of Goldman Sachs's Top 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs and Newsweek Magazine's 150 Most Fearless Women in the World. Layli is an author and frequent lecturer. Currently, she is a consultant helping purpose-driven corporations and leaders operationalize their values.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to be an inclusive meeting facilitator of a diverse team
The roles, responsibilities, and mindset of an inclusive facilitator
How to create trust in your team and ensure a collaborative, safe, and supportive environment, which allows everyone to bring their full self and engage
How to develop a common understanding of norms of behavior during your meetings (with community agreements or ground rules)
How to handle difficult situations like high emotions, people who dominate discussions, people who don’t participate, and microaggressions.
How to ensure that people come to the discussion prepared with the right information and mindset.
How to facilitate consultative dialogue where ego is not in the room

Skills to help you facilitate problem solving exercises using tools like brainstorming, swot analysis, pareto diagrams, and mindmapping
How to facilitate a virtual meetings as well as in person
How to avoid common facilitation mistakes
How to effectively facilitate before the meeting, during the meeting, and after the meeting
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How to be an inclusive meeting facilitator of a diverse team
The roles, responsibilities, and mindset of an inclusive facilitator
How to create trust in your team and ensure a collaborative, safe, and supportive environment, which allows everyone to bring their full self and engage
How to develop a common understanding of norms of behavior during your meetings (with community agreements or ground rules)
How to handle difficult situations like high emotions, people who dominate discussions, people who don’t participate, and microaggressions.
How to ensure that people come to the discussion prepared with the right information and mindset.
How to facilitate consultative dialogue where ego is not in the room
Skills to help you facilitate problem solving exercises using tools like brainstorming, swot analysis, pareto diagrams, and mindmapping
How to facilitate a virtual meetings as well as in person
How to avoid common facilitation mistakes
How to effectively facilitate before the meeting, during the meeting, and after the meeting
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome: The Course Overview

The student will have a deep understanding of 5 key facilitation concepts

Introduction to Key Inclusive Facilitation Concepts

Making sure you know who to include.

Understanding the optimal size for inclusive decision-making

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops strong facilitation skills, which are in demand in many job sectors

Suitable for managers and leaders of diverse teams who want to enhance their facilitation skills

Is led by instructors with extensive experience in managing diverse teams and facilitating meetings

The course format is a blend of video lessons, downloadable templates, and quizzes, which provides flexibility for learners

Provides clear guidance on how to facilitate before, during, and after meetings, which is practical and actionable

Covers a wide range of topics, including handling difficult situations and promoting inclusivity, which is comprehensive

Reviews summary

Mastering inclusive meeting facilitation for leaders

According to students, this course is a highly practical and comprehensive guide to effective meeting facilitation, especially within diverse teams. Learners frequently praised the instructor's engaging delivery and deep real-world experience, which made the concepts resonate deeply. Many found the structured approach, covering before, during, and after meeting strategies, to be exceptionally clear and easy to implement. Key takeaways include understanding psychological safety, applying the robust Define, Deliberate, Decide, Document framework, and gaining confidence in handling difficult situations like microaggressions or dominating participants. While some experienced facilitators felt parts were foundational, the majority highlighted the course's actionable strategies and invaluable tools, making it a must-take for current and aspiring leaders.

Emphasizes creating a safe, collaborative, and diverse environment.

"The emphasis on psychological safety and inclusive practices sets this apart from other facilitation courses."

"The focus on truly hearing diverse voices is fantastic and deeply aligns with my professional goals."

"I learned so much about creating psychological safety and fostering a truly collaborative environment."

Effectively equips learners to manage challenging meeting dynamics.

"The tools for handling tough situations like microaggressions are invaluable and something I can use immediately."

"Invaluable for leaders in diverse environments. The segment on managing power imbalances and dealing with dominating personalities provided concrete strategies I can use."

"I now feel much more equipped to handle complex team dynamics and ensure every voice is heard, especially in high-emotion scenarios."

Instructor's deep experience enriches learning and engagement.

"Layli's instruction is so clear and actionable, and her expertise is evident throughout the course."

"The instructor's real-world experience truly shines through and makes this course truly unique."

"I appreciated how the instructor explained complex topics in a digestible way, drawing from her vast experience."

Offers a clear, structured roadmap for meeting facilitation.

"The instructor's real-world experience truly shines through. I appreciated the practical focus on actionable strategies and the comprehensive coverage of the facilitator's role before, during, and after a meeting."

"A well-structured course that covers the entire meeting lifecycle with practical advice at every step."

"I found the 'Define, Deliberate, Decide, Document' framework incredibly useful and the overall structure clear and well-organized."

Provides immediately applicable skills and useful templates.

"This course is a game-changer! Layli's instruction is so clear and actionable. I've already applied the 'Define, Deliberate, Decide, Document' framework to my team meetings, and the results are amazing."

"The templates and checklists provided are incredibly practical and have significantly improved my meeting preparation."

"I gained practical tools for problem-solving, like brainstorming, and the specific advice on managing high emotion was new and welcome."

Some wished for more real-life case studies or in-depth tools.

"I felt some of the material was too theoretical for my taste, and I expected more hands-on exercises or case studies to practice what was taught."

"Good for a general overview, but not for deep practical immersion. Some topics, like problem-solving tools, felt a bit rushed."

"While highly practical, I felt some parts could be explored in even greater depth, especially regarding more advanced scenarios."

More beneficial for beginners and intermediate learners.

