We all know that mutual trust, support, and communication are the foundations of any relationship. For leaders and coaches that work in partnership, creating a successful dynamic is critical. We spoke to Sue Belton and Anne Taylor, both award-winning, highly experienced executive coaches and leadership development experts, about how developing their co-facilitation skills enabled them to work as a partnership and engage their clients more effectively. 

With more than twenty-six years’ executive coaching experience between them, Sue and Anne are no strangers to sharing their expertise with audiences large and small. After attending CRRUK’s Alchemy – a course for trainers and facilitators who want to ‘up their game’ by learning how to create ‘magical co-facilitation’ – Sue and Ann felt more energised and cohesive, an outcome which has had a positive impact since. 

The impact of Alchemy

“What I loved about alchemy was the breadth of impact it had on me. I am a practical person so I loved the practical tools but I also loved the relationship parts – it helped to deepen our relationship so we could be better co-leaders.” Anne explains. 

Sue agrees, “Yes, it was great to take time out and focus on relationships. We spent so much time focussing on content, it felt beautifully indulgent. I think it really made us come to future sessions more strategically. It made us much stronger as a unit, and more cohesive and effective.” 

What is co-facilitation? 

Facilitation is a technique used by trainers, leaders, and coaches to help learners acquire, retain, and apply knowledge and skills. More active than simply presenting – a one-way process – facilitation is all about introducing a concept and then fostering the discussion. 

Co-facilitation takes this process one step further. The focus is on co-delivery – the dynamic of two people facilitating together. Done well, co-facilitation can make the job easier. Good co-facilitators play to each other’s strengths, support one another, adapt to each other’s needs, and work collaboratively to ensure that everything runs smoothly. 

Anne explains “The phrase used in alchemy is “a united front”. I felt that a lot more after the training; we had a common language, a common framework, and a shared set of values. It wasn’t “Sue and I”. Or “Me and Sue”. It was “US”. It was brilliant in terms of our relationship but also in terms of how we lead. After our Alchemy training, we had another session with the [same] clients and it was hands-down more effective and more enjoyable for us – and for them!” 

Who is Alchemy training for? 

The reality is that magical co-facilitation doesn’t just happen. When things don’t go well, co-facilitators can compete for control and step on each other’s toes – creating a memorable impact on participants for all the wrong reasons. 

Alchemy is specifically designed for coaches, facilitators, team leaders and business owners who want to create and deliver seamlessly and in-sync. It is also very useful for anyone who presents in tandem with a colleague, including sales and/or marketing teams who co-present pitches to prospects or clients.

What will Alchemy teach me? 

You’ll learn how to deliver seamlessly and in-sync with a partner, how to master your impact on participants and their learning, and how to create chemistry with your co-facilitator, both in-person and through online platforms.

By the end of the course, attendees will have learned how to shift the focus from themselves and individuals to the power of the partnership, as well as how to deepen your connection. The course also focuses on how to create more safety, trust, and permission, and how to move away from a ‘power and control’ style of teaching to have more command. Crucially, the course also enables you to tune into what your learners need and trust yourself and your co-facilitator, so that you can tear up your script and respond to what’s needed in the moment.

Register for our next Alchemy Course!