The world's problems will be solved
through effectively facilitated conversations

-Barry Shapiro, Casting Call

THE PROBLEM

BORING

INEFFECTIVE

DRAINING

Let’s face it. No one is excited to go to meetings. Why? Because, regardless of the venue, virtual or in-person, many work meetings are boring, and mentally draining and ineffective. Not to mention they are often too long and involve too many people for any meaningful decisions to be made.

Without strong facilitation skills, teams struggle with:

  • Lack of clear direction
  • Low participation and connection
  • Discussion creep that leads to confusion
  • Time wasted with too many participants at a time
  • Ambiguous priorities

Business impact: Lowered productivity, growing project creep, and sub-optimal results that are compounded in the virtual environment!

BECOMING A MASTER FACILITATOR IS THE SOLUTION!

ENGAGING

COLLABORATIVE

EFFECTIVE

Dynamic programs based on the strategies outlined in the book Casting Call, by our very own Barry Shapiro, have helped leaders master key facilitation skills. Unlike other training sessions, Facilitators Studio is designed to overcome the challenges faced by leaders today that are immediately applicable in business and personal settings.

Our participants become virtuosos—true masters of essential presentation skills. Each has returned to their teams with confidence and know-how that enables them to improve clarity where there was confusion and calm where there was chaos. The skills they develop help to achieve goals of their company in a wide range of industries and businesses.

In-person or via online platforms, attendees will be directed by Master Facilitators as they learn proven facilitation techniques and engagement strategies from the theatre. These skills will increase participation and dramatically improve the outcome of each business meeting or team offsite they lead.

Business impact: Our revolutionary engagement method breaks the boredom of the corporate meeting and creates engagement in every interaction.

Combining art and science for optimal communication and effective meetings. It’s just what we do.

-Barry Shapiro, Casting Call

GET THE BOOK

Casting Call book by Barry Shapiro

The art of engagement from the theatre, applied to the science of the virtual work environment.

Based on the acclaimed book Casting Call in the Theatre of Corporate Americathe role of the extraordinary facilitator

WORKBOOK COMING SOON!

facilitators studio Clients

Partial List

NEW INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, IN PERSON,
AND VIRTUAL TRAINING OPTIONS AVAILABLE

No two individuals and no two companies are exactly the same. Our wide range of learning tools meets you or you and your team, where you are to provide a platform that will enhance the facilitation skills needed for better communication across business settings. If you are not sure where to start, we are happy to jump on an introductory call with you, book yours today!

Facilitator Skill 360 Assessment plus a private Coaching Session

Identify your most critical strengths and development areas based on our proven Facilitator Skill Competency Model. Receive feedback from your key stakeholders, peers, colleagues, employees, and audience members after completing the confidential assessment.

Includes:

  • Online Facilitator Skill Assessment
  • 40-page detailed report
  • Customized 30-60-90-day action plan
  • One-on-one coaching session provided by a certified Facilitators Studio Executive Coach/Master Facilitator

Facilitator Skill 360 Assessment

This DIY option is a great follow-up to the Casting Call book. Our online assessment identifies your strengths and development areas based on our proven Facilitator Skill Competency Model. Receive helpful feedback from your key stakeholders and get a dynamic, 40-page detailed report.

One-on-One Coaching Services (3 + 6-month options)

Partner with a Certified Facilitators Studio™ Executive Coach/Master Facilitator to help you revolutionize the way you lead and facilitate discussions at work in our proven 6-phase program. By finishing each step and training in this series, you will gather hands-on communication and delivery practice to improve the way you speak in any area of your life. Plus, you get a fun certificate of completion, too.

  • Phase 1: Data Gathering
  • Phase 2: Observation
  • Phase 3: Behavior Change
  • Phase 4: Application
  • Phase 5: Measurement
  • Phase 6: Sustainment

Instructional Design Services

Partner with a certified Facilitators Studio Instructional Designer to develop your own extraordinary program. Our proven system. is anchored in dynamic learning theory and performance-based training strategies.

