At the end of each class, the cohort is asked to write a letter to the next “class”. Here are a sampling of some of the letters that have been written.
Dear future facilitation course group,
You’ve got a great several weeks ahead of you. I am so glad that I took on this course, and I think that you will be as well! Although a good deal of time and effort are involved, everything you put into it will be worth it.
Throughout this course, my mind was opened further than it had been in the past. I learned many tactics for encouraging, controlling, and managing input during meetings and classes. I also learned how to make each experience more whole-group involved, as well as more interesting and interactive for each participant. I mainly teach and coach groups of all sizes, rather than facilitate meetings, but almost everything I learned in this class was applicable to teaching and coaching people. The course expanded my toolbox for reaching others and guiding them through experience learning.
I felt challenged throughout this course. At first I felt apprehensive to volunteer to try tactics before completely understanding them, but the “baptism by fire” and “on the spot” learning experience was valuable. I learned to jump in and try without hesitation. I felt supported by the instructors and my classmates each time I tried a facilitation method or provided input. I learned to better neutralize myself when facilitating a group meeting where a decision or plan is the goal. I also learned to truly examine myself and determine if I have a tendency to do anything in a group that is distracting or irritating to others. That’s a tough thing to assess, but valuable! I think my favorite gain from this class are the various tactics for recruiting input from individuals, and the Zoom functions that I did not formerly know how to use. These tactics have greatly improved my classes! I also will always remember the Ted Talk recording we watched as part of our homework at the start of the course about respecting differing perspectives.
I encourage you to make sure you have everything else set aside when it’s time to participate in your weekly class, and to do the homework for each week before you meet rather than after. That was very helpful for me. I encourage you to go all in, and truly challenge your current knowledge and beliefs!
Dear next cohort,
Congratulations on enrolling in this course! As you embark on this new adventure, I am excited to see how you will grow and develop your skills. No matter your level of experience in group facilitation, this course will provide you with valuable tools and techniques to hone your abilities, develop effective meeting agendas, and tackle the challenges that arise when facilitating group meetings. The sessions are designed to be engaging, and there will be many readings and assignments to complete.
To make the most of this course, I encourage you to utilize your time management skills to stay on top of your workload and participate actively in class discussions. I can assure you that the instructors are very responsive, welcoming, and encouraging, so don’t hesitate to reach out to them whenever you need assistance.
Best of luck in your studies!
Dear Future Participants,
You will find great value in this class. You will learn not just how to be a better facilitator but a better meeting participant who engages more fully (without their phone in their hand, or their email open in another window). You will cringe at meetings that aren’t facilitated well (I see you – charts written in tiny font and red marker!).
To be successful in this course, I recommend you do the reading and the homework – for every class – even if you are not seeking continuing education credits. it is the best way to be prepared and fully engaged, and really, to get the most out of the course. If you can, treat the homework as pre-work, as it really helps when it comes time for the live weekly class.
I have learned so much in terms of how to write notes, summarize, manage difficult participants, engage quiet participants and facilitate meetings that are a more enjoyable experience. I hope you enjoy this class as much as I did!
Dear Future Facilitators,
You’re about to embark on a journey that’s as much about self-awareness as it is about group dynamics.
When I started this course, I thought facilitation was mostly about managing meetings and keeping things on track. What I’ve learned is that it’s so much deeper. Facilitation is about creating space for ideas, emotions, and voices that often go unheard. It’s about listening with intention, noticing what’s beneath the surface, and guiding a group not just toward outcomes but toward connection.
What surprised me most was how much facilitation asks of you—not just your skills, but your presence. You’ll learn to read the room, respond to tension, and hold space for discomfort. And you’ll grow in ways you didn’t expect.
What helped me grow was leaning into the tools and frameworks, yes, but also the reflection. The moments where I paused and asked, “What’s really happening here?” or “What does this group need from me right now?” Those questions became my compass.
My advice to you?
- Don’t be afraid to pause. Silence can be powerful.
- Trust the group; they often have the answers.
- And trust yourself, you’re learning to lead with empathy and clarity.
I wish someone had told me that facilitation isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present.
You’ve got this. And you’re not alone.
Warmly,
A fellow facilitator-in-progress
Congratulations on taking the next step in your learning journey!
As you embark on this facilitation development course, remember that every challenge is an opportunity to grow, connect, and inspire. Your curiosity and commitment will shape the experience—not only for yourself, but for those you’ll lead. Throughout this course, you will feel supported, encouraged to grow and excited to gain practical skills that that you can apply immediately. Stay open, authentic, support each other, and embrace the process.
Great things await!
Dear future participants of this course:
You are about to embark on a journey of reflection and discovery. You will come away from this course with a backpack of tools to use in your future as a facilitator.
Read the book and soak in all of the ideas. Read the discussion boards to learn from your peers. Practice any chance you get during the live meetings. This is a very practical course, and the more you practice, the better you get.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Dear Future Facilitator,
Welcome to the journey!
