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Clean Language for group facilitators

4.6 (8)

6 Weeks

Cohort-based Course

Create richer, more engaging conversations by combining David Grove's precision question set with individual metaphors

Clean Language for group facilitators

4.6 (8)

6 Weeks

Cohort-based Course

Create richer, more engaging conversations by combining David Grove's precision question set with individual metaphors

Hosted by

Judy Rees and Steve McCann

World-leading Clean Language facilitators, trainers and authors

Judy Rees and Steve McCann

World-leading Clean Language facilitators, trainers and authors

Course overview

A remarkable new tool for your facilitation toolkit

As facilitators, we're used to working in the midst of uncertainty, ambiguity, confusion, and even conflict.

We're comfortable with the idea that everyone will have their own unique viewpoint on any issue, and the point is to ensure that all voices are heard.

And - especially if we're steeped in Liberating Structures, Agile, Technology of Participation or similar approaches - we're able to 'trust the process', confident that whatever happens will be the only thing that could have happened.

But Clean Language offers something remarkable, even for experienced group facilitators.

Created by the late David Grove, Clean Language is a precision toolkit for uncovering the "unknown knowns" that drive people's thinking and behaviour.

It works especially well in messy, fuzzy, complex situations - such as group discussions - and when working with metaphor.

Who is this course for

Experienced group facilitators who've heard the buzz about #CleanLanguage and can't wait to use these approaches with their groups

Agile coaches and scrum masters who focus on individuals and their interactions, and want to empower teams to have deeper conversations

Trainers, group coaches and managers who'd like to support more effective communication within groups, especially around challenging topics

Experienced group facilitators who've heard the buzz about #CleanLanguage and can't wait to use these approaches with their groups

Agile coaches and scrum masters who focus on individuals and their interactions, and want to empower teams to have deeper conversations

Trainers, group coaches and managers who'd like to support more effective communication within groups, especially around challenging topics

What great facilitators - and their groups - get from this course

First

the Clean Language questions offer a structure for asking about what matters in a way that reliably builds rapport and trust

Clean Language uses individual metaphors - the stuff of thought, the native language of the unconscious mind - as a way for people to more easily share what they really think and feel

Taken together

these two factors lead to more of the good stuff in groups. Deeper sharing, richer dialogue, better and more informed decision-making

Expert communicators

love Clean Language because it helps them to understand how what they do works, while taking their skills to a new level.

Course syllabus

Session 1, 7 Nov: Using Clean Language questions in groups

Discover 'the nearest thing the FBI has to a Jedi mind trick' and experience why Clean Language matters
Experiment with at least three ways of using Clean Language questions as a facilitator
Consider when groups will find value in using Clean Language questions for themselves
Assemble a toolkit of ways to teach the most commonly-used questions

Session 2, 21 Nov: Working Cleanly with metaphor in groups

Share your own experiences of using metaphorical activities with groups, and learn from others'
Explore the differences between the 'traditional' and 'Clean' ways of using metaphor with groups
Uncover the (possibly unconscious) metaphors that power your own facilitation practice
Gather tips and tricks for including Clean in your work

Session 3, 11 Dec: Share what works for you, unstick what doesn't

Make the most of what is working 'in real life', for you and for others
Unblock any sticking points that have interfered with the practical application of learning
Reconnect the learning group, to develop and deepen the learning from the earlier sessions

4.6 (8 ratings)

What students are saying

This course is spread across a number of weeks, giving you the opportunity to apply the learning & share application experience or ask questions. The sessions are highly interactive, so you see an approach demonstrated & then you can practice within a safe space.

Kerry

Cohort: goldleaves

Agile Coach (Freelance)

Kerry Paulson Limited

A great intro to Clean Language. I appreciated the emphasis placed on intention, not just technique. Lots of opportunities to practice. I was also fortunate enough to take the course alongside brilliant participants which made the experience richer. Maybe I lucked out, or maybe the invitation put out by the instructors managed to draw in just the right people. All in all, a beautiful way to start my Clean Language journey.

Marie

Cohort: goldleaves

Facilitator and coach

Bélier Balance

Brilliant course with excellent facilitation. Online delivery worked really smoothly and the content was fascinating!! I will definitely be using what I learned in my work in future.