Includes:

  • Development of targeted learning objectives
  • Engaging material + compelling slide development
  • Practical participant manual development
  • Customized evaluation tools

Co-Facilitation Services

Hire our Facilitation Pros to co-deliver a training program and or group session with you. We will take as primary or secondary a facilitator role as necessary.

Benefits to you include:
External perspective of a Facilitators Studio Executive Coach/Master Facilitator
Our collective 50 years of experience to learn from.

Includes:

  • Instructional Design Services
  • Pre-session interview
  • Data gathering + prep
  • Immersion in your company culture
  • Informed, extraordinary facilitation guidance

COMING SOON! Casting Call Field Guide

An action-inspiring companion guide to Casting Call is currently in production!
Includes ideas to apply each of the key frameworks at your workplace:

  • How to effectively prepare for a group session using the G.O.T.E. theatre prep tool
  • How to L.I.F.T. ™ the group dynamic to create optimal conditions for learning and collaboration
  • How to work effectively with difficult and distracted participants
  • How to facilitate flawlessly in a virtual environment
  • Lots of simple, compelling examples, new guidance for the virtual stage, and a step-by-step approach to raise your facilitation game!

MASTER FACILITATOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Our Mission: "Combining art and science for optimal communication and effective meetings"

LEARN THE SCIENCE

  • Effectively prepare for a team session by using the theatre practice of G.O.T.E.™
  • Use the Facilitated Opening technique to immediately engage your audience
  • Practice the Self/Scene Scan ™ process to generate energy in your meeting
  • Leverage technology to create a dynamic experience for your participants in-person and/or through virtual breakout rooms, screen share, polls, whiteboards, and video.

EMBODY THE ART

  • Master the practice of Facilitation Aikido™ to work effectively with difficult participants
  • Create the optimal group dynamics for learning and collaboration through the L.I.F.T.™ framework
  • Partner with a studio coach to observe your live video session back at work
  • Receive a customized coaching session to enhance your existing skills

90- AND 120-DAY FACILITATOR SKILL PROGRAMS BRING ART & SCIENCE TOGETHER:

Facilitator Studio’s Master Facilitator program combines individual coaching sessions with group collaborations/practice meetings in five distinct segments over three or six-months. Each stage can be completed virtually or in-person. (We can create a custom program that fits your company’s needs, book a time with us to discuss.)

LIGHTS: Your first one-hour Individual coaching session that will allow us to define your goals & objectives

ACT I: Group learning session covering the science of meeting facilitation

CAMERA: Your coach will join you at your workplace, or by video, to observe you in action at a meeting you are leading and then provide feedback immediately after in your one on one debrief and action planning

ACT II: Group practice session covering the art of meeting facilitation

ACTION: Your second one-on-one, one-hour coaching session that translates what you learned into an action plan to immediately apply your new skills back at work. 

ACHIEVE VIRTUOSO STATUS

Each participant receives:

  • Initial online assessment with follow-up one-on-one, one-hour coaching session
  • 1 observation session with follow-up one-on-one, one-hour coaching session
  • 2 group workshops (limit of 8 participants)
  • 1 one-on-one, one-hour coaching sessions
  • Access to virtual skills resource Library

Further Details

  • We use Zoom video platform for virtual instruction. All skills taught are translatable to other digital platforms including, Adobe Connect, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, Google Meet, etc.
  • Pricing varies by length of program selected
  • Custom programs available
  • Attend in-person or virtually
  • Discounts available for companies purchasing several tickets.
  • If 90-days feels like a lot, start with reading the book Casting Call, by Barry Shapiro

Our Team

We have decades of experience in facilitation, consulting and coaching within a broad range of industries and organizational structures. We merge our business expertise with the art of the theatre to create dynamic, one-of-a-kind facilitation certification experiences which enable better business results.

