Time to Think Foundation course

2 days | Central Manchester

The Time to Think Foundation Course provides the opportunity for participants to gain an in-depth understanding and experience of the Thinking Environment including the Ten Components, Independent Thinking, Thinking Pairs, Rounds, Dialogue, Open Discussion, Meetings, The Council, Presentations and Facilitation. The Course provides clear input and context and the opportunity to practise each of the applications, giving each participant confidence in using their new skills effectively immediately after the course. 

The Foundation Course provides the insight and skills to run meetings that are inclusive and time efficient as well as more interesting and creating stronger energy than conventional meetings. Participants learn how to prepare agendas that generate efficient preparation before the meetiing and lead to decisions, actions and next steps within the meeting. 

Moreover, the Foundation Course enables participants to use the applications in any bespoke facilitation such as workshops, training, team builds, OD and change programmes. In addition, the course includes a demonstration of a Thinking Partnership session for the group to consider its importance for leaders creating and embedding Thinking Environment and coaching cultures. 

Participants emerge with an expertise in thinking and listening that will transform numerous aspects of work and life. Working in a Thinking Environment enables you to make good decisions even better, solve problems confidently and creatively and lead the way through complex and challenging situations.

The Foundation Course is a certificated course in its own right and also allows participants to go on to complete the Time to Think Facilitator Qualifying Course and become accredited Time to Think Facilitators.

Overview of the course content  

• Discover the provenance and power of facilitating in a Thinking Environment
• Understand the social psychology of what doesn’t work in facilitating groups and how the Thinking Environment mitigates those difficulties
• Understand the two worlds of Independent thinking and Exchange thinking
• Practise transformative listening paying ‘generative attention’ and ‘listening to ignite’
• Enhance your creativity and innovative thinking working in Thinking Pairs, Rounds, Dialogues and Open Discussions
• Learn how The Council enables groups to raise and resolve problems supportively and creatively and can be used in a range of contexts such as action learning
• Embody the Ten Components of a Thinking Environment
  • Learn how the component Place creates psychological safety in your practice
  • Practise the components Attention, Equality and Ease
  • Discover the ground-breaking research underpinning the component Appreciation and use appreciation to generate and sustain independent thinking
  • Understand how to weave the components Diversity, Information, Encouragement and Feelings skilfully through your practice
  • Learn to use the component Incisive Question to transform thinking into action
• Transform your meeting and facilitation skills by working in a Thinking Environment