"Good foundational knowledge for meeting facilitation, but some parts felt a bit basic if you already have some experience."

"Didn't offer many new insights for someone with extensive experience in leadership and facilitation. Felt more like a primer."

"It's likely better suited for beginners or those newer to facilitation roles, as advanced practitioners might find some content too basic."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Meeting Facilitation Skills for Leaders of Diverse Teams with these activities:

Review active listening techniques

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Refresh your understanding of active listening techniques to improve your ability to understand and respond to others in meetings.

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Review the principles of active listening
Practice active listening in a conversation

Develop a facilitation plan

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Create a facilitation plan to guide you through the process of planning and facilitating meetings.

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Identify the purpose and objectives of the meeting
Determine the participants and their roles
Develop an agenda and discussion points
Plan for decision-making and conflict resolution

Analyze meeting discussions

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Practice analyzing meeting discussions to improve your ability to identify key issues and facilitate effective dialogue.

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Review the steps for facilitating a meeting
Identify key issues and discussion points
Develop strategies for facilitating dialogue
Practice analyzing meeting discussions with a peer

One other activity

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all four activities

Participate in a mock facilitation session

Show steps

Gain practical experience facilitating a meeting by participating in a mock session with your peers.

Browse courses on Decision Making

Show steps

Review the steps for facilitating a meeting
Prepare an agenda and discussion points
Facilitate a mock meeting session
Receive feedback from your peers

Career center

Learners who complete Meeting Facilitation Skills for Leaders of Diverse Teams will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Facilitator

As a Facilitator, you will be responsible for planning, moderating, and guiding group discussions and meetings. You will need to be able to create a safe and inclusive environment that allows everyone to participate fully. This course will teach you the skills and techniques you need to be an effective Facilitator, including how to build trust, manage conflict, and facilitate decision-making.

See salaries and explore the career path for Facilitator

Consultant

As a Consultant, you will work with clients to help them solve problems and improve their performance. You will need to be able to understand their needs, develop solutions, and communicate your findings effectively. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Consultant, including how to facilitate group discussions, manage projects, and write reports.

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Project Manager

As a Project Manager, you will be responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. You will need to be able to manage a team, budget, and timeline. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Project Manager, including how to facilitate group discussions, resolve conflicts, and manage risk.

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Human Resources Manager

As a Human Resources Manager, you will be responsible for managing the human resources function of an organization. You will need to be able to develop and implement HR policies, recruit and select employees, and manage employee relations. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Human Resources Manager, including how to facilitate group discussions, manage conflict, and resolve grievances.

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Training and Development Manager

As a Training and Development Manager, you will be responsible for planning, developing, and delivering training programs. You will need to be able to identify training needs, design and develop training materials, and evaluate training effectiveness. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Training and Development Manager, including how to facilitate group discussions, develop learning objectives, and create engaging training materials.

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Organizational Development Manager

As an Organizational Development Manager, you will be responsible for helping organizations improve their performance. You will need to be able to diagnose organizational problems, develop and implement change initiatives, and evaluate the effectiveness of change efforts. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Organizational Development Manager, including how to facilitate group discussions, manage conflict, and lead change.

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Diversity and Inclusion Manager

As a Diversity and Inclusion Manager, you will be responsible for developing and implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives within an organization. You will need to be able to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Diversity and Inclusion Manager, including how to facilitate group discussions, manage conflict, and resolve grievances.

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Equity and Inclusion Manager

As an Equity and Inclusion Manager, you will be responsible for developing and implementing equity and inclusion initiatives within an organization. You will need to be able to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Equity and Inclusion Manager, including how to facilitate group discussions, manage conflict, and resolve grievances.

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Community Organizer

As a Community Organizer, you will work with community members to identify and address social issues. You will need to be able to build relationships, facilitate group discussions, and develop and implement community-based solutions. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Community Organizer, including how to facilitate group discussions, manage conflict, and build consensus.

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Social Worker

As a Social Worker, you will work with individuals, families, and communities to address social problems. You will need to be able to assess needs, develop and implement social service programs, and advocate for social justice. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Social Worker, including how to facilitate group discussions, manage conflict, and resolve grievances.

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Educator

As an Educator, you will be responsible for teaching students in a variety of settings. You will need to be able to create a positive and inclusive learning environment, facilitate group discussions, and develop and implement lesson plans. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Educator, including how to facilitate group discussions, manage conflict, and resolve grievances.

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Lawyer

As a Lawyer, you will be responsible for representing clients in legal matters. You will need to be able to research the law, write legal documents, and advocate for your clients in court. This course may be useful for Lawyers who want to improve their facilitation skills, particularly in the context of mediation or negotiation.

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Psychologist

As a Psychologist, you will be responsible for providing therapy and counseling to clients. You will need to be able to assess mental health needs, develop treatment plans, and provide support to clients. This course may be useful for Psychologists who want to improve their facilitation skills, particularly in the context of group therapy.

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Doctor

As a Doctor, you will be responsible for providing medical care to patients. You will need to be able to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and provide support to patients. This course may be useful for Doctors who want to improve their facilitation skills, particularly in the context of patient consultations or team-based care.

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Nurse

As a Nurse, you will be responsible for providing care to patients in a variety of settings. You will need to be able to assess patient needs, develop and implement care plans, and provide support to patients. This course may be useful for Nurses who want to improve their facilitation skills, particularly in the context of patient consultations or team-based care.

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