Upcoming Workshop Teaches Group Skills

An upcoming workshop in Hilo will teach attendees how to work more efficiently in groups by focusing on effective communication and how to avoid conflict.

The non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center will host “Become a Brilliant Bystander Facilitator” with Kimberly Dark on Aug. 22.

The workshop takes place from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the conference room at Engineering Partners, Inc. at 455 E. Lanikaula St. in Hilo.

“You can have a positive influence on the way things are done in a meeting or group even if you are not the ‘official’ facilitator,” Dark said.  “By learning the skills of the ‘brilliant bystander,’ you can re-route conflict into useful discussion, restore fairness in power struggles, and encourage others to participate.”

The workshop provides a half-day of skills-building for anyone who attends meetings and wishes they would run smoothly, stay on track, and end on time.

Dark teaches people utilize their talent, skills, and creativity to lead from the side.  Workshop participants will explore reasons people stay silent even though they know someone needs to speak up (and how to help), practice strategies for stopping a “discussion-bully,” learn to ask intelligent questions to increase participation, and practice specific skills to redirect a group.

“If you attend meetings of any kind–at schools, on the job, on boards, or in community settings– and you want to sidestep conflict by helping people informally organize their goals, or wish someone would say something when a difficult topic comes up, then this workshop is for you,” Dark explained.

Kimberly Dark has been consulting in conflict resolution and facilitation for more than 20 years. Her consulting specialties include community facilitation, training, and group conflict resolution.  As her schedule allows, Dark teaches in the Sociology Departments at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and at California State University, San Marcos.

The cost is $50.  Group discounts are available.

To register, contact Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center’s Program Coordinator Gail Takaki at (808) 935-7844 x 9 or gail@hawaiimediation.org.