partners

Barry Shapiro

founder/owner

Barry Shapiro is an executive coach and master group facilitator in both the brick and mortar and virtual corporate worlds. He is a professional actor and musician in the creative realm. Barry spent the first part of his career working within the walls of medical treatment facilities and the second part of his career working within the walls of Corporate America, Europe, India, and Asia. Over the past 20 years, Barry has worked with executives throughout the technology, oil and gas, finance, government, food and beverage, and healthcare industries, among many others. Executives partner with Barry to revolutionize the way they communicate, lead and develop their people. As a Master Facilitator, Barry designs and leads customized group sessions, grounded in organizational data and targeted leadership interviews, to develop higher performing teams. The Facilitators Studio certifications are based on the principles from his book, Casting Call in the Theatre of Corporate America, the role of the group facilitator. Barry’s partial client list includes Oracle, Lockheed Martin, ESPN, Applied Materials and CU Boulder.

Kristine Ryan

Owner

Kris has over two decades of experience as an Instructional Designer and Performance Technologist. She approaches life and work with curiosity, enthusiasm and energy. She focuses her passion for learning and development on uncovering performance needs and partnering with clients to develop creative, pragmatic and active in-person and virtual learning environments. Kris consults with clients throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. She develops and implements competency-based curricula for clients in a variety of industries. Kris develops and teaches management development courses in leadership, facilitation skills, team management, educational methodology, instructor skills, presentation skills, and coaching. She also serves as a process and content coach in goal-based scenario and simulation-based training programs. In addition to developing and delivering performance-based instruction, Kris facilitates meetings for clients using a variety of structured processes to generate solutions, solve problems and build consensus. She also serves as a coach, working one-on-one with executives to enhance their interpersonal effectiveness skills.

Master Facilitators

Hilary Blair

Creative director

Hilary Blair trains high achievers craving honest feedback to reach the next level in business and/or life. She teaches Executives to move beyond communication habits and uncover what is unique and authentic in each individual. She will explore how you are seen and how you wish to be seen and provide techniques to change your approach and elevate your video presence. Her unique white board technique will guide your discovery of communication situations, goals and challenges. After this analysis she will provide you techniques to use your body and breadth to align your voice and goals to land your message in virtual settings.

James Davis

cast member

Leaders and organizations partner with James to evoke authentic, collaborative and meaningful transformation. James’ unique approach to coaching and organization development is person-centered. He partner’s closely with the leader to learn the needs and wants of both the leader and the organization by identifying alignment and mis-alignment in order to build a plan that is inspiring, objective and drives results. James’ approach has often been compared to the Trojan Horse – he is able to quickly build alliance and establish a high-level of trust and respect in order to uncover the unique challenges, synthesize IQ and EQ and guide the leader into taking authentic, intentional and powerful action in virtual settings.

LOIS TODD

cast member

Lois is engaged by clients who are looking to become even more exceptional at what they do. While keeping C-Level executives’ greatest concerns in the foreground (sustained and steady top-line profitable growth, consistent execution of strategy, client/customer/patient satisfaction and retention, speed, flexibility and adaptability to change), Lois works in the background to ensure that noble purpose, vision and strategy are clearly formed and articulated throughout the organization. She also ensures that sound principles and efficient processes are put in to place and that the talent in the organization has the tools and resources to thrive in their respective performance areas – always putting their strengths to work in virtual settings.

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what our clients ARE sayING

Overall, outstanding workshop. Excellently facilitated, objectives met and I got what I came for. I felt challenged, inspired and felt safe to go beyond where I've been stopped previously. Bravo :)

McDonald's

Participant

Fabulous workshop! You made the information very tangible for those of us needing enhancements in our facilitation skills.

Nurse Family Partnership

Participant

Well-structured facilitation training, which allowed for gradual, step-by-step learning – yet was adapted to the needs of our group.

Rebound Specialists

Participant

Loved this! Very helpful, real-world role play/practice was so effective! Extremely valuable in my professional and personal life!

Bank of America

Participant

Don't miss the opportunity to upgrade your facilitation chops!

Custom Training and Coaching Available

Our team designs custom virtual facilitation training and coaching. You can schedule a complimentary consultation below.

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