After the overwhelming success of its first cohort, the Marlboro College Center for New Leadership (CNL) is registering the second cohort of its popular certificate program in training, facilitation & consulting. The eight-month program, designed to increase skills in managing groups and group processes, piloted last year with 19 participants from across the country and Canada.
“This is great story of innovation and partnership,” said Kate Jellema, dean of graduate and professional studies and former director of CNL. “The new Certificate in Training, Facilitation and Consulting attracted participants from far afield, and the experiment was an overwhelming success. Our partner organizations were also very enthusiastic about the outcomes.”
“The key to being a skilled trainer and fearless facilitator is the ability to bring the wealth of your experience, while adapting your content to your audience,” said Andy Robinson, one of four nationally-known trainers that designed and led the certificate program. “This training offers that deep learning while nurturing each participant’s ability to be nimble and responsive.”
In addition to Andy, of Andy Robinson Consulting and Trainyourboard.com, the team of trainers included Dianne Russell, of the Institute for Conservation Leadership, Stephanie Lahar, of Stephanie Lahar and Associates, and Kim Lier, assistant director for teaching and learning at the Marlboro graduate school. Together these professionals have more than 80 years of relevant experience with nonprofits, government agencies, and corporate clients, and have facilitated more than a thousand workshops, classes, retreats, planning processes, and community collaborations.
Over the course of two in-person retreats, individual coaching time, and peer-to-peer online learning, these trainers cover a variety of subjects ranging from understanding different ways people learn and engage to designing and running effective meetings. Participants gained skills in building consensus, managing group process, and responding to complex group problems, with ample opportunities to practice, make mistakes, reflect, and improve their skills.
One participant said, “This is one of the most important investments I’ve made in my own professional development. I gained skills and knowledge that I could apply immediately. The one-on-one coaching and consulting is worth the cost of tuition.” Another said, “The program really broadened my understanding of group dynamics and how to approach unique situations with sensitivity and grace.” Participants called the training “jam-packed-with-knowledge, friendly, and fun,” and “totally transformative.”
“We want to highlight the value of a leadership development approach so that each participant, no matter if they own their own consulting firm or work as part of a larger organization, can gain the skills and confidence to show up and lead true change in their work,” said trainer Dianne Russell. Registration for the second cohort is now open, with the first of two hands-on workshops beginning on October 15 at the beautiful Hallelujah Farm Retreat in Chesterfield, New Hampshire. Learn more.
