Sacramento Professional Facilitators
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Technology of Participation ToP®

Today we see an undeniable trend toward group participation and involvement in problem solving, planning and decision making. People expect to be asked to participate, and organizations of all kinds are responding with structural changes that place increasing responsibility in the hands of front-line teams.

Understanding group processes and mastering the skills required by this more participatory culture are now essentials of effective leadership. Anyone who plays a leadership role in a group needs the capacity to enable it to maximize its own potential for excellence and productivity.

What is the Technology of Participation (ToP®)? The Technology of Participation® helps groups think, talk and work together and provides group facilitators with structured methods that:

• Recognize and honor contributions of all
• Let a group deal with more data in less time
• Pool individual contributions into larger more informative patterns
• Welcome diversity while minimizing polarization and conflict.

Who is ICA? ICA is a unique facilitation, training and research organization providing effective participatory skills to thousands of people across the United States and in thirty other nations.

With its thirty years of international experience, ICA continues to be on the leading edge of change in designing, delivering and training people to use simple, yet highly productive group leadership processes. In the United States, ICA's Technology of Participation (ToP®) programs and methods are used by hundreds of for-profit and nonprofit organizations, government agencies, professional associations and local communities.

Research. The Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), has always described itself as a research, training and demonstration organization. A major instrument of its research was the summer assemblies and conferences. These large meetings created many of ICA's basic designs, tools and societal maps. The Comprehensive models such as the global grid, the social process triangles, the comprehensive life curriculum (Courage to Lead Chapter 7), and the Other World charts (Chapter 5), were created through these research efforts.

Demonstration. Early on, the ICA saw that it is not enough to teach what is possible; it has to be demonstrated sociologically, on the ground. In ICA's first social demonstration, Fifth City, a ten-block community in Chicago's West Side., ICA staff worked with community leaders to create a plan for the revitalization of this inner-city community that includes new housing, health care, early childhood education, a shopping mall, and programs for youth, adults and elders. The story of this effort spread across the city and around the world as a sign of what was possible for local communities everywhere. ICA applied these learnings working with local people in the global village demonstrations to improve the local economy, health, education and well-being.

Training and Facilitation. ICA's courses, academies and trainings schools developed since the 1950s grew out of a comprehensive curriculum model. Beginning around 1988, the focus shifted to facilitating and training in methods of participation. Wisdom from the ICA staff and network since 1988 has been focused on building up a culture of participation in local communities and all kinds of organizations.

Over the years, ICA has relied on wisdom from many sources: theologians, philosophers, sociologists, psychologists, artists, popular songwriters and local people. In this tapestry, the discerning reader will notice threads from several 20th Century movements.

Excellent reasons to choose the ToP® Series for your training

An Effective Approach... The ToP® courses will aid those who are creating a climate of involvement in the workplace. You will experience the methods, talk about the theory behind them, practice them in small groups, and then get feedback on your style and skills. You'll leave these courses ready to immediately apply what you've learned.

An Exceptionally Qualified Faculty... Each faculty team brings a wealth of both up front facilitation and training experience coming from work with large and small businesses, not-for-profits, community agencies, governmental and educational institutions and neighborhoods.

They are skilled at both transferring these methods and answering your questions about how these methods work. The faculty provides an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach to organizational change and development. Technology of Participation® courses are available in the US in both English and Spanish.

The ToP® methods use innovative approaches which have been extensively researched and field tested. ToP® methods are supported by practical results that have proven sustainable over time. Participants and leaders gain a renewed confidence in their capability to support participative approaches and strategies in their organization.

Take-Home References... Our comprehensive participant workbook, which clearly outlines the steps for each method, is a practical tool for your future use.

Limited Course Size... Programs are all presented in a relaxed and interactive small group learning environment. Courses are intentionally limited in size and are taught by at least two trainers to insure the highest levels of participation and learning.

Using the Technology of Participation® series, you will learn to:

• Capture the power of diversity and harvest it for a shared vision
• Focus group energy by utilizing individual insight
• Build commitment by using a process that assures effective action

ToP® Facilitators Get Results