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ToP® Facilitation Methods

Build the skill set underneath everything
else you do.

Two days. Two proven methods. A skill set that enhances every meeting you'll ever lead.

ToP® Training / ToP® Facilitation Methods

Every leader runs meetings. Most of those meetings don't reach their aims. The difference between a meeting that produces something and a meeting that produces another meeting isn't luck — it's skilled facilitation. ToP® Facilitation Methods is the foundational course for becoming that skilled facilitator.

Why This Course

Two methods. The backbone of participatory practice worldwide.

You'll learn two methods — the Focused Conversation Method and the Consensus Workshop Method — that form the backbone of participatory practice worldwide. These are the same methods I use with client organizations across the Great Plains and nationally.

The Focused Conversation Method (ORID — Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, Decisional) gives you a repeatable structure for any conversation that needs to move a group from data to decision. The Consensus Workshop Method gives you a way to build genuine shared agreement, not just compliance.

You'll practice both methods on real content from your own work, get feedback, and walk out the second day with methods you can use the following Monday.

What You'll Leave Able to Do

Concrete skills. Ready Monday morning.

You don't just leave with notes. You leave with specific capabilities you can use in the meetings and processes you're already leading.

Lead focused conversations that reach insight, not just opinions.

The ORID method (Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, Decisional) gives you a repeatable structure for any conversation that needs to move a group from data to decision.

Design and facilitate consensus workshops that build real agreement.

Help groups develop shared understanding and commit to action — even when they came in with very different views.

Design meetings that reach their aims.

Whether the aim is alignment, problem-solving, planning, or conflict resolution — you'll know how to design the process that gets a group there.

Apply these methods immediately.

You won't need a year of practice before these are useful. They're built for the meetings you're already leading.

Who This Is For

Built for the people who lead the work.

Leaders who run regular team meetings
Consultants and independent facilitators
Nonprofit and association staff
HR and OD professionals
Project managers and coordinators
Educators and training designers
Government and public-sector staff
Anyone who works with groups regularly
The Format

How the course actually runs.

Duration

Two full days, in person. 16 contact hours.

Delivery

Small cohort size for hands-on practice with real feedback.

Approach

You practice both methods on real content from your own work — not abstract scenarios.

What's Included

Everything you need to build the skill.

Your registration includes everything you need to put the methods to work — during the course and after it.

📘

The official ToP® Facilitation Methods manual

A comprehensive reference you'll use long after the course ends. The methods, the designs, the templates, and the examples — all in one place.

🤝

One hour of coaching with one of your course trainers

Scheduled within 90 days of course completion. Bring a real challenge — a session you're designing, a group dynamic you're navigating, a process that's stuck — and we'll work through it together.

🌾

Access to the Great Plains ToP Community of Practice

Quarterly gatherings of ToP® practitioners across the region. Keep your skills sharp, learn from others, stay connected to the work.

Credentials & Continuing Education

Credit where credit is due.

CTF Pathway

ToP® Facilitation Methods is the foundational course on the path to the Certified ToP® Facilitator (CTF) credential — the international professional standard for ToP® practitioners.

Continuing Education Hours
13.5
CHES/MCHES
14.5
AICP
12
ICF
14
PDU
Prerequisites

No prerequisites.

ToP® Facilitation Methods is the foundational course in the ToP® curriculum. No prior facilitation experience is required — the course is built to give you the foundation, not to assume you already have it.

What Participants Say

From people who took this course.

The methods I learned in this course transformed how I run every meeting. I use ORID weekly — sometimes daily.

TFM Participant
Nonprofit Director

Two days that paid for themselves the following week. Every leader should take this course.

TFM Participant
Public Sector Manager
Pricing

Tiered pricing. Built for who you are.

Pricing is tiered based on organization type and budget — so participants from small nonprofits and large corporates pay rates that match their context. Choose the tier that fits.

Corporate / Large Nonprofit (>$5M)
$1,250
Public / Government
$1,050
Individual / Mid-sized Nonprofit ($1–5M)
$950
Small Nonprofit / Student
$650

Student rate available with valid student ID. If pricing is a barrier — please reach out. We want the right people in the room.

Upcoming Cohorts

When the next cohort starts.

No public cohort scheduled at the moment. Join the waitlist and we'll let you know as soon as the next one is announced — or reach out about an in-house cohort for your team.

Join the Waitlist
Common Questions

Asked & answered.

Do I need prior facilitation experience to take this course?+
No. ToP® Facilitation Methods is the foundational course in the ToP® curriculum. It's built to give you the foundation, not to assume you already have it.
How is this different from DISC, Working Genius, or other team-style assessments?+
Those tools help groups understand themselves. ToP® methods help groups do work together — make decisions, build plans, resolve disagreements. The two are complementary but distinct. ToP® gives you the process; assessments inform the dynamics inside the process.
Does this qualify for continuing education credits?+
Yes. CHES/MCHES (13.5 hours), AICP (14.5 hours), ICF (12 hours), and PDU (14 hours). Certificates are provided after course completion.
Is this offered virtually, or only in person?+
Public cohorts are delivered in person. In-house cohorts (private to your organization) can be delivered virtually if needed — reach out about an in-house cohort.
What's included in the price?+
The official ToP® Facilitation Methods manual, one hour of coaching with one of your course trainers (scheduled within 90 days), and ongoing access to the Great Plains ToP Community of Practice.
How does this connect to the Certified ToP® Facilitator (CTF) credential?+
ToP® Facilitation Methods is the foundational course on the CTF pathway — the international professional standard for ToP® practitioners. Combined with ToP® Strategic Planning and supervised facilitation experience, it qualifies you to apply for the CTF credential.
Can my whole team take this together?+
Yes — we offer in-house cohorts for organizations who want to bring 8 or more participants through together. In-house cohorts can be customized around your context. Reach out about an in-house cohort.

Ready to build the skill?

Whether you're ready to register for the next cohort or you'd like to talk through whether ToP® Facilitation Methods is the right fit — both paths are open.