One of the biggest things I learned in this course is that facilitation is not just about planning or leading, but it’s about listening, noticing the energy in the room, and helping people feel seen. I used to think being a facilitator meant staying neutral and organized (and that is part of it), but I now realize it also means knowing when to pause, when to step out of the content and talk about the process, and how to include voices that might otherwise go unheard.
Here’s some advice: trust the process, use the tools, be present, ask questions, and be prepared to be actively engaged. Oh, and one more thing! During your practices, it’s okay if you are not perfect in your delivery. The facilitators are some of the most welcoming and encouraging folks I’ve met, and they really created a safe space to make mistakes.
You’ve got this!
Dear future facilitators:
I’m so glad you are here! You will grow and enjoy this course immensely! The instructors are warm and caring with great ideas and encouragement!
My best advice is to keep up no matter what! I’ve gotten behind but Ms. Dougherty is very understanding and very willing to work with me and support my journey in a future session if needed.
Please don’t hesitate to ask questions and put yourself out there during group meetings. This is what you’re looking for participants to do when you are facilitating so I encourage you to be the participant you’d like to have someday!
Thanks for taking this course and I hope you enjoy!
Sincerely,
Dear future students,
I hope you all enjoy the class as much as my cohort did. You are in great hands with Michelle and Laurie. You will learn so much about facilitation but also be prepared to learn about yourself! I highly advise that you go into a growth mindset, even for the modules you think won’t be as applicable to your work. One of the best ways to get the most out of this class is to volunteer during the weekly gatherings. Do not feel hesitant about asking questions, everyone is there to help and learn from each other!
Sincerely,
(Content generated using Copilot)
I asked copilot for a poem, and it came up with the poem below which reflects what instructors have guided us through these past weeks. I find it really nice and appropriate to share here:
The Facilitator’s Art
A Poetic Tribute
This course is a wonderful experience for many reasons – one of my favorite being that it gives you some dedicated time to practice the skills you are learning. If discovered that I had many of these skills in my toolbox already, but I still have so much to learn, to acknowledge, and to appreciate about the journey of a facilitator. Just remember, this field of study, this art form, is a life-long journey!
I was surprised by the diversity in thought represented in my cohort – vastly different professional and life paths that have brought us all together with the same dedication – to being a better facilitator. This was at the core of what helped me grow throughout this course – to know that there is purpose and value in strengthening our facilitation skills – no matter your profession or background.
One word of advice that I would give you, future facilitator, is to not be afraid to use the class time and online discussion boards as a learning space – a space to be vulnerable and try something new, to ask questions and offer your experiences to enhance the learning of the whole group. I wish someone had told me this before I started – I may have been a bit more comfortable taking on roles or practice opportunities that challenge my “comfort zone” as a facilitator.
No matter what you do, make sure you are able to be present, try new things, and most importantly HAVE FUN!
Dear Next Cohort members,
Welcome to this course.
I am delighted to share that participating in this course had really empowered me to explore challenging questions about the processes of facilitation. This is such a practical course, taught by excellent teachers and with a great group of learners.
It has also helped me to further understand the impact of positive group culture, connection among people and reminded me about the power of inclusive safe space as a foundation for effective group facilitation.
Most importantly, I invite you to be gentle to your process of learning and balancing commitments. There is a value in learning skillful means to engage people. And this is the course that helps refine some of the most interesting skills to support individuals and communities meaningfully to empower together.
Kind regards,
one thing I learned about myself in this course is that even though I was pretty confident in my facilitation, I was also limited and was surprised by all the tools and methods I had not heard of or used before that this course gave me valuable understanding and practice. Putting them into action with other really helped me grow. Showing up prepared and ready to engage is the best way to get the most out of this course!
I hope this letter finds you well and if not, hang in there. You got this, whatever this is in your life. Out the gate, in my experience, this is one of the best courses I have taken in a long time. Can I just say it has invigorated me even more than I expected and I have been facilitating for some time. Be clear, you do not know it all and there is always more to learn. But not only learn but to practice. Facilitation is not just slapping up newsprint on the wall and asking questions. And you may already know this, as I did come in but the shear number of techniques, the rich conversation because your classmates come from all over. There is nothing like being in a room of “like-minded” individuals around a topic, all eager to learn. Some of us quieter than others but that is okay.
Be open, reflective, honest and transparent – this is one of the best gifts you can give yourself while you are taking this course. If you cannot say amen, say ouch and keep learning. You get out of it what you put into it. And listen I am not where I want to be but I am not where I used to be. Do not be too hard on yourself but be a student of Facilitation, while in the course and especially afterward.
Do not get behind on your lessons because, especially if you are someone like me, who does not want to 1/2 do anything. Come to every ZOOM class, carve out the time, there is so much more you get interacting, discussing and trying the techniques!
