Oct 12, 2021

Today’s host is Nikki Wilson, talking to guest David Bishop, bilingual trainer and facilitator, based in France.

David’s adventures in facilitation started about 10 years ago, when he was training managers on presentation and negotiation skills. His own practice took him towards being a meeting host, and a facilitator (though he wasn’t aware of that term at the time).

He’s been with IAF for 3 years, which he joined because he wanted to support the great work they were doing. Celeste Brito (who guested in episode 15 of this show) asked David to become part of the IAF Europe and Middle East.

David’s been running the Facilitation Insight series, which takes place the first Thursday every month, 1700 UK time, where facilitators share their experience on different aspects of facilitation and the business side of being a facilitator. An opportunity for facilitators to learn and share.

He’s also organising “The Business of Facilitation” for IAF members, set up after members asked for support on the business side of facilitation through an IAF survey.

It’s divided into 3 parts:

1) The Business Basics series, including contracts, websites, pricing your services

2) The Book Club, pick a book, a chapter, share what you liked and what you learned.  

3) Skills Exchange, where people lend a hand to others on an aspect of facilitation.

Find out more here: https://www.iaf-world.org/site/events/webinars

A new chapter is born!

Meanwhile, David has created the IAF Ireland chapter. On the day of this recording, Celeste contacted David to confirm that the chapter is now official! (Congratulations to all!!!)

While there were meet-ups being held under the banner of Ireland, there wasn’t an official chapter, so David and other members have created it.

Looking into the future, the chapter will be a place for IAF members to share, test, develop their skills (sometimes through leading the sessions), discuss the IAF core competencies… as this is what many members want from the chapter.

And if future clients would like to meet facilitators, this will be the ideal place to do this.

Remember, there is no pressure to join the IAF, even if you’re attending the meet-ups.

So, what’s next?
The IAF Ireland chapter members also want to look into is how can the chapter play an international role within IAF Global.  

So check out what they're up to.

There’s already quite a few meetings planned and you can check out the schedule here: https://www.meetup.com/IAF-Ireland-facilitators-and-friends/ 

You can get in touch with David on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/davidbishopfacilitation 

Some of the IAF Global events he was talking about can be found here: https://www.iaf-world.org/site/events/webinars

Find out everything about the IAF Ireland chapter here, as the page gets built: https://www.iaf-world.org/site/chapters/ireland 

And if you want to get in touch with our host Nikki, she is @NiksClicks on Twitter.