Max

Cohort: Mayflowers

I cannot adequately express how outstanding this course is. First and foremost, the Clean Language material itself is a true game-changer. While I principally work with teams, the techniques have invaluable applications for enhancing any interpersonal dynamics - whether with families, leadership roles, or any other context requiring compassionate understanding. Beyond the transformative value of the content, it is Judy and Steve themselves that make the learning experience so genuinely meaningful. Their rare blend of wisdom and wit, humor and honesty does more than refresh. It invigorates and inspires me and fellow participants to spread this impactful work within our organizations. The safe, trusting atmosphere Judy and Steve co-create allows for vulnerable questions and profound insights to emerge gracefully. Their gentle guidance through the learn-by-doing methodology accelerates practical mastery, and their balance of encouragement and challenge motivates continued mastery long after the course concludes. Clean Language for Facilitators equips change agents with the mindsets and toolsets to foster deeper human connections and unlock collective potential. My profuse appreciation to Judy and Steve for pouring so much heart and dedication into elevating coaches everywhere in the nourishing art of Clean.

Robert

Cohort: goldleaves

Advisor

BayPLS

Get inspired an experiment with clean language. Learn what Clean Language can do for you in group facilitation. Judy is setting the bar!

Inge

Cohort: goldleaves

Agile Coach

Cegeka

We're experimenting with an AI-generated promotional video...

Course schedule

3 half days, plus some preparation

Three four-hour sessions
Next: Tues 7 and 21 Nov, Mon 11 Dec 2023
1pm - 5pm UK time

We will start each session at 1pm UK time

Time conversation for first session

What people are saying

Can’t recommend this enough!! Judy’s depth of knowledge and expertise in Clean Language combined with her experience and sense of fun when working with groups or training facilitators (of any type) combine to deliver first class courses, which are INSTANTLY usable and teach a powerful set of tools and techniques.

Ray Whiting

Agile Delivery Manager

A rare chance to simultaneously explore and experience how Clean Language can be used to facilitate and elevate group working. This enables groups to start doing their best work as they clarify their intentions, tap into their creativity and find ways to make better decisions together.

Ian Webster

Training & Change Management Consultant

An interesting, meaningful and relevant training for all facilitators and coaches.

Pritom Phookun

Capacity Development Facilitator

This training will transform the way you work with others - highly engaging and delivered by superb facilitators.

Mary Devine

Leadership Trainer and Coach

From the first training session I had with Judy, I was hooked on Clean Language. She introduced the skills in a way that I could take away and use immediately. [It] has had a profound impact on how I work day to day when asking questions, having insightful conversation… and simply observing people's conversations.

Ashley Meerloo

Trainer, Mentor and Coach

This course provided theory and context, skills practice, practical exercises to use on courses and thoughtful and careful modelling by course tutors. And a chance to delve into the use of metaphor. What's not to love?

Sam Beal

A well-thought out course that took me on a lovely journey to explore Clean Language. Lots of practise time which really aided my learning.

Rebecca Roberts

Trainer and consultant

Brilliant course with excellent facilitation. Online delivery worked really smoothly and the content was fascinating!! I will definitely be using what I learned in my work in future.

Max Goodall

Agile consultant

Meet your instructors

Judy Rees

Judy Rees is known for her skills in highly-engaging online facilitation. What lies behind them is Clean Language - a precision inquiry framework that improves communication between diverse individuals, even when exploring unknown unknowns in complex contexts.

She was the co-author of the first mainstream book on the subject, Clean Language: Revealing Metaphors and Opening Minds, and has taught Clean Language to hundreds of change agents worldwide including facilitators, coaches, managers and consultants.

By using online systems to reach beyond the limits of local, she has helped to make Clean Language a "must have" skill set for advanced communicators, while demonstrating that embodied people skills actually can be learned remotely.

She was the founder of the global Clean event Metaphorum, and her linkletter, which includes news from the Clean Language world, is read by more than 3000 people every week.

She is in demand to teach these deceptively-simple approaches in a wide variety of organisations.

Steve McCann

Steve McCann has worked full time with Judy since 2017, developing, delivering and training Clean Language-based and Clean-inspired solutions.

He is firmly focussed on practical application, co-creating and delivering insights and actions to training and consulting clients in humanitarian action, social impact work, and commercial organisations.

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Clean Language for group facilitators

Learning is better with cohorts

Active hands-on learning

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Interactive and project-based

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Learn with a cohort of peers

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

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