Our facilitators are very encouraging and honest, empathetic and knowledgeable – utilize them, ask questions, take a chance on yourself and you will benefit.
Dear Potential Participant,
If you are unsure about joining this training, I would encourage you to sign up!
The book and activities provided have been incredibly valuable to me and have changed my whole viewpoint on my role as a facilitator. This training has made me feel more confident as a facilitator and I feel that I have many more useful tools to put into practice after completing the program. My only advice to you is to embrace the group work and participate. It may be awkward, but it is so very worth it to get some practice in those scenarios!
I greatly enjoyed and learned a lot from the training, and I hope you do too!
I’ve learned that I have a lot to learn about being a facilitator. There are so many things to consider that I was never aware of before. I am grateful for all that I learned, and I wish that other facilitators could learn these concepts as well, because now, when others are leading, I will be able to see tips and ideas that would benefit them.
Learning different concepts helped me. I liked learning how to work with different communication styles, and different methods for running a meeting besides the usual simple agenda with a facilitator doing most of the leading and talking. I like the idea of breakouts and brainstorming, as well as writing up a more detailed agenda to help participants understand what is expected of them.
This class does have a lot of information, so be prepared for a lot of work! Full engagement is expected in the class sessions, so come ready to participate. Make sure you set aside plenty of time each week for reading and completing discussions. Also, be sure you have additional time in your schedule to take the class. You will learn a lot and have fun!
Dear future participant,
This course is going to be a great investment of your time and leave you feeling more confident in your facilitation skills. You won’t magically be an expert facilitator overnight and it will take practicing the techniques you’ll learn, but you’ll be filling up your facilitation toolbox a lot.
If you’re able, I’d recommend doing the reading ahead of the live session that addresses it (I didn’t do this, and wish I had). Take the time to read other participants responses to the discussions. It’s great to hear from other people’s perspectives and see how they would practice some of the techniques you’re all learning about.
A Letter to the Next Cohort:
Welcome! You’re about to start a course that will give you so much if you give yourself the time and space to really sink into it. The biggest thing I learned about myself as a facilitator is how much more effective I can be when I plan a meeting with intention, slow down and pay attention to group energy.
I was surprised by how practical and immediately usable the tools in this course were. About halfway through the course, I started applying what I’d learned, and the difference in my meetings was almost instant: clearer structure, more balanced participation, and a lot less strain on me as the person guiding things.
What helped me grow most was the combination of hands‑on practice and reflection. The chance to try techniques right away, in a supportive environment, made everything click much faster than I expected.
If I could offer one piece of real talk: make room on your calendar to focus on the readings and assignments. Block the time off and stick to that time every week. You’ll get out of this experience exactly what you invest in it.
And what I wish someone had told me at the start?
You don’t have to “already be good” at any of this. You just have to be curious and be open to trying new things.
You’ve got this! Enjoy the journey.
Dear next cohort. You’ve made a great decision taking this course. You will be able to assess where you are as a facilitator and strengthen your skills throughout the seven weeks. My favorite part of this course was practicing the skills in small groups. The activities will give you more confidence in your abilities each week. This was a really good investment for me personally.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this class and you will learn so much in a short period of time, but it every minute of learning is worth it. I learned how to explore different ways of group engagement without singling a person out, which is helpful in a group of quiet people. I did not know how to respectfully take control of the room when there are side bar conversations or disengagement. I didn’t realize how small things can impact so much. What was surprising to me is that a lot of tools I have seen before, but did not know how to conduct them myself, so the information was not foreign to me completely. I was surprised at how easily adding certain techniques such as having a proper detailed agenda can make a big difference in the meeting. The class helped me grow by giving me more confidence in facilitating, by placing me in lots a situations, but giving me tools to work through it. Take everything in make notes if you need to. It is a lot of information to absorb, but the information that is taught you will be able to use forever. I wish someone would have told me that these type of classes existed sooner because I would have taken one a long time ago. I am going to put some the information to test immediately at my next meeting in 2 weeks.
Facilitating Group Participation is an excellent that will empower you to be the best facilitator you can be. The textbook and zoom classes have excellent information, and you will get to learn about many different topics including listening skills, agendas, effective brainstorming, how to handle difficult situations and more. After this course, I feel that I have the skills necessary to create a positive group dynamic and make meetings effective for everyone. The things that helped me to grow the most in this course, were the practices that occurred during the zoom meetings, and through reading the textbook sections. That said, I would give the advice to read through the textbook sections, and to get to know the people in your class when you can.
As an introvert, I am a quite participant, but something I learned about myself, is that there are facilitation methods in which I feel comfortable sharing such as small groups or individual writing. This also helped me to know how to draw out the more quiet people when I am the facilitator. Something that surprised me during the course, was what we learned about agendas. I thought I knew how to do an effective agenda, but this course helped me learn how to further refine and clarify the agendas I create. Overall, you are in for a treat as you take this course! I wish you the best and hope that you get what you are hoping for from this class.